Brad Haddin has wasted no time putting his stamp on New South Wales, bringing in former Australian spearhead Peter Siddle and ex-Queensland coach Johan Botha to bolster his staff ahead of the 2026-27 season.
It is a clear statement. Experience, edge, and a hard-nosed cricketing identity are being hard-wired into the Blues setup.
Siddle steps straight into the engine room
Siddle has signed on as fast bowling coach and will be a constant presence around the squad, locked in for all Sheffield Shield fixtures and a heavy involvement across the season.
For a man who only walked away from first-class and List A cricket in March last year, the transition feels natural. He still plays T20 leagues around the world, still runs in for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, still hits the radar at more than 140kph, and still takes wickets – 28 of them across the last two BBL campaigns, good enough to earn a one-year extension for KFC BBL|16.
Now, he brings that relentless, blue-collar fast-bowling ethos into the NSW dressing room.
Siddle had long flagged an interest in coaching, quietly mentoring Victoria’s emerging quicks during his final seasons of state cricket. This role with NSW is one of his first formal appointments since retirement from the longer formats, and it comes with serious pedigree behind it.
Two Sheffield Shield titles with Victoria. A first-class haul of 792 wickets – the most by an Australian fast bowler since Michael Kasprowicz finished with 959 in 2008. Sixty-seven Tests, 221 wickets, 89 appearances for his country in total. That’s the résumé the Blues’ young quicks now have on tap.
"I'm very much looking forward to the opportunity to mentor this talented crop of players ahead of what will be a massive summer," Siddle said, underlining the sense that this is as much about shaping attitudes as tweaking techniques.
Botha returns in opposition colours
On the spin front, Haddin has turned to another familiar face from his playing days.
Johan Botha, the former South Africa captain and more recently Queensland coach, has been appointed as a temporary spin-bowling consultant as NSW build towards the start of their season, which opens with a One-Day Cup clash against his old side on September 22.
Botha’s arrival comes after a turbulent exit from Queensland in June, when he resigned despite having a year left on his contract. He later told News Corp it was "disappointing the way it ended" and added: "I think we were doing good stuff, and obviously the people at the top didn’t think that."
He has not been idle since. Botha recently coached NT Strike in Darwin’s Top End T20 tournament and joined Netherlands’ coaching group as they push for ODI World Cup qualification. Now he brings that tactical nous and white-ball sharpness to Sydney, even if only in a consulting capacity.
For a state that has often searched for consistent spin options, his presence during pre-season and the early stages could prove invaluable.
Haddin builds his inner circle
Haddin’s coaching team is taking shape with clear intent. Siddle and Botha join an expanded group that already includes new assistants Peter Forrest and Daniel Smith.
"Peter and Johan joining the Blues set-up shows that we're committed to having high-quality people around the team," Haddin said in a statement. "Not only does Peter bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, but he exemplifies how we want our cricketers to play the game.
"We're confident we have built a well-rounded coaching team ahead of what should be an exciting season for the Blues."
That is the crux of it. Haddin is surrounding himself with figures who have lived the grind of domestic cricket and the intensity of the international game, men who understand what it takes to survive and succeed over long seasons.
For a proud state searching to reassert itself, the message is unmistakable: the Blues are arming their dressing room with hardened campaigners. Now the question is how quickly that steel filters onto the field when the new summer begins.
