Green light: Qld boss expects to trigger coach's 2022 contract option

Paul Green's tenure will not be up for discussion until the QRL's annual post-Origin review, with chairman Bruce Hatcher still expecting to trigger a second-year option on the rookie Maroons mentor.

Queensland are picking up the pieces from their 26-0 defeat at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, which cost them the Origin shield and has them staring down barrel of the most lopsided whitewash in the concept's history.

Green's coaching future has not escaped scrutiny, most notably from champion former Queensland half Cooper Cronk.

In the wake of Sunday night's heavy loss, Cronk mused on Fox Sports that "the QRL have a big decision to make, whether they sign Paul Green for an extended period, or they usher in a new era of coaches".

When Green was signed as Wayne Bennett's replacement earlier this year, it was on a 2021 basis with the QRL having an option to retain the former Cowboys coach for next year's Ampol State of Origin series as well.

The option was built in on the basis Green would entertain a return to NRL head coaching if a club role presented itself for next season.

Hatcher told NRL.com that suggestions of an SOS to Maroons icons Bennett or Mal Meninga won't be entertained ahead of game three, and he expects Green to be back again in 2022.

"He's in the middle of his contract and he's still got another one [year] to go," Hatcher said.

"I haven't even thought that there would be any consideration [to a coaching change]. We'll go through our normal process of a review.

"I think he's a very decent guy, very experienced and at this stage I think we just lack experience. I won't be saying that in a year's time."

Asked if adding more coaching support to Green's staff had been considered, Hatcher was emphatic.

"No. There's no reason why that should change. I think it's a bit of an insult to say he's the problem.

"NSW were very good and I'm not looking for excuses or seeing anything that says it was the coach's fault, or that there was one player who didn't put in."

After pulling off the mother of all upsets under Bennett last season, Queensland are confronting a Blues line-up tipped to forge Origin's next long-term dynasty.

The Maroons' preparations were also rocked repeatedly by selection issues across games one and two, with Kalyn Ponga and Reece Walsh both mid-camp withdrawals, Dane Gagai and Jai Arrow requiring hospital treatment for illness and the likes of Cameron Munster and AJ Brimson playing through injury.

Ronaldo Mulitalo's game-day eligibility drama only added to constant upheaval in Queensland camp.

The Sharks winger is expected to lodge documents outlining his Queensland eligibility claims, or seek an ARLC exemption to represent the Maroons, later this week.

Despite the near-daily fitness queries around Queensland's stars this campaign, Hatcher backed the selection judgements on players under injury clouds.

"We've got a selection panel and a coach," the chairman said.

"At the end of the day they've got to have independence.

"None of them are fools. They're very experienced people and I know that in those cases, if your best player is available, you make a decision on whether the best player at 90 per cent fitness is better than the next best, that's their call.

"Those problems have occurred in the past and there's no magic bullet on what you do.

"I've never seen a more unsettled preparation with all the injuries and then having to add the distraction around one of our players being eligible or not.

"There's a bit adversity there but there's certainly no panic, I've got faith in the players and the coaching staff. We're not going to win every game but we'll continue to improve."