What Matt King’s NSW coaching contract means for Ivan Cleary
Matt King has been appointed as the new NSW Blues rugby league coach, with a contract that includes an extension clause based on performance in the 2027 and 2028 series. This appointment effectively delays the potential hiring of Ivan Cleary for the role until at least 2030.
Why it matters
The decision impacts the strategic direction of the NSW rugby team and clarifies the coaching timeline for high-profile candidates like Ivan Cleary.
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Share A A A 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”.
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