Queenslander
30-10-06, 09:28 PM
Murray set to learn NSW Origin fate
Monday, October 30, 2006 - 8:19 PM
Incumbent NSW rugby league coach Graham Murray is expected to receive the green light to re-apply for the Blues Origin job by his NRL club North Queensland on Tuesday.
Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr said the North Queensland board had discussed whether to let Murray declare his NSW Origin availability and would make an announcement at Townsville on Tuesday.
Speculation is rife that Murray will be given the all clear to contest his second Origin series.
"The board has had discussions in relation to it and now are comfortable with the decision," Parr told AAP.
"We need to talk to a few other people tonight in relation to it but certainly everyone will know where this club stands tomorrow."
North Queensland began a horror run that ensured it missed the 2006 NRL finals while Murray was on NSW Origin duties.
To add insult, Murray's NSW outfit lost 2-1 to ensure Queensland won the Origin title for the first time in four years.
It led to speculation Murray would be asked by North Queensland to stand down from the Origin job.
However, News Limited on Sunday reported that Murray "is set to be reappointed as NSW coach .....(after) the Cowboys board met last week and gave Murray the all-clear to re-apply".
ABC reported that the NSWRL said Murray had indicated he would be available for next year's Origin series.
If Murray gets the Cowboys nod tomorrow, his appointment is expected to be finalised at a NSWRL board meeting at Sydney in December.
Murray tonight received the backing of NSWRL general manager Geoff Carr.
"It's a board decision but he has only coached one series and in my view he has done nothing wrong," he told AAP.
"We haven't decided our position. We want North Queensland and Graham Murray to make a decision."
Murray would not speculate on his Origin future.
"It's in the hands of the club and the NSWRL. I will just wait for them to see what they would like to do - I'm not in any hurry," he said.
Anxiety over letting Murray coach another Origin series will be eased at the Cowboys following the arrival of new assistant coach Ian Millward.
Australian-born Millward arrived in Townsville last week following a mercurial five-year English Super League stint.
He won two Super League titles, two Challenge Cup titles and a World Club Challenge with St Helens.
But he was also sacked by St Helens in 2005 for "gross misconduct" and fired from Wigan last season after the club's poor season start.
Millward takes up a two-year Cowboys deal, replacing Canberra-bound Neil Henry.
Source: AAP
Monday, October 30, 2006 - 8:19 PM
Incumbent NSW rugby league coach Graham Murray is expected to receive the green light to re-apply for the Blues Origin job by his NRL club North Queensland on Tuesday.
Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr said the North Queensland board had discussed whether to let Murray declare his NSW Origin availability and would make an announcement at Townsville on Tuesday.
Speculation is rife that Murray will be given the all clear to contest his second Origin series.
"The board has had discussions in relation to it and now are comfortable with the decision," Parr told AAP.
"We need to talk to a few other people tonight in relation to it but certainly everyone will know where this club stands tomorrow."
North Queensland began a horror run that ensured it missed the 2006 NRL finals while Murray was on NSW Origin duties.
To add insult, Murray's NSW outfit lost 2-1 to ensure Queensland won the Origin title for the first time in four years.
It led to speculation Murray would be asked by North Queensland to stand down from the Origin job.
However, News Limited on Sunday reported that Murray "is set to be reappointed as NSW coach .....(after) the Cowboys board met last week and gave Murray the all-clear to re-apply".
ABC reported that the NSWRL said Murray had indicated he would be available for next year's Origin series.
If Murray gets the Cowboys nod tomorrow, his appointment is expected to be finalised at a NSWRL board meeting at Sydney in December.
Murray tonight received the backing of NSWRL general manager Geoff Carr.
"It's a board decision but he has only coached one series and in my view he has done nothing wrong," he told AAP.
"We haven't decided our position. We want North Queensland and Graham Murray to make a decision."
Murray would not speculate on his Origin future.
"It's in the hands of the club and the NSWRL. I will just wait for them to see what they would like to do - I'm not in any hurry," he said.
Anxiety over letting Murray coach another Origin series will be eased at the Cowboys following the arrival of new assistant coach Ian Millward.
Australian-born Millward arrived in Townsville last week following a mercurial five-year English Super League stint.
He won two Super League titles, two Challenge Cup titles and a World Club Challenge with St Helens.
But he was also sacked by St Helens in 2005 for "gross misconduct" and fired from Wigan last season after the club's poor season start.
Millward takes up a two-year Cowboys deal, replacing Canberra-bound Neil Henry.
Source: AAP