Cameron Smith: Queensland State of Origin coach.
Fellow Maroons icon Johnathan Thurston believes it would be the perfect job for Smith after he retires from playing.
Smith, 37, has been tipped to hang up his boots after this NRL season with Melbourne Storm, despite ongoing uncertainty about his plans.
The former Queensland captain was a mainstay of the Maroons dynasty that won 11 series in 12 years, before retiring from Origin before the 2018 contest. Smith played a record 42 Origin games, for 26 wins and four Wally Lewis Medals as man of the series.
Asked by Nine's Adam Jackson if Smith would make a good Queensland coach after his playing retirement, Thurston said: "One hundred per cent he would.
"There's no smarter footballer ever than that man. Having his knowledge and all his expertise, especially for these young boys ... they need to know what winning is all about.
"Cam Smith is just a winner."
Smith has previously said that he doesn't see himself as an NRL coach, but being an Origin boss may be more to his taste.
He said in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald this week that he had not ruled out the possibility of playing on; perhaps with Melbourne rather than Brisbane, as has been touted, because he would be reluctant to play under any coach but Craig Bellamy.
Smith also laughed off any prospect of him making an Origin comeback this year.
"Why does [Maroons coach] Kevvie Walters keep bringing this up? Is he trying to get in the heads of NSW? I won't be playing Origin. That's the one position where Queensland is flush," he said.
Queensland will have a coaching vacancy imminently, with Walters set to be named as coach of the Brisbane Broncos. He will remain involved to support the new Maroons coach, according to the QRL, given that the series' November 4 kick-off is looming.
The new coach may be dynasty architect Mal Meninga, making a comeback as Queensland boss despite his ongoing role with the Australian Test side. Or it may be Wayne Bennett, another former Maroons boss, despite him remaining South Sydney coach for next season.
Both would likely act in a caretaker capacity, with former Cowboys coach Paul Green a possible permanent choice after missing out on the Broncos head coaching role.
Asked if he himself might one day coach the Maroons, Thurston replied with his trademark laugh and left the door open for future involvement.
"Not at this stage," Thurston said.
"I love everything about Origin. I love the build-up, I love what it does for the community and the state, the tribalism . It just dominates the country and they're the moments that you live for.
"So if I ever get a chance to be back in that arena, then I certainly wouldn't let the state down."
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