Matt King has emerged the favourite to replace Laurie Daley as the NSW Blues coach. State of Origin series win, replacement, list of options, latest news, video.

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Daley personally endorsed senior assistant and former Blues player Matt King during a lengthy announcement on Sky Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast on Monday, where he confirmed the 2026 Origin series would be his last.

Daley declared King is already fit to be a first grade coach, having completed a lengthy coaching apprenticeship under Craig Bellamy (Storm), Trent Robinson (Roosters) and Michael Maguire (Daley’s predecessor at the Blues).

“I’ve been lucky enough to have some wonderful coaches on our staff and they were there with Michael Maguire in 2024, so guys like Matt King, Boyd Cordner, Brett White – they are guys that are first grade coaches in waiting,” Daley said.

“My senior assistant was Matt King, and Matty King is a first grade coach now, he’s ready to go. I don’t know what NSW Rugby League are going to do, I don’t know who they’re going to appoint, but but I would like to see a guy like Matt King take over the role.

“He’s been there, he’s been a servant, he’s had great input into what we’ve been able to do over the last three years.”

The outgoing Blues coach also addressed persistent scuttlebutt that NSW doesn’t ‘get’ Origin in the same way Queensland does, using this year’s series win to rubbish those claims.

“When you’re called upon to do something for your state, you do it. And when you love your state as much as I do, I’d do anything for the Blues jersey; I’d just do anything for NSW,” Daley said.

“They talk about how we don’t have passion, that’s bulls**t. We have just as much passion for our state as QLD have for theirs. That argument doesn’t wash with me, that doesn’t wash with the players that I coach.

“Every one of those players is so proud when they pull on that Blues jersey. If you’re in the team meetings and you’re in the presentations of the jerseys to those guys on debut – when they speak about NSW and they speak about their family and what it means to them, and you see the tears and hear the emotion in their voice, you know it means something.”

In endorsing someone who is already inside the Blues inner sanctum, Daley believes the legacy he has helped create in recent years will be continued by his successor.

NSW Rugby League chief executive Dave Trodden confirmed a successor to Daley would be named in the coming days.

It is understood the NSW RL will front media on Wednesday with a formal announcement.

Of equal interest to the person named will be the length of the contract, given outgoing Penrith mastermind Ivan Cleary finishes at the club at the end of 2027, and has all-but ruled out coaching anywhere else other than representative level.

“We’re working through the final details about that at the moment,” Trodden said, joking that Daley had been helpful in the process by ‘publicly endorsing 17 different candidates so far’.

“We’re just working through some final details of that including the person, the term of the contract they’ll have and all those final details. I don’t think that’s too far away. Hopefully we’ll be able to nail that in the coming days.

“Watch this space, we’re pretty close to having that finalised.”

Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down the major contenders to become the new head coach of the NSW Blues.

BOYD CORDNER

One of the assistants on this list who worked under Laurie Daley in this year’s series, Cordner, has emerged as the firm favourite over the past few months after leading the Roosters to back-to-back Under-19s premierships.

Still only 34, the three-time premiership winner epitomised what it was like to be a New South Welshman during his decorated Origin playing career and knows what it takes to get the best out of those around him.

“Boyd Cordner is the firm favourite,” CODE Sports reporter David Riccio said on Triple M’s The Journos.

“What he’s achieved in a short amount of time at the Roosters in the lower grades, and the feedback on the way he coaches.”

Fellow reporter Brent Read added, “I’d imagine Boyd would have no issue doing it next year, knowing that Ivan might take over the year after.”

MATT KING

Another assistant coach of the NSW Blues, King, went extremely close to landing the gig last year before Laurie Daley’s appointment and is regarded as a future head coach in waiting

A part of the Blues coaching staff for the past three series, he has gained valuable experience under Trent Robinson at the Roosters since 2017, helping develop his coaching craft and will be one the favourites to replace Daley.

“I am daydreaming about it more and more,” King told Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin in the past about one day being a head coach.

“A couple of years ago I was staunch – I was like no way I would ever do that. I turn 45 this year, I have done a big old apprenticeship.

“The love and joy the game gives me, I love it mate. To think that at some stage I might one the head coach of a footy program at a club that means something to me – I don’t want to be that coach that is interviewing for absolutely every club that pops up.

IVAN CLEARY

Ivan Cleary is firming by the day to become the 2028 State of Origin series after announcing he would step away from the Panthers at the end of 2027.

But could the four-time premiership-winning coach potentially join the Blues before then?

Although it is highly unlikely he would be given the reins to succeed Daley in 2027, he wouldn’t be the first NRL head coach to take charge of the Blues while still holding a club role.

With assistant Peter Wallace already locked in to replace him at the foot of the mountains in 2028, Cleary could grant him an opportunity to look after the club on an interim basis to step away for a few months.

“I still love coaching, but I have plenty of time to scratch that itch,” Cleary told media when he confirmed his departure from the Panthers at the end of 2027.

“I have no interest in coaching another NRL club. If someone thought I was worthy of a rep job, I’d consider that.

MICHAEL CHEIKA

An outside choice to replace Daley, the former Wallabies coach knows how to handle pressure and create a strong team environment, which suits the demanding nature of the State of Origin arena.

Although he doesn’t hold the same resume as others on this list, the Lebanon head coach has earned plenty of respect within the NRL after transitioning to the 13-man code and working under Trent Robinson at the Roosters.

“He’s got a presence, he’s got an aura, like he’s a head-coach,” Fox League analyst Luke Keary told CODE Sports earlier in the year.

“You can tell, even though his rugby league knowledge wasn’t very high when he first came. It is now.

“He’s got a bit of Craig Fitzgibbon about him. He’s a man’s man.

“He’s got the aura of a well-travelled man who’s coached in different parts of the world.”

Ennis has made no secret of his desire to one day take charge of the state he previously represented eight times between 2009 and 2015.

Backed by former QLD Maroons forward Corey Parker, he possesses a strong understanding of the representative arena and has worked as either a coaching consultant and assistant for a handful of NRL clubs.

“When Laurie has decided he has had enough, it’s definitely something I would like to do,” the Fox League analyst told SEN radio.

“I love that arena, I love what comes with it, the expectation and the pressure.

“The level of the players. I would love to do it at the right time.”