Longmuir to lead WA as coaches named for next State of Origin clash

Fremantle mentor Justin Longmuir will replace Dean Cox as Western Australia’s coach in next year’s State of Origin match while Collingwood’s Craig McRae will coach South Australia.

South Australia will be involved in the new-look Origin format, which started this year, for the first time in 2027, replacing Victoria for the game at Optus Stadium on Saturday, February 27.

Victoria beat Western Australia 125-101 to win the 2026 trophy at Optus Stadium in Perth.

Collingwood’s 2023 premiership coach McRae started his career at SANFL club Glenelg before he was drafted to the Brisbane Bears in the 1993 pre-season draft.

McRae, a triple-premiership Lion, also represented SA as a player in 1999.

“To have the opportunity to coach South Australia is an enormous honour and I am incredibly proud of the role South Australian football has played in giving me my start in the game,” McRae said in a statement.

“We saw earlier this year the role state football plays in our game and its rich tradition, and I’m looking forward to helping build a South Australian team that represents the history our proud state has.”

Longmuir was drafted out of West Perth by Fremantle with pick No.2 in the 1998 AFL draft.

This year, he led Fremantle to the minor premiership and the grand final, where the Dockers suffered a horror capitulation to Brisbane.

The 45-year-old was an assistant to Cox in this year’s Origin but will now take the reins.

“Western Australia has a proud football history and the rivalry with South Australia has produced some memorable contests in the past,” Longmuir said in a statement.

“To be part of renewing that rivalry at Optus Stadium next February is very exciting.

“After being involved earlier this year for the return of AFL Origin, to now lead the state that I have spent most of my playing and coaching career (in) means a great deal to me and I can’t wait to select a team that reflects the quality of Western Australian football and a team that will put on a great show in front of a sold out Optus Stadium.”

The two senior coaches will each appoint two assistant coaches, a high-performance manager and a head of football ahead of the match.