Sam Thaiday joins Queensland coaching staff

NRL legend Sam Thaiday will help mentor young forwards coming through the Queensland Academy of Sport.

The 33-year-old, who retired from the game at the end of last season, will help develop promising forwards through the QAS youth programme.

As a player, Thaiday was a one-club man for Brisbane Broncos, playing a total of 308 first-grade games for the club in a 15-year career. In that time, he earned 32 caps for Australia and appeared 29 times for Queensland in Origin.

Maroons coach Kevin Walters will work with the next crop of Queensland talent this weekend and he has added some future stars to the emerging squad for the first time, including the likes of Jake Clifford, David Fifita and AJ Brimson.

Walters’ newly-appointed assistants – Justin Hodges and Johnathan Thurston – will work together for the first time this weekend alongside Queensland’s next generation.

John Donehue has also been brought in as defensive consultant.