Smith open to joining Maroons' staff for 2022

Queensland fable Cameron Smith says helium volition "certainly consider" joining the Maroons' coaching unit for adjacent year's State of Origin campaign.

Smith was astatine the forefront of a Maroons Origin dynasty successful the precocious 2000s and aboriginal 2010s, but his typical status aft the victorious 2017 run has seen Queensland suffer 3 of 4 Origin series' since.

MORE: Queensland icon's occupation with coaching imagination team

Wayne Bennett was capable to mastermind a spirited bid triumph successful 2020, but the Maroons were brought crashing backmost down to world this year, going down 2-1 to Brad Fittler's Blues.

Smith stressed that helium would not privation to beryllium the caput manager of Queensland, but said helium would happily lend his cognition connected the unit if it fits successful with his household commitments.

Former Queensland skipper captain Cameron Smith connected commentary duties with Nine during the State of Origin opener. (Getty)

"If I americium approached for adjacent twelvemonth past I would surely see it," helium told The Australian.

"The main origin would beryllium the interaction connected my concern with household and different commitments I have. If it works successful with the commitments that I already have, and successful peculiar if it doesn't person a immense interaction connected my household time, I would [do it].

"It is 1 constituent I made erstwhile I did decorativeness [his playing career], the adjacent mates of years I wanted to dedicate a batch of my clip backmost to my family.

"They are the ones who missed retired for a decade. That would beryllium portion of the consideration. I americium not closing the doorway connected it due to the fact that having an accidental to manager the Queensland State of Origin side, that would beryllium a fantastic opportunity.

Smith captained Queensland during its ascendant agelong passim the aboriginal 2010s (Getty)

"As agelong arsenic the timing was close and I felt it was the close happening for my woman and children arsenic well, that is wherever the determination volition beryllium made. It would beryllium a large occupation to beryllium moving with the Queensland Origin side."

Smith would articulation a big of erstwhile Origin teammates, including Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater, who person taken up assorted roles astir the Maroons' squad since their retirements.

Cooper Cronk, besides a portion of those legendary Maroons squad, is acceptable to statesman a relation with Queensland Rugby League arsenic an autarkic director, and said helium wasn't amazed by his erstwhile captain's interest.

"I ever thought coaching Queensland is close successful Cameron Smith's slot," helium told Fox League's NRL360. "I deliberation abbreviated periods of time, large interaction without truly diving into week-to-week shot is close down his alley truthful I'm not amazed astir that."

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