Matty Johns’ reveals his pick for NSW’s next head coach

12 months after finding a new coach to replace Brad Fittler, the NSWRL are once again on the hunt for a mentor after Michael Maguire left his role with the NSW Blues to take over the Brisbane Broncos.

Maguire had an outstanding first year as the Blues’ Origin coach, guiding his side to a series victory and excelling with his off-field antics.

However, Maguire’s departure leaves the NSWRL in a full circle moment as the search for a fresh face to lead the charge in 2025 begins.

With the likes of Michael Ennis, Paul McGregor and Laurie Daley floated as likely candidates, SEN’s Matty Johns has given his preferred pick to take over the Blues.

“I think Ricky (Stuart),” Johns said on SEN 1170 The Run Home.

“I think State of Origin is the domain of an experienced coach, (a) bloke who’s coach-fit.”

Maroons coach Billy Slater has had a successful run at the helm of Queensland despite having little to no coaching experience but Johns revealed the signs of struggle he saw this year when tested against an experienced campaigner in Maguire.

“I know with Billy, (he) hasn’t been a long-time coach and had a lot of head coaching experience but Slater absolutely coached himself up to speed, they reckon he spent six to eight hours a day watching tape,” Johns added.

“But here’s the thing with Billy, I’m going to try to say this respectfully, in his first two years he coached against Freddy (Fittler) who was another part-timer.

“Billy found it very, very difficult, completely different this year coaching against Madge, who is a hardened, first-grade, week-to-week coach who’s got a mile of experience.

“There was just little things that happened… I’ve rarely Billy so agitated but Madge because he’s used to coaching and the little games that go on, he was able to needle Billy.

“I honestly believe that the head coaching job when it comes to State of Origin, it has to be the domain of a coach who is coach fit and is experienced.”