When Sam Thaiday steps up for a press conference, there are always parts where it's difficult to tell whether he's serious or having a lend of the assembled media.

You can be sure he wasn't joking when he said he wasn't ready for his NRL career to end after this season, even if the 32-year-old has been carefully putting in place the stepping stones of life after rugby league.

Loyal: Sam Thaiday will never play against Brisbane. Credit:AAP

Despite being part of the furniture for 16 seasons at Red Hill, coach Wayne Bennett has told Thaiday that his services won't be required beyond 2018. That's one hell of a nudge, although Thaiday hasn't given up hope of going around in 2019.

Nor has he given away hopes of a recall for the Queensland State of Origin team despite being part of the dramatic clean-out that helped the Maroons win yet another series last year.