A “disappointed” Laurie Daley has declared he is “most definitely” the coach to lead the NSW Blues back to glory in the State of Origin arena after Queensland sealed the series on Wednesday night. Daley’s commitment comes in the wake of a hard-fought series where the Blues fell short despite a promising start.
The announcement comes as FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, remains the exclusive platform to watch every game of the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, offering live coverage with no ad-breaks during play. New subscribers can enjoy their first month for just $1, a limited-time offer.
Daley’s Determination Amidst Defeat
Daley’s return to the Blues began on a high note with a commanding 18-6 victory at Suncorp Stadium, putting pressure on rival coach Billy Slater. However, Slater, a former Maroons fullback, orchestrated a remarkable comeback, leading Queensland to clinch the series.
Despite a Game 2 defeat, Daley showed unwavering loyalty by naming the same 17 players for consecutive Origin games, a decision not seen since the 2020 decider. Although the Blues scored more tries than the Maroons, the decision not to introduce fresh faces sparked debate.
“I think what we’ve been building,” Daley responded when asked why he was the man to coach the Blues next year. “While I was disappointed with the result, I think the players have had a really good campaign. We just sort of didn’t nail the moments, so we’ve got to make sure that we’re better at that.”
Analyzing the Game’s Turning Points
While Daley expressed frustration over another “bad start,” he praised the Blues’ fighting spirit, acknowledging that “it just wasn’t our night.” He highlighted how Queensland capitalized on crucial moments, turning them into scoring opportunities.
Daley admitted to being perplexed by the Blues’ slow starts, a recurring issue that saw them trailing 26-6 at halftime in Game 2. “It’s a good question. Something we need to find out,” Daley said, indicating a thorough review before the next series.
“We played some good footy, but they just won some moments,” Daley noted. “It felt like, at times, we were sort of defending three tackles really well and the fourth tackle they sort of made half a break and got a bit of line speed and played the ball and then (were) kicking (themselves) out of trouble.”
Challenges in Attack and Defensive Strategies
NSW’s attack appeared uncharacteristically disjointed, with Queensland’s aggressive defense causing significant disruption. Despite expecting this strategy, the Blues struggled to adapt, as team captain Isaah Yeo acknowledged.
When questioned about the disorganized attack, Daley deferred to Yeo, who was on the field. “I reckon we could have showed more of that (patience),” Yeo said, reflecting on missed opportunities to break through Queensland’s defense.
Daley attempted to shift momentum by introducing Hudson Young and Connor Watson early in the second half. Critics suggested earlier utilization might have alleviated the defensive burden on starting hooker Reece Robson.
“We’ve used Hudson differently in both games,” Daley explained. “We used him after halftime in game one, before halftime in game two. Connor, we just felt like we started to get a bit of ruck speed there in the second half, so we wanted to play with a bit of speed.”
Looking Forward: Building on the Campaign
Amidst criticism for fielding compromised players like Payne Haas and Brian To’o, Daley defended his choices, citing their past performances as justification. “Payne didn’t train in game one and got man of the match and then Brian got players’ player in game two and didn’t do much training,” Daley stated.
The move represents a strategic decision to trust experienced players in high-pressure situations, a gamble that Daley believes will pay off in future campaigns.
As the Blues look to the future, Daley remains optimistic about the core group’s potential to reverse their fortunes in 2026. His focus now shifts to refining strategies and addressing the issues that plagued their recent performances.
In the world of rugby league, where the margins between victory and defeat are razor-thin, the Blues’ journey under Daley’s stewardship continues to captivate fans and analysts alike. The next chapter in this storied rivalry promises to be as fiercely contested as ever.
