Talks have begun to extend Kevin Walters' reign as Queensland State of Origin coach.
And all-conquering former Maroons mentor Mal Meninga reckons they can't re-sign him soon enough after being left in awe of his replacement's performance.
Walters said he had begun talks with the Queensland Rugby League to extend his contract beyond 2018 after becoming the third Maroons coach to win his first two series in charge.
"I'm going to keep coaching Queensland," Walters told Fox Sports' Queenslanders Only show.
"I haven't signed it yet, but negotiations have opened up."
Walters wanted to stay as Maroons coach, ending speculation linking him to the Gold Coast job replacing besieged Titans mentor Neil Henry.
"I would like to coach in the NRL one day. I don't think that time is now," Walters said.
"Club coaching's a different gig again and the week-to-week grind of it all can be very consuming."
Australian coach Meninga left a daunting legacy when he walked away as Queensland coach in 2015 after winning nine of his 10 series including eight straight.
But he said Walters dismissed any lingering fears he could not handle the step up in coaching with Queensland's 2-1 series win this year.
The Maroons came back from a record 28-4 game one win to become the first Queensland side in 30 years to win a home Origin series after losing the opener.
"It was one of the greatest performances from a coach that we are ever likely to see," Meninga told Former Origin Greats website.
"If someone had told you at the start of the year Queensland would have to win the series without Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd, you would just think it is too big a hurdle to overcome.
"On top of that, Kevin had to pick them up after the disaster in game one at Suncorp and keep them believing they could still win.
"It really was a special performance, and indicative of a team that was truly playing for their coach and each other."
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