Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters Withdraw from Queensland Maroons Coaching Search

Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters have officially withdrawn from the race to become the next head coach of the Queensland Maroons men's State of Origin team. This decision follows Billy Slater's recent resignation from the position.

Smith, who was initially seen as a strong candidate and had received endorsements from notable figures including Queensland captain Cameron Munster, stated that he could not commit to the head coaching role at this time. Walters, who previously coached Queensland to two series victories, also confirmed he would not pursue the position, opting to honor his contract as Australia's Test coach.

With both Smith and Walters out of contention, Matt Ballin and Ben Te'o have emerged as the leading candidates to succeed Slater. Ballin has been an assistant coach under Slater since 2023, while Te'o has also held a similar role. Other potential candidates include Anthony Seibold and Josh Hannay, although the latter's dual commitments with the Gold Coast Titans may complicate his candidacy.