IT was the toughest call of his coaching career.

But while Paul Green agonised over passing up the Queensland job, the Cowboys’ premiership-winning mentor insists he still dreams of coaching the Maroons.

When Queensland Rugby League hierarchy needed a successor for the incomparable Mal Meninga, Green seemed the obvious choice. He was smart, had played Origin himself and had pedigree after masterminding the Cowboys’ maiden premiership triumph last season.

There was just one problem – Green was contracted to the Cowboys for another three years, and will have enough on his plate in 2016 when every NRL rival travels to Townsville to topple the premiers.

In recent years, Meninga had privately devised a succession plan of Queensland Origin coaches to uphold his record-breaking legacy.

One name was Kevin Walters. The other was Green.

Walters will get his big break this season and Green, as Queensland as Matthew Hayden and XXXX, genuinely hopes the Broncos legend succeeds.

But in time, he is determined to walk in the footsteps of Maroons Origin coaching legends such as Arthur Beetson, Wayne Bennett and Meninga.

“Down the track, I eventually want to coach the Maroons,” Green said.

“It was definitely hard to say no this time.

“I did give a lot of thought to it, because it affects so many people.

“It was a tough decision for me but in the end, I knew the timing wasn’t right. I have a lot still to achieve at the Cowboys and as a club they have been great to me.

“Kevvie has got the gig now and good luck to him, I really hope he does a good job.”

Green has been earmarked for big things in Queensland coaching circles since 2011-12, when he coached his beloved Wynnum Manly to back-to-back premierships in the Intrust Super Cup.

Maroons ace Johnathan Thurston has forged a slick union with Green at the Cowboys and hopes he averts retirement long enough to work with him at Origin level.

“Greeny has a great football brain,” Thurston said.

“He can read the game really well … when it comes to studying opposition teams he is one of the best I’ve been involved with.

“He cares about his players, too. For me, he is honest and doesn’t beat around the bush.

“He will tell you how it is and that’s what I like about him as a coach. Players just want honesty and he knows how to get the best out of his players.

“He certainly has the ability to do well in Origin.”