Sacking pushes Gus into job mix

FORMER NSW hooker Michael Ennis has urged Phil Gould to make an Origin comeback and coach the Blues after Laurie Daley’s departure.

The NSWRL parted ways with Daley yesterday, announcing it won’t be renewing his contract for the 2018 series.

The Canberra legend coached the Blues through 15 matches for six wins and nine losses, including the droughtbreaking 2014 series.

Daley’s sacking has sparked a strong debate about who should replace him as Blues coach moving forward.

Former NSW captain Brad Fittler has been mentioned as a candidate, although he was non-committal on the subject last month.

Fittler, who played 31 games for the Blues, is well respected from his tenure as City coach and it is understood he will be considered.

Speak to Ennis, though, and NSW officials should go after Gould – the state’s most successful Origin coach.

“I’d love to see Phil Gould do it again,” Ennis said of Gould, who won 14 and lost nine in his 24 games as NSW coach from 1992 to 2004.

“I know he has got an enormous role out there at Penrith, but he has said previously he wouldn’t take it up.

“But if I was the NSW hierarchy, I’d be doing everything I could try and change his mind.

“If not, certainly Freddie has had a lot of success with the City side.”

Ennis is also a big fan of Matt Johns as NSW coach. He believes the former Newcastle and Cronulla playmaker turned media man would be perfect for the Blues with the right team around him.

“For me, if you don’t get Gus, Matty Johns would be great,” he said.

“I’d put Matty in there with guys like Danny Buderus, Craig Fitzgibbon as well as his brother.

“You see that with the Queensland side. Kevin is the head coach, but he has surrounded himself with guys that succeeded at that level in Alfie, Trevor Gillmeister and Steve Walters.”