- Laurie Daley has urged NSW Blues not to light up Queensland
- He recalled how the Maroons were inspired by the 2015 series Decider.
- Brought back memories of the worst NRL injury.
Former NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley recalled the horrific aftermath of the tackle that left Alex McKinnon paralyzed and warned Michael Maguire to be measured in firing up Queensland ahead of next week’s second match.
Channel Nine 60 minutes The show aired a segment in which Queensland and Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith came across as unsympathetic in the eyes of many viewers following the horrific incident in March 2014.
Smith, who captained the Storm in the match, argued with the referee immediately after the tackle by teammates Jordan McLean, Kenny and Jesse Bromwich left McKinnon with two broken vertebrae.
He was unaware of the extent of the damage the former Knights star had suffered at the time.
Laurie Daley warned Michael Maguire to be measured when it comes to firing up Queensland ahead of game two, before recalling how the Maroons were ruthless in the 2015 Origin series decider.
It followed an article days earlier on Channel 9’s 60 Minutes where Queensland captain Cameron Smith came across as unsympathetic in the eyes of many viewers following Alex McKinnon’s on-field injury (McKinnon is pictured with girlfriend Lily Malone ).
The Maroons playing group was reportedly furious when the 60 Minutes program aired in 2015, and used it as inspiration when they crushed the shell-shocked Blues at Suncorp Stadium, claiming a 52-6 victory in the deciding game. of the series.
“I remember walking into the stadium and it was just different,” Daley recalled in the Great Sports Breakfast.
“The Queensland media then began to support Cameron Smith. But the New South Wales media was just absolutely bashing Smith and they (Queensland) just joined him.
“Just the intensity. I never thought an Origin game could get more intense, but I felt there was genuine hatred… it was like they thought NSW had planted the story to come out on that particular day.”
Alex McKinnon was left paralyzed after a tackle in an NRL match for the Knights against Melbourne Storm (pictured) in 2014.
Daley admitted his team had no answers, despite going into the decider confident after winning the Interstate Shield in 2014.
“We got our asses slapped and there wasn’t a single Queensland player in that team who was going to back down or not give their best or not commit,” he said.
‘I assure you, that was a game where they only wanted blood. Not only the team but the fans.
“I remember sitting in the coach’s box and seeing his eyes and hitting the window… it was different.”
Daley’s warning comes after Maroons coach Billy Slater, as well as assistants Johnathan Thurston and Nate Myles, suggested NSW deliberately targeted Queensland youngster Reece Walsh in the series opener on June 5 in Sydney.
Blues center Joseph Sua’ali’i was sent off after just seven minutes following a brutal late hit on Walsh, and the Maroons cruised to a 38-10 victory in the first game at Accor Stadium.
Maroons coach Billy Slater suggested NSW deliberately targeted Queensland youngster Reece Walsh in the series opener on June 5 in Sydney (pictured).
Blues center Joseph Sua’ali’i was sent off after just seven minutes following a brutal late hit on Walsh, and the Maroons cruised to a 38-10 victory in the first game at Accor Stadium.
Maguire later told reporters: “They need to make sure they don’t live in glass houses, that’s all I’ll say.”
Many football fans believe it was a reference to Slater’s sometimes questionable conduct on the field for Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australia.
To the frustration of many rival fans, in his decorated football career Slater often resorted to the dangerous tactic of lunging feet first at opposing players attempting to score tries.
The second game of the Origin series will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 26.