The NSWRL is set to announce Matt King as the next Blues coach on Tuesday, with former utility Connor Watson backing the current Roosters assistant to make the leap as Laurie Daley’s replacement.
Daley announced on Monday morning that he was stepping down after he led NSW to a famous State of Origin victory in the decider at Suncorp Stadium in July.
King has served as a NSW assistant coach for several years and has beaten out former skipper Boyd Cordner for the top job on a reported two-year deal which would rule out Ivan Cleary taking over in 2028.
Watson played five games for the Blues and has worked with King at the Roosters across two stints at the club.
“If he gets the role, he just bleeds blue,” Watson said.
“He’s got so much passion for that jersey. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Kingy since 2016 when he first came over to the Roosters as an assistant coach.
“Ever since then, he’s been a great mentor for me.
“When I was a kid, he was one of my favourite players. Me and my brother loved him, so it’s been a pretty surreal journey.
“If he does get the role, there’s no one more deserving.
“He’s done a long apprenticeship as an assistant coach, he’s done a terrific job here, and the same thing for the Blues over the last couple of years.
“I know how much the jersey means to him, and I think he’d do a great job.”
King famously scored a hat-trick in his first Origin series for the Blues in 2005, with his all-round coaching ability to elevate him from a master tactician to a leader of men.
“He’s changed his coaching roles over the last few years,” Watson explained.
“He’s gone from doing attack to defence, and done attack for the Blues for a long time, but last year he was doing our middles coaching.
“He brings a wealth of experience in all of those different roles, so he’s across all of it. Plus, the experience of playing for Australia, winning premierships, winning Origin games, so he’s done it all.
“He’s also just such a great person and someone that all the boys get on really well with. He’s a guy that you really want to go and play for.
“I think the Blues team next year will feel the same way if he gets the job.”
Daley made it clear this morning that he thought King should replace him.
“My senior assistant was Matt King, and Matty King is a first grade coach now, he’s ready to go,” he said on the Big Sports Breakfast Show.
“I don’t know what NSWRL are going to do, I don’t know who they’re going to appoint, 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.”
It was the perfect farewell for one of the state’s greatest servants who shone as a player and then moved to coaching where he led the Blues to two series victories.
He was at the helm when NSW ended Queensland’s historic streak of eight-straight series victories in 2014 before he returned last year for a second stint in charge.
Daley copped plenty of flak for losing a decider at home 12 months ago, while his selections and bench usage led to more criticism this year.
But he found a way to ignore all that to lead his side to a famous win at Suncorp Stadium to become the only NSW representative to win a series up there as both a captain and coach, with Daley turning up the heat on his critics after the match.
His future was a major talking point throughout the series, with Daley confirming that he’ll leave the Blues on a winning note and as one of the most beloved figures in the game.
“I’ve always considered it an absolute honour and privilege to be involved with the NSW Blues State of Origin team, whether that was as a player or a coach, and I’ve always been ready to answer the call for my state whenever they needed me,” he said.
“We faced plenty of challenges in the 2026 series and I’m proud of the way the players banded together to overcome them and save their best performance for game three in Brisbane to secure a memorable series win.
“I thank the fans for their passion and their support, and I can’t think of a better way to move on with the shield back where it belongs in NSW.
“I have been incredibly proud to have worked alongside an outstanding group of players, coaches, management and support staff.
“The dedication, resilience and care they showed for each other and for the jersey is something I will always be proud to have witnessed.”
NSWRL chief executive David Trodden lauded Daley for his service to the state.
“Those wins transcended football,” he said.
“They lifted and reinvigorated the whole state. He deserves to leave the NSW Origin arena as the hero that he is.”
Originally published as ‘Bleeds blue’: NSW series winner heaps praise on Matt King ahead of his appointment as the next Blues coach