From the Coach's Desk - Mal Meninga

I HAVE always been a believer in the theory that if something isn't broken, then you don't bother fixing it.

And after four successive series wins, I think we have a fair argument in claiming there is currently very little to fix with Queensland's State of Origin preparations.

Yet, as we take our first steps into 2010 with the Maroons, we are having to deal with a fair chunk of upheaval with our off-field staff.

As you would all be aware by now, long-term Maroons staff members Neil Henry, Billy Johnstone and Bob Lindner will not be joining us for this year's campaign.

In their place, Michael Hagan, Trevor Gillmeister and Andrew Gee will join our full-time Origin coaching staff.

Such upheaval is not the ideal situation. I guess if I had the option, I would have liked to have kept the staff that we have had for the past few campaigns together.

But you don't always get what you want in this world.

Both Neil and Billy felt like they had to devote all of their time and energy to the Cowboys' cause, and I think that is perfectly reasonable and understandable.

It was a very easy decision to bring Gilly in, because he has been a part of the coaching system for a long time.

But we really did need to think long and hard about who we were going to bring in to fill Neil's spot.

Neil has obviously been a very big and very integral part of the success that we have enjoyed over the past four years, especially in areas such as strategy.

So replacing him needed serious thought. It was a decision we had to get right.

In Michael Hagan, I believe we have the man to perfectly fill that void.

With Michael obviously out of the full-time NRL coaching race, the coaching staff will be able to devote even more time to the preparation of the footy side, and concentrate on improving the little things in camp that can make us even better prepared for the series that will be our toughest test yet.

Michael is a premiership-winning coach, and he is obviously not long out of the week-to-week intensity of the NRL, so I really do think we are getting the best of all worlds with Hages on board as assistant coach.

Michael was a bit taken back by me asking him, actually.

For him it came a bit out of the blue. It was a bit of a shock to him.

But talking to his family, and taking into account his new business venture in Newcastle, and after consulting with a few astute people that he respects, I think for him it was a pretty easy decision in the end.

He mentioned to me as well, which I think is important, about what a fun time of the footy year the Origin series is, and how he missed being a part of it.

When you are a head coach of an NRL side, you don't really have time to have fun. You have too many things happening at the one time to stop, look around and enjoy the action that is going on.

It is a huge workload, so to throw the pressure of Origin on top of that is an incredible burden, and obviously one that Craig Bellamy has had to carry for the past couple of years.

So for Michael, coming back to Origin as an assistant coach will allow him to get a lot more enjoyment out of the occasion, and I think that will bring the best out of his unquestioned abilities as well.

It would have been good to maintain our staff, who have enjoyed so much success in the last few years, and understand fully how our system works.

But it hasn't happened like that, so we just move on.

Michael and Gilly will bring a new dimension to the team.

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ONE area where I hope we will avoid any more changes is in regards to Queensland's captaincy and No.6 jersey.

I am still hopeful that our captain Darren Lockyer will decide to lead the Maroons around for one more series this year.

I have only spoken to Darren very briefly and casually about his future, and I still don't think he is in any rush to make a decision. And nor should he be.

He is back in training now, and has the All Stars game in a couple of weeks to prepare for.

I think he is waiting to see how he holds up and how fresh he feels at the start of the season before making up his mind.

There has been some speculation about Darren moving back to fullback for the Broncos in the 2010 NRL season, and while I am not pre-guessing what Broncos coach Ivan Henjak will do, I can't see any problem with that move if Ivan thinks it will take some of the physical load off Darren.

But when it comes to Queensland, if he wants to play at all, then Darren will remain at five-eighth and captain.

We are probably pretty well off for high quality fullbacks in Queensland, but less flush for five-eighths.

Darren is Queensland's best five-eighth option, and I will remain of that thinking even if he plays fullback and excels - which would be a certainty - for Brisbane.

All the best,

Mal