‘We let him down': Blues players defend Laurie Daley as Origin legend declares he's still the man to coach NSW next year
Daley led the team from 2013-17 and returned this year after Michael Maguire guided the team to Origin glory 12 months ago with an epic win at Suncorp Stadium in game three.
The Blues were expected to build on that success under Daley who finally got the chance to coach a team that wasn't stacked with future Immortals.
The series started perfectly with a win in Brisbane, but things didn't go to plan after that with NSW blown away in the first half in each of the final two matches to lose the series despite being short-priced favourites to retain the shield.
Daley has now lost all four deciders as Blues coach, with his decision to not select Terrell May or Keaon Koloamatangi sure to come under the microscope after they were well beaten through the middle.
'Most definitely,' he replied after the game when asked if he should remain NSW coach.
'I think what we've been building (gives me the confidence that we can win). While I was disappointed with the result, I think the players had a really good campaign but we just didn't nail the moments so we have to be better at that.'
Blues enforcer Liam Martin was adamant that Daley wasn't at fault for what went down at Accor Stadium and said the players had to cop the blame.
'We let him down,' he said.
'(Isaah Yeo) addressed it before and said we were so disappointed as a playing group because 'Loz' and everyone involved deserved so much more from us.
'They left no stone unturned in their preparation and what they gave us during the week. They did everything they needed to do, but we just didn't perform out there.
'If there's any criticism, criticise us as the playing group, not Loz. He couldn't have done much more.'
Star halfback Nathan Cleary was also quick to defend Daley, with questions to be asked about their attack which didn't seem to have other options after the Maroons rattled them early.
'He wasn't the reason that we lost tonight. It was us as players,' he said.
'He committed a lot to the preparation and I thought the preparation was really good.'
Meanwhile, Martin expects to be fine for Penrith's game against the Eels on Sunday despite hurting his hand in the first half when he was tackled by Kurt Capewell.
'It's come good. There was a bit of carry on but it's feeling all right now,' he said, with the edge forward requiring assistance from the team's medical staff.
'I had contact straight on it and it didn't feel good for a few minutes, but as the game went on, it got better.'
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The Advertiser
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Curnow said he appreciated the frustration Carlton supporters are feeling, but urged them to stay the course. "It's a hard one to cop for them, I know," Curnow said. "Just grow with us, have fun with us. We're trying hard out there. "We do really want to have a crack for them. Just stick with us and something good will happen." Curnow has kicked 32 goals in 18 games this year, failing to reclaim his best form after undergoing knee and ankle surgeries during the pre-season. "That probably lingered around at the start of the season for me," he said. "I tried to find my feet, but I feel like as a team we haven't really found our feet also. That's been obvious." Curnow had a brief moment of enjoyment after the Hawthorn loss, when retiring stalwart Sam Docherty and 200-game defender Jacob Weitering were chaired off the MCG. Carlton captain Patrick Cripps joined Hawks assistant coach and former Blues teammate Kade Simpson in hoisting Docherty onto their shoulders. 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an hour ago
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