ARL Commission chairman John Grant has got his man with Mal Meninga set to be unveiled as Australia’s new coach.

News Corp can reveal Meninga’s 10-year reign as Queensland coach is over with Origin’s most successful coach agreeing in principle to take charge of the Kangaroos in 2016.

The parties are in the final stages of negotiating financial terms.

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The NRL is expected to formalise Meninga’s appointment as Tim Sheens’ successor at a press conference on Thursday.

The Queensland Rugby League were resigned to losing Meninga after his current deal expired on Monday.

The organisation had offered Meninga a fresh three-year extension but the silence was deafening, leaving QRL bosses in little doubt the Maroons super coach was eyeing the national post.

Meninga has coveted the Kangaroos post for the past two months after secret talks with Grant. One stumbling block was the salary on offer, with Meninga initially baulking at a $150,000-a-season deal to walk away from the Maroons.

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But Grant upped the ante with a beefed-up offer last week and that was enough to convince Meninga, who is relishing a new challenge rebuilding the Kangaroos after steering Queensland to nine series wins in 10 years.

media_camera Meninga has coached Queensland since 2006.

The impending departure of Meninga is a crushing blow for Queensland and signals the end of the greatest chapter in Origin history.

Since Meninga’s arrival in 2006, the Maroons have embarked on the most successful period in the Origin arena, losing just one series in a decade of dominance.

The QRL has a succession plan in place with Broncos assistant Kevin Walters a frontrunner to replace Meninga as Queensland coach in 2016.

There was initially suggestions an interim coach would lead the Kangaroos for a one-off Test next May but Meninga will start immediately as Australia’s new coaching figurehead.