Hannay: 'They get their responsibility to the jersey, to the state, to each other'
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Queensland Maroons assistant coach Josh Hannay knows rugby league, knows State of Origin and knows what it takes to get the best out of players.
Together, the Maroons coaching staff - including Hannay - have played 178 Origin games; Billy Slater (31), Cameron Smith (42), Johnathan Thurston (37), Josh Hannay (2), Nate Myles (32) and Allan Langer (34).
Hannay said it was a privilege to be part of the Maroons family, to be part of this group.
“I'm really aware of just the quality of players that I get to coach and the quality of people that I'm working alongside," Hannay said.
“It’s a privilege. I don't take it for granted at all… I'm very aware and cognizant of what I'm a part of here and who I'm working alongside in Billy Slater and Cam Smith and Johnathan Thurston and Nate Myles, and the other staff members.
“I firmly believe that success starts with the people… who you are and then that gives you a chance at being great. I feel like the luckiest guy to be around these guys and to be part of this group.”
Hannay loves the current crop of players, who are working with The Resilience Project's Hugh van Cuylenburg, and is impressed by the humility they show as a group.
“Humility is such an underrated quality in anyone but certainly young guys who are at the top of their game, to be so humble… you can see that humility in the way they carry themselves, the way they play,” Hannay said.
“They play the game the right way and it's because they live their lives the right way. It's a really endearing quality of this group, how humble they are.”
Hannay said his job as one of the coaches was the get the best out of the group; he said watching Game I, there was so many emotions.
“Chaos, stress, panic… like any typical Origin game,” Hannay said.
“The way we started, you couldn't have asked for a better start. So you're thinking, ‘righto this is looking good’ and then chaos ensues… we lose Tommy Gilbert for the game early on, we lose David Fifita for a period. Back end of the game, both wingers are off the field and so much reshuffling… Tommy Flegler in the bin.
“So it was a typical chaotic State of Origin and I think it's been a hallmark of this group.
“We're only four games into our journey as a staff and as the group at large, we're only relatively young on this journey. And I reckon there's been a fair bit of chaos thrown at these lads in that short space of time… we're almost getting used to it.
“It'll be nice to hopefully have a game one of these days where it's less chaotic and we can actually stick to an interchange plan… they tend to go out the window after 10 minutes, the way things have been going.
“It was chaos, but our job as coaches is when it is chaotic to maintain calm and make sure we're making the right decisions… and that’s the goal as a coaching staff going into Game II.
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 2 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
“We want to keep growing who we are. We've never been outcome focused or results focused. Ever since we've come together, it's always been very process driven and making sure we're really clear on how we want to play and who we want to be and how we want to behave and present. That’s the same going into this game.
“We want to grow what we've started… we feel like there's so much more in us and it's our job as coaches to get that out of these guys and then it's up to the guys to go out and do it on game night.
“We just want growth, want to keep evolving and keep growing and see where we can take it.”
Hannay reinforced, for him, it was “a privilege to be a part of such an impressive group of young men”.
“It really is,” he said.
“These guys are at the peak of their powers. They're young men and to be, I keep saying it, but to be so humble and so measured and so respectful of their place in the game currently.
"The people that have come before them, the players that have come before them, what they're representing in this state... they get it.
“I remember when I was their age, I didn't have those qualities… I tell you, I was enjoying life and these guys, they get it. They get their responsibility, to the jersey, to the state, to each other. It really makes me proud to be part of it.
“And it also makes you check yourself too and how you live your life because they set a high example.”
