Former Queensland enforcer Michael Crocker has backed new coach Paul Green as the man to lead the Maroons to a second State of Origin title in a row.
Mastercoach Wayne Bennett was last year hauled in to rescue Queensland as a dynasty-hungry NSW eyed a third-straight series victory – and the seven-time premiership coach did just that, steering the Maroons to a 20-14 win in the decider.
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Green was then announced as Bennett's successor and Queensland's 12th coach in history in February, joining John McDonald, Arthur Beetson, Des Morris, Graham Lowe, Wally Lewis, Paul Vautin, Mark Murray, Michael Hagan, Mal Meninga, Kevin Walters and Bennett.
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It took arguably the greatest rugby league coach of all time to lift the underdog Maroons, who blooded 14 Origin debutants in 2020, to the series victory.
And Crocker, who spoke to Wide World of Sports to announce that VB was coming on board as a partner for the 2021 State of Origin series, believes Green is capable of repeating Bennett's heroics with a squad that's again set to face a more fancied NSW outfit.
"The Queensland board are pretty strong in terms of who they pick and who they select. They changed everything and put those things in place like pathways and development," Crocker said.
"I think Greeny brings knowledge and he has the wisdom around him to make sure his role is done really well.
"Then it's just about preparing the team and I think he's certainly got the ability to do that.
"He's is a premiership-winning coach and he's played Origin and been on that stage, so he knows what it's all about."
Green hasn't coached at any level since being axed as North Queensland Cowboys coach in July last year.
The former Maroons halfback had steered the Cowboys to the club's first-ever premiership in 2015 and driven them from eighth place to the grand final in 2017, but performances then took a drastic dip.
North Queensland finished only 13th in 2018, fell to 14th in 2019 and were sitting in 12th when Green was unseated after Round 10 of season 2020, following a 22-10 defeat to the ladder-leading Penrith Panthers.
Green is now set to head up a vastly different Maroons side to the one which beat the Blues in last year's decider.
Whether due to injury, suspension or retirement, six Maroons are either no chance or in doubt to suit up, in Edrick Lee, Corey Allan, Patrick Carrigan, Lindsay Collins, Jake Friend and Hymel Hunt.
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