Brad Fittler can be the NSW coach well beyond the remainder of his three-year contract, according to NSWRL boss Dave Trodden.
Fittler guided the Blues to a State of Origin triumph in just his first campaign as coach after winning the opening two games of the series.
The series win also automatically triggered a third-season in his current deal, having originally been handed a two-year term.
“The way his contract was constructed, the board quite deliberately wanted to reward him for good performance,” Trodden said.
“So the contract was structured in a way that it was a two-year contract.
“But there was an automatic (clause) built into the contract for a further year if we won a series in that two-year period, so that’s already been triggered.”
It means Fittler will now coach NSW until the end of the 2020 series and, after tasting success in his maiden campaign, it could signal the start of a new Blues era.
The former NSW captain has breathed life into a Blues outfit that had lost 11 of the past 12 series before this year’s breakthrough.
And while reluctant to declare Fittler would be at the helm past his current deal, Trodden said the champion five-eighth had proven a perfect fit for the role.
“He’s nine months into his initial term, (but) I think the job really suits him and I think he really suits the job,” Trodden said.
“You don’t want to get too far ahead of yourself but at the moment there’s no reason to suspect he’d be anything other than a long-term coach.”
Trodden also hoped Queensland fans would remain respectful when Blues captain Boyd Cordner lifts the shield no matter the result of game three at Suncorp Stadium.
“You always like to see people being respectful but the thing is for our guys is getting our hands on the shield rather than the crowd reaction,” he said.
“I don’t think they will (boo the team). They’ll be respectful, I’m sure they will.”