Adam Lucas
Yahoo News
To paraphrase his own words, there ought to be an investigation if Geoff Toovey isn’t being seriously considered as NSW's next State of Origin coach. Of all the contenders being thrown up to replace Michael Maguire, Toovey may be the best credentialled of the lot.
He captained Manly to a premiership and played 16 Origin games for the Blues, becoming a valued member of series-winning sides. He knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
Toovey took that passion, knowledge and die-for-the-cause attitude into coaching - and did a bloody reasonable job of that as well. His 58 per cent win record across 105 games as an NRL coach at Manly, including a grand final appearance in 2013 and three top eight finishes, is a record many would kill for.
Critics whisper Toovey's been out of the game too long to be considered for Origin. Really? Brad Fittler hadn’t coached in the NRL for nine years when he was given the keys to the Blues in 2018.
Before him, Laurie Daley had never coached a club side when he landed the job in 2013.
Among the contenders for Maguire's position, Matt King, Danny Buderus and Michael Ennis
have not coached an NRL game between them.
Toovey kept his hand in by coaching NSW's under-17 invitational team and was assistant coach to the NSW women's team. He also helped out Samoa at the last World Cup.
The 55-year-old remains a keen student of the game through his involvement in Manly's pathways program. Rugby league is still very much in his veins.
Yahoo News
To paraphrase his own words, there ought to be an investigation if Geoff Toovey isn’t being seriously considered as NSW's next State of Origin coach. Of all the contenders being thrown up to replace Michael Maguire, Toovey may be the best credentialled of the lot.
He captained Manly to a premiership and played 16 Origin games for the Blues, becoming a valued member of series-winning sides. He knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
Toovey took that passion, knowledge and die-for-the-cause attitude into coaching - and did a bloody reasonable job of that as well. His 58 per cent win record across 105 games as an NRL coach at Manly, including a grand final appearance in 2013 and three top eight finishes, is a record many would kill for.
Critics whisper Toovey's been out of the game too long to be considered for Origin. Really? Brad Fittler hadn’t coached in the NRL for nine years when he was given the keys to the Blues in 2018.
Before him, Laurie Daley had never coached a club side when he landed the job in 2013.
Among the contenders for Maguire's position, Matt King, Danny Buderus and Michael Ennis
have not coached an NRL game between them.
Toovey kept his hand in by coaching NSW's under-17 invitational team and was assistant coach to the NSW women's team. He also helped out Samoa at the last World Cup.
The 55-year-old remains a keen student of the game through his involvement in Manly's pathways program. Rugby league is still very much in his veins.
