Matt King was named NSW Blues head coach on Tuesday, succeeding Laurie Daley who stepped down after guiding the state to a series victory this year. The 45-year-old former Origin centre and long-time Roosters assistant signed a two-year contract that includes an option to activate a third year should the Blues beat Queensland in 2027 or 2028, according to NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden. That provision effectively blocks Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, who finishes with the Panthers at the end of next year and has spoken of his representative ambitions, from taking the role until at least 2030.

Trodden acknowledged that Cleary is "one of the greatest coaches there will be in rugby league" but stressed that the board needed a coach for 2027 and Cleary was not available. "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," Trodden told the Sydney Morning Herald. King, who has been part of the Blues coaching staff since 2024, said he had missed out on the top job two years ago and described the appointment as "the one true rugby league love of my life".

King said he had called Maroons coach Billy Slater to inform him personally before the public announcement, noting their long-standing friendship from their time at Melbourne Storm. "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," King said. He added that he would draw on an "advisory board" of coaching heavyweights including Craig Bellamy, Craig Fitzgibbon, Michael Maguire and Trent Robinson. King played nine Origin matches for NSW from 2005 to 2007 and more than 200 first-grade games across the NRL and Super League. He will step down from his Roosters assistant role at season's end to take up the full-time Blues position. The series victory under Daley this year, sealed with a 30-12 win in the decider at Lang Park, gave NSW only their fourth series win in a deciding Game Three in Brisbane.