Daley puts his hand up to coach NSW
Three-time series-winning captain Laurie Daley says whoever gets the vacant NSW State of Origin coaching job can expect help from Ricky Stuart to settle into the high-pressure job.
Stuart, who lost the past two interstate series in deciders – this year’s by one point – has stepped down as Blues coach to take over the reins of NRL strugglers Parramatta in 2013.
“Ricky has been fantastic and I know how passionate he is about NSW,” said Daley after confirming on Thursday he had officially applied for the Origin job.
“I think regardless of who is in charge, Ricky will still have a heavy influence in how the NSW team prepares.
“You would like to think if Ricky had the time, he would help in some way, shape or form because he’s done a massive job in closing the gap between the two states over the last two years.”
Daley’s rivals include Jim Dymock, Brad Fittler, Trent Barrett – who was Stuart’s assistant this year – and possibly NSW’s most successful Origin mentor, Phil Gould.
The Blues will be desperate to secure the right man to carry on Stuart’s work, with Queensland eyeing off an eighth straight series win next year.
“I’ve put my hand up and I’m certainly interested in the position,” Daley revealed at an All Stars ticket promotion in Brisbane.
“The NSW Board are going through a process at the moment where they’re identifying candidates to find the best possible person to lead the state.”
Daley didn’t want to publicly talk up his claims to replace Stuart – his former Canberra, NSW and Australian teammate.
But he had no doubt he was ready to take the next step in his coaching career.
“I’ve been coaching representative sides now for five years and I think I could do a good job,” said the former Raiders great.
“The other people who’ve put their hands up are also very good candidates.
“We’ve come close the past few years under Ricky’s guidance and it’s one of those challenges where you feel you can make a difference.”
Daley has coached Country Origin for the past five years for two wins, a draw and two losses and the feedback from players has been very positive.
He said he would not change too much of what Stuart had introduced to the Blues’ Origin preparations but would bring some of his own qualities to the team.
One thing he wouldn’t follow was Stuart’s sledging of their former teammate Mal Meninga who’s moulded the Maroons into a dominant force since taking over in 2006.
“I’d love to have the same record as Mal,” laughed Daley when asked if he’d adopt Stuart’s sledging which has been an added highlight to Origin.
“Ricky’s done such a great job and I think you need to have that Origin history behind you.
“I’d be keen to coach the Blues if the NSW Board consider I am the right man for the job.”
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (7) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Laurie Daley, NSW Blues, Ricky Stuart, State Of Origin
August 17th 2012 @ 5:24am
peeeko said | August 17th 2012 @ 5:24am | Report comment
from memory most teams that Daley has mentored since retirement have struggled?
August 17th 2012 @ 7:29am
steve b said | August 17th 2012 @ 7:29am | Report comment
Tell us something we don’t know !!
August 17th 2012 @ 8:16am
Johnno said | August 17th 2012 @ 8:16am | Report comment
Loz was a great player and as tough a stye come and great captain, but seems a showpony a bif off the field. He seems far to busy working on his image at foxpsorts than wanting to get stuck in and get his hands dirty with the coaching gig. I don’t think he is the man. Jim Dymock or trent barrett for me. ANd brad filter i hope that joke has worn out this week. He is not the man for the job. A great player but not the man, even joey was laughing when freddy’s name was mentioned.
August 17th 2012 @ 12:42pm
Damn Straight said | August 17th 2012 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
If he’s that concerned with his image, maybe he needs to change hairdressers.
August 17th 2012 @ 9:22am
sledgeross said | August 17th 2012 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Daley has consistently been shown to be a poor judge of tactics via his commentary. The blokes analysis is very ordinary (I dont think he has got too many top 8s right in his pre season tips). Just dont think he has the chops to be a coach, though I have tremendous respect for everything he acheived as a player (pretty much everything!).
August 17th 2012 @ 12:32pm
Albo said | August 17th 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
Yep !
Whilst he was great committed player , vision was not his forte !
Plenty of wrong options taken on the field.
His efforts in commemtary indicate he really doesn’t understand what is happening out their on the field !
Not a great aspect for a proposed State of Origin coach !
He would be last choice for me from all the names that are being thrown about today !
August 19th 2012 @ 2:49am
Randwick Mick said | August 19th 2012 @ 2:49am | Report comment
As long as the Refs continue to award tries to QLD for obstruction and knock ons then it doesnt matter who coaches the Blues. Its so funny listening to the crap coming out of bronco fans mouths ahahahaha, they told us NSW fans we were paranoid and the refs were performing great and we were just whinging and yet every week after origin, there has been bad calls by refs, and the Broncos cant stop whinging about how bad the refs are and how its a conspiracy that the NRL want a NSW final hahahahahaha talk about hpocritical, we all know how QLDers would react if they were the ones losing origin, a few bronco losses and they cant stop whinging and bombarding the Bronco HQ hahahahaha sooks.