Brad Fittler reveals his new job after Michael Maguire took over from him as NSW State of Origin coach

Former NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has announced his new job following a dramatic exit from the State of Origin role in which he was replaced by Michael Maquire.

Fittler, 51, resigned from his position in September after knocking back a five-month extension offer from the NSWRL board.

After months of speculation, Maguire was officially announced as NSW's new man in charge as the Blues complete an overhaul of their coaching staff for the next State of Origin series.

Fittler's new role is advising the NRL on ways to grow rugby league participation and pathways. 

'I've got a new role now so I'm working on that,' Fittler told News Corp.

Maguire left his role in charge of the New Zealand national team to take the role from 2024, when NSW will hope to recover from back-to-back series defeats.

Fittler had only good things to say about the man who has taken over from him. 

'How they (NSWRL) make their decision to get a coach is up to them,' Fittler said. 'But I think 'Madge' (Maguire) is a good appointment.

'He is strong with what he did with the Kiwis. He's got a good reputation and I think he will do a good job.

'I've never been coached by him but watching when he was at South Sydney, and he had good players, I think manages to get the best out of them.'

Maguire will spend the coming weeks and months touching base with incumbent Blues players but insists only those who begin the season in form will be considered at the selection table.

'That's the key to bringing a successful team together,' Maguire told AAP.

'I am going to make sure that everyone is in form through that period going into the Origin because you need that.

'In time, the opportunities will be in front of them (the current group of players) by how they go about what they do on the field.'

That mindset will extend to long-time captain and fullback James Tedesco, to whom Fittler was unflinchingly loyal in the 2023 series despite criticism of his form.

Tom Trbojevic, Latrell Mitchell, Dylan Edwards and Scott Drinkwater are other fullback options, with Maguire non-committal when asked whether Tedesco would be selected in 2024.

'To be honest, the answer is I don't know at the moment because I haven't spoken to him,' Maguire said.

'I want to find out where he's at, I think that's a very important part. If he goes and plays his best footy, well that does the talking for him.

'If you're playing at your best, then your belief is at the highest level and being able to bring that into camp is a big part of the one play that might be the difference.'