Icon's problem with QLD coaching dream team

Queensland State of Origin icons Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis have responded to whispers of a 'coaching supergroup' knocking Paul Green out of his job.

Among the many floated solutions in the wake of the Maroons' heavy series defeat to the Blues is Queensland dynasty legends Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston combining to take over from the under-fire Green.

While Lockyer insisted that Smith would need to be the controlling voice if the three Maroons greats joined forces, Lewis was hesitant about the idea, fearing "too many cooks spoil the broth".

Legendary Queensland five-eighth Lewis also tossed up several other candidates for the job, suggesting Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga – but he said Green would feel "insulted" if he copped the axe after one series.

"If that became one of the options and they all wanted to do that – you do need that one voice that delivers the message. And obviously that would be Cameron," Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER.

"Then you've got the smarts of Slater and Thurston there. Those guys have been mentioned but whether they actually want to do it – if they do they'll throw their hat in the ring and be part of a process.

"But again, you still need that one voice that delivers the message."

Green has failed in extraordinary fashion in his first series as Queensland coach, watching on as his troops were hit with a 76-6 scoreline over the opening two games.

There's now the very real possibility of NSW completing just their first series whitewash in Origin history – and their first since 2000.

Despite the back-to-back humiliations, in which the Blues romped to a 50-6 victory in Townsville and a 26-0 win in Brisbane, QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher expects Green to trigger a second-year contract option.

"Only time would tell (if Smith, Slater and Thurston can combine as coaches). It's very difficult to predict," Lewis said.

"Certainly they would have the success and I'm sure the players would be inspired by them. Throw Locky into there, as well. Get him involved. Four guys sharing a little bit of their skills around. I'm sure it'd be Queensland's finest product of all time.

"Could they do it? I guess they could. They could inspire the players.

"But would they be doing it in the right way? Too many cooks can spoil the broth.

"But they could work together and adapt to looking after a couple of the players. It certainly worked in American football that way."

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