NRL.com: Crichton Backs King to Build on Daley's Blues Legacy

New Blues coach Matt King has outlined his vision to put his personal stamp on the NSW State of Origin team while building on the foundation laid by Laurie Daley throughout the past two years.

The Blues assistant was officially unveiled as the state's next coach, just 24 hours after Daley announced his resignation from the role. 

In appointing King, the NSWRL completed a two-year succession plan that was set into motion when Daley edged King for the head coaching role in 2024. 

The former NSW winger was appointed senior assistant, with a view to stepping up to head coach when Daley walked away.

That time has come, with King eager to lead the Blues forward into a new era. 

"I'm really clear on what the role looks like because of my experiences over the last few years," King said. "That experience has been invaluable. Riding shotgun with [Daley] over the last couple of years, Madge the 12 months before that.

"If you had have said to me you can pick any job in the world, this would be the one for me. I've loved the Blues ever since I was a young fella. I know the responsibility that this team has for the whole state, and to know now that I have a leadership position to drive that is incredible."

King's appointment comes after more than a decade progressing through the coaching ranks. 

The former Storm and South Sydney winger joined the Rabbitohs staff after hanging up the boots and contributed to their drought-breaking title in 2014. 

He has served an apprenticeship at the Roosters for the past 10 years and is currently Trent Robinson's right-hand man.

King has also had significant coaching experience at the representative level, leading the NSW Under 18 team before joining the Blues coaching staff in 2024. 

An Origin series winner as a player, King will remain with the Roosters until the end of the season before joining the Blues on a two-year deal through to 2028 with an option for a third year in 2029. 

He will also serve on Michael Cheika's Lebanon coaching staff for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup. 

The coach is eager to retain the same staff as 2026, with football manager Frank Ponissi already locked in for 2027 and assistant coaches Boyd Cordner and Brett White deep in discussions about continuing for next year. 

The Blues will hire a new attack coach to replace King, with the coach eager for someone with NRL experience.

"I'm clear on the areas I feel like we need to become stronger in and I'll look at coaches who can fill that role," King said. 

"I was the attack coach, I've got Boyd and Brett there in the middle who look after a lot of the tough defensive stuff. We'll have to look for someone to take care of how we're going to play with the footy. 

"I'll guide them and help them as much as I can in that regard, but someone with experience around that would be great."

King has had the chance to work with some of the game's greatest minds throughout his playing and coaching career. 

That experience formed a key part of his pitch for the job, with King impressing the NSWRL hiring committee with his detailed vision for the state. 

"Part of my presentation last week was I put a slide up of my advisory board," King said. "There was Craig Bellamy, Michael Maguire, Craig Fitzgibbon and Trent Robinson. 

"They're four guys who are mates, Fitzy's like a brother of mine and I can lean on any of those guys at any stage. The one common thread among all of those guys is they believe in the same thing. They believe you have to be a good person, you have to be able to defend well to be a good player at this level, and you have to be a good teammate. 

"They all express it and coach it differently but the one true thread I have is there's common ground on principles. You have to express it in your own way and your own life and you have to give it its own life through who you are as a person. 

"I'm not saying they're my principles but I am saying that's what I believe in. I'm going to deliver that in the only way I know, which is Matt King."