Laurie Daley said he was a ‘failure'. Meet the man who changed his mind
Not long after being re-appointed to the top job before Christmas, Daley said he felt like a 'failure' during his first stint in charge of the Blues, which featured one win in five series against arguably the greatest Maroons' side ever.
One way Daley improved himself as a coach was embracing the mental approach, and acquiring tools to allow him to stay calm when his staff and team need him most.
Daley will need to keep his nerve on Wednesday night as NSW chase a series victory at home – and what could be his first series triumph since 2014.
Gilbert Enoka was the leadership management and mental performance coach for New Zealand's famous rugby side for more than 20 years during a remarkable period of dominance – and has now spent the seven weeks passing on his wisdom to the players and Daley.
The 66-year-old on Tuesday described Daley as among the best he had worked with when it came to his knowledge of the game, and openness to delegate, which is quite the compliment when you consider Enoka spent time working with All Blacks' legend Steven Hansen.
'He openly says he can't be everything to everyone, so he ensures he surrounds himself with people with skill sets that complement him,' Enoka said.
'I've heard other coaches say that, but Laurie actually lets those people with the specific expertise to contribute and have influence. He uses that knowledge to help sharpen what he can present to the boys.
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Herald Sun
an hour ago
- Herald Sun
Carlton coach Michael Voss, AFL integrity unit, serious threat
Don't miss out on the headlines from Carlton. Followed categories will be added to My News. Carlton has been alerted to a 'heinous and inappropriate' threat directed at under-siege coach Michael Voss in the wake of the club's horror form slump. The shocking message is understood to reference a brutal end to his life, but is not being treated as a credible death threat. The Blues confirmed to the Herald Sun they had been made aware of the aggressive threat from a fan against Voss, which was sent to the AFL late last week. The league's integrity department is investigating the matter. The club denounced the 'vile language' used in the message and said it would not stand for any threats or intimidation against any of its staff or players including the senior coach. A senior football figure confirmed Carlton and league officials were concerned by the contents of the message and said the inappropriate nature of it was being taken seriously. The club has branded the message as horrific and 'completely unacceptable'. The AFL will consider extra security measures for Voss and any Carlton staff as necessary. Voss, 50, is contracted for next year, but has come under intense pressure to keep his job after falling out of the finals mix with six wins from 16 games. The Blues take on reigning premier Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. The Blues targeted a top-four berth this year but have not met expectations, prompting potential change to the football departmentand its list at season's end. It comes a fortnight after the Blues' headquarters was targeted by vandals who painted graffiti on the walls at Ikon Park last month. Police have investigated the incident and assessed footage from multiple CCTV cameras in the area. The club's social media accounts have also been inundated with negative posts from fans amid the team's poor form in recent weeks. The Herald Sun has contacted the AFL about the Voss threat. A champion midfielder, Voss is considered one of the greatest players in the game's recent history, having led the Lions to three premierships in 2001-03. Voss was hailed a 'true blue hero' in August 2024 after stopping an armed car thief in a dramatic citizen's arrest. He was waiting for his morning coffee at the Barton Milk Bar in Hawthorn when two alleged hoons crashed a Mercedes opposite the cafe. He chased down one of the thieves, a 16-year-old boy armed with a knife, pinning him down until police arrived. Voss' coaching record at Carlton is 45 wins from 87 games. Originally published as Serious threat towards Carlton coach Michael Voss investigated by AFL integrity unit
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'No words' but Slater knows what Munster is feeling
If there's anyone who understands what Cameron Munster has gone through in the lead-up to the State of Origin decider, it's Queensland coach Billy Slater. Slater knew there was nothing he could say to make everything better when he sat with Munster in his room at Queensland camp on Sunday, the day the new Maroons captain learned of his father Steven's sudden death. Munster vowed then and there to Slater that, after spending some time with his family, he would lead Queensland in Wednesday's Origin decider - one of the biggest games of his career. "He didn't have a lot of answers for a lot of other things, but he gave that one to me pretty straight," Slater said. "It's a huge game and he wants to be a part of that." To give him as much time as possible with his family, the Maroons booked Munster on a separate flight that got him to Sydney in time for the captain's run on Tuesday afternoon. "I can't wait to give him a hug," Slater said ahead of Munster's reunion with the team. Munster ran out with the team at Accor Stadium around 4pm, greeting the small group of onlookers invited to the team's final training session before the hotly-anticipated decider. He appeared his usual energetic and focused self following a distressing few days. "Naturally, he's been pretty upset over the last couple of days. But I think the last couple of days he's been where he's needed to be and that's with his mum and his sister," Slater said earlier. Slater understood the best thing he could do for Munster sitting in his room on Sunday was to be there as a mate, then give him all the time he needed with his family. The coach knew that because he lost his own father Ronnie earlier this year. "There's no real words that fix any of this," Slater said. "Unfortunately there's not a switch. "I haven't dealt with this as a coach, but I've dealt with it as a person. I lost my father in January. I know what it's like and Cam's an inspiration for many people. "He's a hero to many people in Queensland. I can only imagine his dad would've been his first inspiration and his first hero. He'd be hurting right now." That's why Slater knows Wednesday night is the time for the Maroons to show up for Munster, just as he showed up for his teammates in guiding them to victory against the odds in Origin II. "Their skipper is going to need them on Wednesday night," Slater said. "I'm sure it'll give them a huge boost, to see their mate going through something that you only go through once in your life, losing your father. I'm sure it's going to have a huge impact on them." Slater has already seen his senior players leading the squad with aplomb in Munster's absence. It's been a blessing for the group to have Josh Papalii, the Canberra prop called out of representative retirement to reinvigorate the forward pack. "It's a feel, with Papa," Slater said of the veteran's impact on the squad. "The best way I could describe it is it's probably a calmness. Big Tino (Fa'asuamaleaui) has been like a little puppy dog, following him around all week." If there's anyone who understands what Cameron Munster has gone through in the lead-up to the State of Origin decider, it's Queensland coach Billy Slater. Slater knew there was nothing he could say to make everything better when he sat with Munster in his room at Queensland camp on Sunday, the day the new Maroons captain learned of his father Steven's sudden death. Munster vowed then and there to Slater that, after spending some time with his family, he would lead Queensland in Wednesday's Origin decider - one of the biggest games of his career. "He didn't have a lot of answers for a lot of other things, but he gave that one to me pretty straight," Slater said. "It's a huge game and he wants to be a part of that." To give him as much time as possible with his family, the Maroons booked Munster on a separate flight that got him to Sydney in time for the captain's run on Tuesday afternoon. "I can't wait to give him a hug," Slater said ahead of Munster's reunion with the team. Munster ran out with the team at Accor Stadium around 4pm, greeting the small group of onlookers invited to the team's final training session before the hotly-anticipated decider. He appeared his usual energetic and focused self following a distressing few days. "Naturally, he's been pretty upset over the last couple of days. But I think the last couple of days he's been where he's needed to be and that's with his mum and his sister," Slater said earlier. Slater understood the best thing he could do for Munster sitting in his room on Sunday was to be there as a mate, then give him all the time he needed with his family. The coach knew that because he lost his own father Ronnie earlier this year. "There's no real words that fix any of this," Slater said. "Unfortunately there's not a switch. "I haven't dealt with this as a coach, but I've dealt with it as a person. I lost my father in January. I know what it's like and Cam's an inspiration for many people. "He's a hero to many people in Queensland. I can only imagine his dad would've been his first inspiration and his first hero. He'd be hurting right now." That's why Slater knows Wednesday night is the time for the Maroons to show up for Munster, just as he showed up for his teammates in guiding them to victory against the odds in Origin II. "Their skipper is going to need them on Wednesday night," Slater said. "I'm sure it'll give them a huge boost, to see their mate going through something that you only go through once in your life, losing your father. I'm sure it's going to have a huge impact on them." Slater has already seen his senior players leading the squad with aplomb in Munster's absence. It's been a blessing for the group to have Josh Papalii, the Canberra prop called out of representative retirement to reinvigorate the forward pack. "It's a feel, with Papa," Slater said of the veteran's impact on the squad. "The best way I could describe it is it's probably a calmness. Big Tino (Fa'asuamaleaui) has been like a little puppy dog, following him around all week." If there's anyone who understands what Cameron Munster has gone through in the lead-up to the State of Origin decider, it's Queensland coach Billy Slater. Slater knew there was nothing he could say to make everything better when he sat with Munster in his room at Queensland camp on Sunday, the day the new Maroons captain learned of his father Steven's sudden death. Munster vowed then and there to Slater that, after spending some time with his family, he would lead Queensland in Wednesday's Origin decider - one of the biggest games of his career. "He didn't have a lot of answers for a lot of other things, but he gave that one to me pretty straight," Slater said. "It's a huge game and he wants to be a part of that." To give him as much time as possible with his family, the Maroons booked Munster on a separate flight that got him to Sydney in time for the captain's run on Tuesday afternoon. "I can't wait to give him a hug," Slater said ahead of Munster's reunion with the team. Munster ran out with the team at Accor Stadium around 4pm, greeting the small group of onlookers invited to the team's final training session before the hotly-anticipated decider. He appeared his usual energetic and focused self following a distressing few days. "Naturally, he's been pretty upset over the last couple of days. But I think the last couple of days he's been where he's needed to be and that's with his mum and his sister," Slater said earlier. Slater understood the best thing he could do for Munster sitting in his room on Sunday was to be there as a mate, then give him all the time he needed with his family. The coach knew that because he lost his own father Ronnie earlier this year. "There's no real words that fix any of this," Slater said. "Unfortunately there's not a switch. "I haven't dealt with this as a coach, but I've dealt with it as a person. I lost my father in January. I know what it's like and Cam's an inspiration for many people. "He's a hero to many people in Queensland. I can only imagine his dad would've been his first inspiration and his first hero. He'd be hurting right now." That's why Slater knows Wednesday night is the time for the Maroons to show up for Munster, just as he showed up for his teammates in guiding them to victory against the odds in Origin II. "Their skipper is going to need them on Wednesday night," Slater said. "I'm sure it'll give them a huge boost, to see their mate going through something that you only go through once in your life, losing your father. I'm sure it's going to have a huge impact on them." Slater has already seen his senior players leading the squad with aplomb in Munster's absence. It's been a blessing for the group to have Josh Papalii, the Canberra prop called out of representative retirement to reinvigorate the forward pack. "It's a feel, with Papa," Slater said of the veteran's impact on the squad. "The best way I could describe it is it's probably a calmness. Big Tino (Fa'asuamaleaui) has been like a little puppy dog, following him around all week."
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Blues out to avoid repeat of stop-start Perth contest
NSW have conceded the onus is on them to clean up their discipline and limit stoppages in the State of Origin decider, believing set-for-set football will advantage them. The Blues' first-half penalty count emerged as the major talking point of NSW's loss in Perth, after they conceded eight before the break to trail 26-6. Referee Ashley Klein has been retained by the NRL for Wednesday night's decider despite intense scrutiny after Queensland's win in Perth. Blues Coach Laurie Daley pointed out on Tuesday there was only 52 minutes of ball-in-play time at Optus Stadium, compared to 58 in NSW's series opening win in Brisbane. NSW do believe set-for-set football can benefit them, given their side is structured to win the yardage battle. Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o and Zac Lomax are three of the best early-yardage backs in the NRL, while Payne Haas is close to the NRL's most powerful prop. For those players to kick into gear in Sydney, the Blues need less stop-start football, something captain Isaah Yeo said was NSW's responsibility to create. "It suits the way we want to play, but that's up to the players, isn't it?" Yeo said. "If they're giving away penalties or dropping the ball, there are going to be stoppages. "That puts an onus on you as a team that you want to be able to make sure you're completing high, you're disciplined. "Then off the back of that, you'd like to think you get the game you want on." Yeo noted neither game in this year's series had been free-flowing, with the Maroons also ill-disciplined and completing poorly in the Suncorp Stadium opener. The Blues skipper said he did not know if Queensland would attempt to disrupt the flow of Wednesday's game, a suggestion the Maroons knocked back on Tuesday. "Not necessarily. I don't think that," coach Billy Slater said when asked if Queensland wanted a stop-start game. "The game is the game, and we need to play our best football. That's what our focus is. We can't control anything outside of that." Regardless, Yeo said it was also on him to steady the Blues if things did spiral on Wednesday night, as they did in the first half three weeks ago in Perth. "The way we responded at half-time, the way we came together, I was really proud of," Yeo said. "But you can't be doing that in a big game, so we've definitely had internal conversations. "There's some ownership on myself there too, if things are going wrong, to try and right the ship and get around our spine." NSW have conceded the onus is on them to clean up their discipline and limit stoppages in the State of Origin decider, believing set-for-set football will advantage them. The Blues' first-half penalty count emerged as the major talking point of NSW's loss in Perth, after they conceded eight before the break to trail 26-6. Referee Ashley Klein has been retained by the NRL for Wednesday night's decider despite intense scrutiny after Queensland's win in Perth. Blues Coach Laurie Daley pointed out on Tuesday there was only 52 minutes of ball-in-play time at Optus Stadium, compared to 58 in NSW's series opening win in Brisbane. NSW do believe set-for-set football can benefit them, given their side is structured to win the yardage battle. Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o and Zac Lomax are three of the best early-yardage backs in the NRL, while Payne Haas is close to the NRL's most powerful prop. For those players to kick into gear in Sydney, the Blues need less stop-start football, something captain Isaah Yeo said was NSW's responsibility to create. "It suits the way we want to play, but that's up to the players, isn't it?" Yeo said. "If they're giving away penalties or dropping the ball, there are going to be stoppages. "That puts an onus on you as a team that you want to be able to make sure you're completing high, you're disciplined. "Then off the back of that, you'd like to think you get the game you want on." Yeo noted neither game in this year's series had been free-flowing, with the Maroons also ill-disciplined and completing poorly in the Suncorp Stadium opener. The Blues skipper said he did not know if Queensland would attempt to disrupt the flow of Wednesday's game, a suggestion the Maroons knocked back on Tuesday. "Not necessarily. I don't think that," coach Billy Slater said when asked if Queensland wanted a stop-start game. "The game is the game, and we need to play our best football. That's what our focus is. We can't control anything outside of that." Regardless, Yeo said it was also on him to steady the Blues if things did spiral on Wednesday night, as they did in the first half three weeks ago in Perth. "The way we responded at half-time, the way we came together, I was really proud of," Yeo said. "But you can't be doing that in a big game, so we've definitely had internal conversations. "There's some ownership on myself there too, if things are going wrong, to try and right the ship and get around our spine." NSW have conceded the onus is on them to clean up their discipline and limit stoppages in the State of Origin decider, believing set-for-set football will advantage them. The Blues' first-half penalty count emerged as the major talking point of NSW's loss in Perth, after they conceded eight before the break to trail 26-6. Referee Ashley Klein has been retained by the NRL for Wednesday night's decider despite intense scrutiny after Queensland's win in Perth. Blues Coach Laurie Daley pointed out on Tuesday there was only 52 minutes of ball-in-play time at Optus Stadium, compared to 58 in NSW's series opening win in Brisbane. NSW do believe set-for-set football can benefit them, given their side is structured to win the yardage battle. Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o and Zac Lomax are three of the best early-yardage backs in the NRL, while Payne Haas is close to the NRL's most powerful prop. For those players to kick into gear in Sydney, the Blues need less stop-start football, something captain Isaah Yeo said was NSW's responsibility to create. "It suits the way we want to play, but that's up to the players, isn't it?" Yeo said. "If they're giving away penalties or dropping the ball, there are going to be stoppages. "That puts an onus on you as a team that you want to be able to make sure you're completing high, you're disciplined. "Then off the back of that, you'd like to think you get the game you want on." Yeo noted neither game in this year's series had been free-flowing, with the Maroons also ill-disciplined and completing poorly in the Suncorp Stadium opener. The Blues skipper said he did not know if Queensland would attempt to disrupt the flow of Wednesday's game, a suggestion the Maroons knocked back on Tuesday. "Not necessarily. I don't think that," coach Billy Slater said when asked if Queensland wanted a stop-start game. "The game is the game, and we need to play our best football. That's what our focus is. We can't control anything outside of that." Regardless, Yeo said it was also on him to steady the Blues if things did spiral on Wednesday night, as they did in the first half three weeks ago in Perth. "The way we responded at half-time, the way we came together, I was really proud of," Yeo said. "But you can't be doing that in a big game, so we've definitely had internal conversations. "There's some ownership on myself there too, if things are going wrong, to try and right the ship and get around our spine."
