Let Kevvie keep Origin job: Tallis
Queensland great Gorden Tallis says it would be unfair to sack Kevin Walters if the Maroons lose this year’s series and accused Wayne Bennett of undermining the State of Origin coach.
Walters i s sweating on the Maroons to bounce back in Wednesday’s Origin II in Sydney after a record 28- 4 game one loss in Brisbane.
In just his second year at the Maroons helm, Walters appears under pressure to retain the reins after reports this week that Queensland may look to Bennett next year if NSW triumph in 2017.
Bennett has enjoyed three previous stints as Maroons coach spanning 1986 to 2003.
Asked if it would be unfair to sack Walters, Tallis told Fox Sports: “Absolutely it’s unfair. “Kevvie did a great job last year. “It’s an ageing roster. They are going through the transformation where all these greats are going to leave the game and we have all these kids coming in.”
Walters last year replaced Mal Meninga, who enjoyed an unrivalled decade of dominance as Maroons coach, including a record eight straight series wins.
The QRL reportedly sought out Bennett after Meninga left to take up the Kangaroos job but the move was blocked by the Broncos.
Walters eventually received the Maroons job after the QRL offered the gig to North Queensland’s Paul Green.
“I think he was dirty when he missed out on the [ Queensland] job,” Tallis said of Bennett. “And there is no doubt he wants to do it.
“Wayne wants it [ the fact he could replace Walters] out there and it is sad they are not letting Kevvie go out there and do his job.
“He’s the best man for Queensland.”
Bennett is juggling the England coaching reins with his full- time job at the Broncos.
But Tallis did not believe Bennett could remain at Brisbane if he wanted to coach Queensland again.
“Queensland is a job for someone who is not an NRL coach,” he said.
“So would Wayne give up the million dollars he’s got to coach Brisbane for it?”
Meanwhile, Queensland have played down concerns for Josh Papali’i after the bench forward left the Maroons’ first official training session early with a knee complaint.
Canberra’s Papali’i only underwent light drills before icing his knee and leaving Queensland’s first full session at their Gold Coast camp yesterday.
After naming his squad alphabetically on Monday, Walters unveiled his line- up with Billy Slater returning to fullback, Darius Boyd moving to the centres and Gold Coast rookie Jarrod Wallace starting in the front row with Dylan Napa.