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Ivan Cleary may need to wait until 2030 to coach NSW after it was revealed Matt King’s two-year contract includes an option to activate a third year should the Blues beat Queensland in 2027 or 2028.
King was officially unveiled as Laurie Daley’s successor as NSW Blues coach at NSW Rugby League’s Sydney Olympic Park headquarters on Tuesday.
Joined by his wife Kirsten and three young daughters, King revealed he had missed out on the top job with the Blues two years ago, and said he would call on coaching heavyweights Craig Bellamy, Craig Fitzgibbon, Michael Maguire and Trent Robinson as his unofficial “advisory board”.
King also said he had wanted former Storm teammate and current Maroons coach Billy Slater to be the first to hear the news of his appointment, and insisted he was under no illusions about the media scrutiny that is certain to come his way in the role.
NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden confirmed King’s job would be a full-time role and that he would automatically trigger an extension for 2029 if he led the state to Origin glory in the next two years.
Panthers coach Cleary will finish up with Penrith at the end of next year and has already spoken about his hopes of coaching at representative level, leading to speculation he would be installed as Blues coach as early as 2028.
“Ivan is one of the greatest coaches there will be in rugby league, but we needed was a coach for 2027,” Trodden told this masthead. “Ivan wasn’t available, so that was always going to be a real difficulty.
“There was the assumption about having a [stop-gap solution coach for 2027], which would almost be giving up next year’s series – and that’s not the way we were thinking. We expect to win next year, we expect to retain the trophy, and Matt King is the very best option to do that.
“He has a two-year contract, and if he wins a series in the next two years, there’s the automatic extension for 2029.”
King, who will step down from his role as a Roosters assistant at season’s end after ten years on their coaching staff, said: “If I could pick any job, I’m picking this one. The jumper means so much to me. The players you have at your disposal, and just the contest, it’s incredible what State of Origin does for our country and what it means to people. To know I’m steering the ship, it’s pretty wild.”
King, the one-time garbo and Melbourne, Warrington, South Sydney, NSW and Australian cult hero known for his wild hair, won a premiership at the Storm with Slater, which explained why he was so eager to reach out to his coaching counterpart.
Slater is saved simply as “Bill” in King’s phone, and King, 45, said: “We see each other a lot at footy games because he is a commentator. It’s always a handshake and a cuddle at the same time, and asking how the families are.
“There’s been a real mateship for a long time. I rang him about 9.30pm on Monday, he called me back first thing on Tuesday, and I said, ‘I wanted you to hear the news officially before you heard it anywhere else’.
“I’m looking forward to that challenge of going up against Bill. Friendships can co-exist with the fact we’ll compete against each other and go hard against each other.”
Maguire memorably accused Slater of living in “glass houses” during the 2024 series – the year King joined the NSW coaching staff – which frustrated Slater.
When asked if his good mate actually resided in a “glass house”, King replied: “The last time I went to Billy Slater’s house, he had a little terrace in Richmond. I think he’s upgraded since then. I’d have to see how much glass he’s got.”
As for what he wanted to see from his NSW players?
“Be a tough bugger, play with clarity, and go after the moments when your time comes,” King said.
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