Andrew Voss calls out NSW Blues officials as new coach facing brutal 28-year Origin challenge

Veteran league commentator Andrew Voss has urged NSWRL to appoint Michael Maguire's Blues successor sooner rather than later. Voss's calls come as the NRL released the draw for next year's State of Origin series on Monday, with the new NSW coach thrown straight into the deep end with a series opener at Suncorp Stadium on May 28 awaiting.

Game 2 will be held in Perth on June 18 and the series finale at Accor Stadium on July 9. But not since a Tommy Raudonikis-inspired NSW toppled Queensland 8-6 in 1997, has a Blues coach won in Brisbane during his first game in charge and therefore whoever is appointed the next NSW coach has a tall task ahead of them.

Raudonikis achieved debut glory as Blues coach at Suncorp Stadium 27 years ago - 28 by the time the next Origin series is played. While Wayne Pearce (1999) and Ricky Stuart (2005) also made their NSW coaching debuts in Brisbane but both lost narrow affairs. Stuart's side went down 24-20, while Pearce's men lost 9-8.

And Voss believes the difficult Queensland series opener only solidifies the need for NSWRL to act swiftly and appoint a new coach preferably in the next few weeks. “Is it the first time in history that we break the dates for the next State of Origin series and we don’t actually know who the (NSW) coach is?” Voss asked on SEN.

"The coach needs to be announced in the next month. In the past we have had emerging Blues camps over the summer where there is access to players, is that going to run this summer? They do get the nucleus of the squad together and start talks. So I think it needs to be announced in the next month. Certainly we can't go into the NRL season without knowing who the coach for the NSW Blues will be. I think it needs to be decided in the next couple of weeks."

Andrew Voss believes Trent Barrett should be next NSW coach

The veteran commentator also dismissed Phil Gould's calls for an NRL coach to be given the job, as Voss threw his support behind Trent Barrett, despite him having just a 31 per cent win rate as coach. “I disagree with Gus (Gould) in getting an NRL coach to do the job,” Voss said.

"That rules out Craig Bellamy, Ivan Cleary or Ricky Stuart man. I’m in the Trent Barrett camp and I got shot down for that a lot when I said it last week. Mal Meninga as a first-grade coach didn’t exactly deliver the promised land to the Canberra Raiders.

"If you go along to training, Trent Barrett is loved by the players. I can’t explain the win/loss record but I think he has all the qualifications to coach a representative team. I don’t think I can come up with a better candidate than him right now."

Laurie Daley leading the race to become next NSW coach?

Despite the NSWRL board officially agreeing to release Maguire from his role after just one year at the start of October, the hunt for a new coach continues. It is understood the NSWRL board will meet again on Thursday to further discussions around the next Blues coach, however, it is highly unlikely the coach will be announced that day or in the days that follow.

Former Blues coach Laurie Daley is believed to be the leading contender for the role. But he would have to give up other commitments with TAB to take the job.

However, Daley is understood to be willing to cut the necessary ties for another shot at the Origin arena. The 55-year-old coached NSW in five series between 2013 and 2017 and broke the Blues' eight-year drought with his sole triumph in 2014. But his contract was not renewed at the end of a 2017 series defeat.

But even if Daley decides to let his other commitments go, he is far from certain to get the nod, with the Blues still looking at other options including Matt King - who was an assistant to Michael Maguire during this year's come-from-behind series win. The main hesitation with King, however, is his lack of senior coaching experience.

Other candidates include Barrett, Geoff Toovey, Danny Buderus, Paul McGregor and Michael Ennis. NSWRL officials are understood to have not yet formally contacted any contender and the race is still wide open.

with AAP