League: Meninga wants fulltime Qld gig

ueensland coach Mal Meninga (left). Photo / Getty Images

Assured of his job for another four years, record-breaking Queensland State of Origin rugby league coach Mal Meninga wants to take it to a new level with a fulltime position.

Win or lose today night's 2011 series decider against New South Wales in Brisbane, Meninga has plans for programs he wants to develop in future to boost the state.

Queensland Rugby League managing director Ross Livermore says his board is considering Meninga's suggestions.

"Mal wants take Queensland in a new direction and he wants a fulltime role and the QRL board is looking into his proposal," said Livermore.

"The board has already signed off on him coaching for the next four years but it will all be worked out after the series is over."

nzherald.co.nz will have live coverage of tonight's game from 9.45pm

Meninga has guided his champion Maroons team to five straight series wins as a part-time employee, so NSW may rightly be concerned about what he can achieve in an expanded role.

While Meninga will be around Origin for years to come, he says Queensland captain Darren Lockyer will bow out of Origin on Wednesday night with his high status assured.

"It's not about Origin with Darren, it's about the game," said Meninga, who still holds the record of 161 Origin points in 32 games for his state.

"Darren's been a great servant through his humility and his resilience.

"He's been a great ambassador in general, whether it's been for the Broncos, Queensland or Australia.

"He's one of the people we hang our hat on when we talk about rugby league, he's that important.

"Everyone at the game will be hoping he goes out a winner but his humility will mean regardless of the result, he will move on."

Meninga, who played in the first Origin game with Wally Lewis and Arthur Beetson at Lang Park in 1980 said because of a number of facts, Wednesday's Origin No.93 was one of the biggest in history.

"The enormity of it all, because of what's happened to last five years, Darren's last game, all those things make it the big event it is," he said.

"At one all, this series has been talked about more than any I've experienced in my time and I've been there since day dot.

"That's what's happened, the media's got hold of it.

"It's fantastic to be involved in it to be honest."

- AAP