Gold Coast interim coach Steven King intent on finishing his tenure with a win over North Melbourne

He has been linked with the Richmond job, but Suns interim coach Steven King likes the idea of working under Damien Hardwick next season.

Gold Coast Suns interim coach Steven King has been linked to the Richmond job. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Gold Coast interim coach Steven King is yet to give “too much thought” to the possibility of taking charge of Richmond next year, saying his focus was on finishing this season on a positive note before handing over the Suns’ reins to Damien Hardwick.

Having stepped up from his assistant coaching job when appointed in a caretaker head role following the sacking of Stuart Dew in July, King’s tenure comes to an end on Saturday when the Suns meet North Melbourne in Hobart.

Despite having led the Suns to just two wins from six matches, King has impressed critics, with the highlight of his stint being the Gold Coast’s 41-point QClash victory over premiership contenders Brisbane on July 29.

King’s work has led to him being mooted as a contender for Hardwick’s old job at the Tigers that is occupied in an interim capacity by Andrew McQualter.

However, King hasn’t let himself get distracted by talk of Richmond’s interest in him.

“I haven’t given too much thought to that,” he said on Wednesday.

“It would be disrespectful while I’m still in this role doing this job. My full focus has been just on doing the best possible job I could, and I probably couldn’t manage at the moment having my eyes on this and my hands dirty doing this and also trying to manage and juggle worrying about another opportunity at this stage.

“Any time you finish a season … you want to go out on a high. You don’t want to put in a really poor performance because that lingers for a long time.”

Steven King wants to end his tenure as Suns interim coach with a win over North Melbourne. Picture: Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

King also said he was thrilled by the prospect of working under coaching great Hardwick, who has signed a six-year deal with the Suns.

“To get someone of Damien’s calibre to come up here and commit to the club is really exciting and he’s exactly what this club needs,” King said.

“As an assistant for a long time, you sit back and think ‘I wonder if I could do that (head coach role)’.

“At least now I know I can. so that gives me great comfort and confidence going forward, but I’m just excited about … getting my hands dirty with the midfield group and having the opportunity now to work with a three-time premiership coach. That’s going to be great for my development.

“I’m really committed here and I’ve loved my time up on the coast.”

King said he would ensure the Suns were “motivated”, rather than “distracted”, on Saturday by the likelihood of Hardwick watching the game “really closely”.

“If you’re a player and even a staff member, it’s got to give you motivation and excitement to want to finish the year strongly and even put on a good show,” he said.

The Suns will be without the versatile Jack Lukosius, who has had ankle surgery, and Bailey Humphrey, who has ruptured a tendon in his finger.

Full-forward Ben King will also be absent for a third successive game with knee swelling.