- NSWRL announces Laurie Daley as NSW coach
- It is Daley’s second stint in charge of the team.
- It comes after Michael Maguire resigned
A renewed Laurie Daley has declared himself the best coach upon his return to the NSW State of Origin team, after already achieving his first major victory by hiring Craig Bellamy as an advisor.
Daley was officially unveiled as the Blues’ next Origin coach on Monday on a two-year deal, ending a nine-week search for Michael Maguire’s successor following his departure from the Broncos.
In doing so, Daley becomes the second person to return to office in New South Wales after Phil Gould, who previously led the state between 2013 and 2017.
Fired by the Blues after losing a “must-see” series and amid a series of questions about the culture, Daley has only coached the annual All Stars game since.
But his desire to return to the Blues set-up was ignited when Brad Fittler initially asked him to be an assistant last year, before eventually leaving the role.
Daley then entered camp under Maguire last season, before raising his hand to lead the state after Maguire’s departure.
Laurie Daley was officially introduced as the Blues’ next Origin coach on Monday.
Daley has scored his first big win by hiring Craig Bellamy (pictured) as an advisor.
And he is not worried about staying in the modern game after his time away, having long held roles in media and radio.
“I’d like to think I’m a better coach and I’ve learned a lot,” Daley said.
‘The thing about rugby league people is that you never lose the love or passion for the game. You look at it a lot.
‘The position I have on the radio, people always ask you about that. And you are giving an opinion on what you see happening.
‘Even as a person who just sits and watches rugby league, if I see something I write it down or record it.
‘I have it in my own memory bank. “I think I always try to stay relevant and stay up to date with the game.”
Daley will lean on Maguire in his role, and is already planning to warm up to the former coach while maintaining his staff and hoping to keep camps in the Blue Mountains.
“I’ll be all over him like a cheap suit,” Daley said.
Daley is only the second person to return to the NSW role after Phil Gould.
‘I’ll find out what he thought worked and what didn’t work, the camps, most of the staff are still there.
‘There is no reason to stray too far from what he has done. Tactically, what worked and what didn’t… I’ll work with him and share some ideas.’
But the biggest difference in the Blues’ structure will be Bellamy.
Daley immediately approached the Melbourne coach before applying for the job in New South Wales.
The new Blues coach admitted on Monday he didn’t think he could convince his former Canberra teammate, and had only recently finalized the appointment.
The pair will share a coaching box at the Storm for select matches ahead of Origin, with Bellamy spending long periods of time in the camp.
Bellamy had refused in September to accept the NSW job, having previously struggled with the idea of training against his own club’s players.
But Daley said this role would be different.
“He will be more concerned with us than with the opposition’s strategy,” Daley said.
“It’s more about how you work as a coaching group, why you strategize that way, how you talk to the players, what message you’re trying to convey.”
And then on the team side, looking at what he looks for in players. Selecting the team will also be part of his role.”
Having previously been blocked from coaching roles due to his radio work with TAB, Daley will take some time off from radio during Origin.