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News.com.au
7 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Beaten NSW coach Laurie Daley still reeling nearly a week after losing series decider
The full post-mortem of NSW's State of Origin capitulation is yet to come, but beaten Blues coach Laurie Daley says he's still 'trying to recover' nearly a week after a Queensland ambush delivered the Maroons a remarkable series win. Daley, who took over from Michael Maguire who steered NSW to the shield in 2024, returned to his day job on Sydney radio on Monday, declaring that he would 'have to take full responsibility' after his team lost the final two games. Having already stated his intention to coach on in 2026, as per his contract, Daley conceded losing would haunt him for some time. 'I'm trying to recover from Wednesday night. It will take a while to get over. I've been reflecting,' Daley said. 'The first couple of days were tough. We expected a better performance, obviously, so I've been scratching my head (and asking) why? Why did we have a performance like that? 'That has to start with the coaches, me in particular. I've got to look at myself and make sure I go through what I did to see whether that was the best I could have done. 'As head coach, I have to take full accountability because I'm the leader. I get that, I understand that. 'Going on what I felt after the game, I'm still none-the-wiser because I was so happy with the way we prepared and went about it. 'We have to find out what happened and why we weren't ready to go out at our best.' Daley told the Big Sports Breakfast that there were staff meetings to come this week and other debriefs where all questions would be asked 'Coaches meetings to come, leadership meetings. There is a lot to still happen behind the scenes,' he said. 'You want to get it while it's fresh – the thoughts about the week, the game, what do we need to do better, why did we miss the jump? All those things.' The Blues carried injured players into the game, including Payne Haas and Brian To'o, but Daley defended the decision to take them into the decider. 'Brian and Payne had limited preparations in games one and two and they were players-of-the-match in games one and two,' Daley said. 'With that body of work behind them, you trust them. Look at Brian's performance, he was great. He carried the ball 25, 26 times.' Daley said nothing could change the result, but he would work to change the future. 'No matter what I say today, we have to fix what happened. It was disappointing, very disappointing, but what do you do? You've got to move forward,' he said 'There'll be times when you reflect and you go over things. 'You've got to front up.'
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Laurie Daley's blunt admission after State of Origin disaster
The full post-mortem of NSW's State of Origin capitulation is yet to come but beaten Blues coach Laurie Daley says he's still 'trying to recover' nearly a week after a Queensland ambush delivered the Maroons a remarkable series win. Daley, who took over from Michael Maguire who steered NSW to the shield in 2024, returned to his day job on Sydney radio on Monday, declared that he would ' have to take full responsibility' after his team lost the final two games. Having already stated his intention to coach on in 2026, as per his contract, Daley conceded losing would haunt him for some time. 'I'm trying to recover from Wednesday night. It will take a while to get over. I've been reflecting,' Daley said on Big Sports Breakfast. 'The first couple of days were tough. We expected a better performance, obviously, so I've been scratching my head (and asking) why? Why did we have a performance like that? 'That has to start with the coaches, me in particular. I've got to look at myself and make sure I go through what I did to see whether that was the best I could have done. 'As head coach, I have to take full accountability because I'm the leader. I get that, I understand that. 'Going on what I felt after the game, I'm still none-the-wiser because I was so happy with the way we prepared and went about it. 'We have to find out what happened and why we weren't ready to go out at our best.' Daley said there were staff meetings to come this week and other debriefs where all questions would be asked 'Coaches meetings to come, leadership meetings. There is a lot to still happen behind the scenes,' he said. 'You want to get it while it's fresh – the thoughts about the week, the game, what do we need to do better, why did we miss the jump. All those things.' The Blues carried injured players into the game including Payne Haas and Brian To'o but defended the decision to take them into the decider. 'Brian and Payne had limited preparations in games one and two and they were players-of-the-match in games one and two,' Daley said. 'With that body of work behind them, you trust them. Look at Brian's performance, he was great. He carried the ball 25, 26 times.' Daley said nothing could change the result, but he would work to change the future. 'No matter what I say today, we have to fix what happened. It was disappointing, very disappointing, but what do you do? You've got to move forward,' he said 'There'll be times when you reflect and you go over things. 'You've got to front up.'
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
‘Something that has been spoken about': Ryan Papenhuyzen on Laurie Daley's radar for Blues debut
Ryan Papenhuyzen's blistering form has him in the mix to earn a State of Origin debut later this month as returning Blues coach Laurie Daley faces a major call at fullback for the series opener. The Storm fullback is fresh off scoring a club record 36 points against the Wests Tigers on Sunday that included a rapid-fire hat-trick in the opening 17 minutes. Papenhuyzen represented NSW in the under-16s, under-18s and under-20s, while he also carved up for a star-studded Junior Kangaroos side with a double against France back in 2019. Ezra Mam took to the field for the first time in 2025, following his suspension last year. It's unlikely that he'll win the fullback spot over Dylan Edwards or James Tedesco, but he could force his way onto the bench as an impact player where he could wreak havoc through the middle as he used to do when he first joined the Storm. 'Yeah, he is someone who could play that role very well I think,' Daley said on the Big Sports Breakfast on Monday morning. 'With the speed of the game, fatigue and all those types of things, you could inject him. He could be there as cover for an injury to an outside back. 'But I think you could get him into the game as a lock and inject some speed in and outside the ruck. That's not a silly idea … it's something that has been spoken about.' Daley's other major choice is at fullback where Edwards and Tedesco would both do a wonderful job if picked. Tedesco, the former Blues skipper, wasn't originally picked for last year's series opener but replaced the injured Edwards, who returned to help NSW come from behind to stun the Maroons in the final two games. Edwards was man of the match in game three and went on to win a fourth title in 2024, but he has been outplayed by his Roosters rival this season. The Panthers fullback is the favourite to win the jersey, but Roosters coach Trent Robinson says Daley is in a good position with so many guys in form. 'You can't go wrong. You look at the way that Papenhuyzen played yesterday, you look at Dylan and you look at Teddy (and they're all in form), but it's the selection of Laurie,' he said. 'Ted is my No.1 and always will be. I love the way that he plays and the heart he plays with, but it's Laurie's selection. I don't need to add to that. 'It's whatever his choice is and the style of play and what fits that around the other players.' Meanwhile, Isaiya Katoa looms as the NSW halfback of the future after another display of ball-playing wizardry against the Eels last week as he made it wins over Mitch Moses, Nathan Cleary and Jahrome Hughes in recent weeks. The Johns brothers are in awe of the Dolphins playmaker who bamboozled the Eels defence to set up the first try as he looked inside, dummied and swivelled his hips before passing out the back to Kodi Nikorima to help Jack Bostock score. 'He plays nice and straight, which I feel helps my game because I'm more of a runner and I can play off the back of him,' Nikorima said of the 21-year-old. 'Obviously they've got some incredible halves at the moment in Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses. He might have to wait his turn, but he's definitely heading in the right direction for Origin.'
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Daley's massive call on Origin hopeful
Ryan Papenhuyzen's blistering form has him in the mix to earn a State of Origin debut later this month as returning Blues coach Laurie Daley faces a major call at fullback for the series opener. The Storm fullback is fresh off scoring a club record 36 points against the Wests Tigers on Sunday that included a rapid-fire hat-trick in the opening 17 minutes. Papenhuyzen represented NSW in the under-16s, under-18s and under-20s, while he also carved up for a star-studded Junior Kangaroos side with a double against France back in 2019. Ryan Papenhuyzen has worn the famous blue jersey several times in junior rep sides. Credit: Supplied Ezra Mam took to the field for the first time in 2025, following his suspension last year. It's unlikely that he'll win the fullback spot over Dylan Edwards or James Tedesco, but he could force his way onto the bench as an impact player where he could wreak havoc through the middle as he used to do when he first joined the Storm. 'Yeah, he is someone who could play that role very well I think,' Daley said on the Big Sports Breakfast on Monday morning. 'With the speed of the game, fatigue and all those types of things, you could inject him. He could be there as cover for an injury to an outside back. 'But I think you could get him into the game as a lock and inject some speed in and outside the ruck. That's not a silly idea … it's something that has been spoken about.' Daley's other major choice is at fullback where Edwards and Tedesco would both do a wonderful job if picked. Tedesco, the former Blues skipper, wasn't originally picked for last year's series opener but replaced the injured Edwards, who returned to help NSW come from behind to stun the Maroons in the final two games. Edwards was man of the match in game three and went on to win a fourth title in 2024, but he has been outplayed by his Roosters rival this season. The Panthers fullback is the favourite to win the jersey, but Roosters coach Trent Robinson says Daley is in a good position with so many guys in form. 'You can't go wrong. You look at the way that Papenhuyzen played yesterday, you look at Dylan and you look at Teddy (and they're all in form), but it's the selection of Laurie,' he said. 'Ted is my No.1 and always will be. I love the way that he plays and the heart he plays with, but it's Laurie's selection. I don't need to add to that. 'It's whatever his choice is and the style of play and what fits that around the other players.' Meanwhile, Isaiya Katoa looms as the NSW halfback of the future after another display of ball-playing wizardry against the Eels last week as he made it wins over Mitch Moses, Nathan Cleary and Jahrome Hughes in recent weeks. The Johns brothers are in awe of the Dolphins playmaker who bamboozled the Eels defence to set up the first try as he looked inside, dummied and swivelled his hips before passing out the back to Kodi Nikorima to help Jack Bostock score. 'He plays nice and straight, which I feel helps my game because I'm more of a runner and I can play off the back of him,' Nikorima said of the 21-year-old. 'Obviously they've got some incredible halves at the moment in Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses. He might have to wait his turn, but he's definitely heading in the right direction for Origin.'
Sydney Morning Herald
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why it would be madness to select Mitch Moses for Origin
Trodden is an unabashed fan, and a friend of Daley. He was at the forefront of the decision to bring him back after seven seasons in the wilderness. After last year's series win, a loss this year would put them both in a position where the scrutiny will be crushing. With it all to lose, what does Daley do at the selection table? One great match by Eels halfback Mitch Moses on his return from injury was enough for many pundits to say he should be selected as halfback ahead of Nathan Cleary, whose Panthers were struggling through the first third of the season. Those people have lost their minds. The argument being that Moses did the business in games two and three last year when Cleary was missing. At worst, they want him picked at five-eighth ahead of Jarome Luai, if Cleary is preferred in the number seven. At fullback, James Tedesco has played out of his skin, almost single-handedly inspiring the Roosters to a better-than-expected 4-5 start to the year. There's been a big push for Daley to pick him, even though he left him out of a January gathering of possible 2025 Blues squad members. That would mean axing the Panthers' Dylan Edwards, who finally forced his way into the side for games two and three last year after several quality seasons. He missed game one after being selected, and Tedesco earned a one-match reprieve. As an avid listener of Daley's Big Sports Breakfast on Sky Sports radio, I've tried to read into his almost daily non-commital comments about Blues' selections, discussion of which is mainly met with laughter. Every now and then he lets something slip. He's a big fan of Cleary, obviously, but also of Moses and Edwards. Regarding Edwards, he particularly noted his return to form against the Broncos in Magic Round. He's also a massive fan of Tom Trbojevic, who hasn't played Origin since he tore a pectoral muscle in the opening minutes of game two in 2023. But he can pick him at centre, from where he destroyed the Maroons in 2021, winning the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series. When he names the side in a week's time, Daley will go with Edwards, and he'll pick Cleary. He will also have no problem picking Cleary and Moses as his halves combination. That's where the risk comes in, picking two match-controlling halfbacks as a combination. Cleary at seven is an absolute no-brainer - the out-and-out champion among an amazing crop of current players. He will be an Immortal one day. He is 27 now, and peaking. Against the Broncos in Magic Round he was supreme. The Panthers' ordinary start to the year should matter little because what Cleary and his Panthers mates achieved, four premierships in a row, is outrageous. Only champion players and champion combinations can do that via sustained excellence for more than 100 matches. That's why Luai must be five-eighth, not Moses. Now at the Wests-Tigers, Luai was alongside Cleary for all four. Loading If you want to win Origin, you pick winners, the champions who know how to win. And that's Cleary at seven, Luai at six and Edwards at one. Throw in incumbent Reece Robson at hooker, and that's the spine. Cleary should also be the skipper. He co-skippers the Panthers with Isaah Yeo, who will also be in the Blues side. But the time is now to tell Cleary it's his team and his show. Jake Trbojevic was an inspired choice as captain last year, especially for his off-field leadership, but he can't be picked this year. As great as he has been, he didn't play enough minutes in Origin last year, averaging 20 per match.
