Laurie Daley is undecided as to whether he wants to coach NSW beyond 2017, but accepts the choice will be made for him if he can’t lead the Blues to State of Origin success next year.
Daley piloted the Blues to their droughtbreaking series win in 2014 in his second year in charge. But he has failed to replicate that success in the two seasons since.
The former Blues great came under pressure to hold his coaching job after the Blues suffered their 10th series loss in 11 years this season. But he will coach through to the end of his current three-year contract which expires next year.
“It is results driven and I have to be able to put my best foot forward and have the team humming next year,” Daley told AAP at the launch of Fox Sports’ Retro Round.
“It will not be about looking to extend my coaching career, it is about winning.
“That (decision about coaching on) would be a decision I would have to be comfortable with and the NSWRL would have to be comfortable about too.
“But I am not thinking about that right now.”
Next year’s series is expected to be full of feeling following the sniping from both teams in the wake of NSW’s win in game three.
Queensland were incensed when they claimed the Blues snubbed the presentation at which they were awarded the Origin shield.
But Daley defended his players.
“I know our guys have a great respect for Queensland, they don’t fear them, they like to test themselves against the best,” he said.
“But in terms of no respect I don’t think that is the case at all. I think our guys are very humble and that is something we have worked hard on with them for the last couple of years.”
Daley said he was yet to begin his post-season review but that would happen in the coming weeks.
Big J
Guest
Funny how we always blame the coach, why can't they admit that thier players are not up to scratch and have not been for over a decade. Even if they get rid of Laurie after next year whom will replace him, Hasler? Toovey? Brown? Cleary? Stuart? Not slot if high cards in that hand
Mac
Guest
Laurie needs to move on. He has the team playing timid one out footy and it isn't working. The Walker selection alone should be grounds for dismissal not to mention the pathetic style of footy and the nervous, play not to lose approach he has instilled in the group...
maximillian
Guest
To be fair his head should already be cut after another series loss this year, & a 50 point drubbing last year. I'm just glad this isn't an article with Laurie coming out early & guaranteeing origin spots for his players. Maybe he has learned a trick.
MAX
Guest
Agree HY, the contract would probably astound us. Laurie is not likely to resign from a sinecure so he will see out his contract next season. Laurie loves Robbie and both love contract law and dosh$$$. Tooves is sitting pretty. Origin, Souths, Saints,Roosters?, Bulldogs?,Broncos?Warriors? The Sea Eagle and the Rabbit. Toovey Crowe Packer. Sounds like a firm of bloody chartered accountants.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Tooves needs to be offered a gig with The Dragons. Then in a few years time he and Barrett can play musical chairs and do the Brookie-Kogarah shuffle.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
It would seem Ya can't teach an old dog old tricks either. I feel like putting myself under a self imposed exile from origin next year to spare me the frustration of watching the best opportunity the blues have had for a long time squandered by our kindergarten coach.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I'd love to see what the contract says. Redact the remuneration numbers from the copy for commercial privacy by all means, but surely there must be some specific, objective, measurable performance objectives in it. Surely it's not as schoolkid simple as ' you've got three years getting paid and during that time just do your best and come up with whatever you can. That'll be good enough'. The mind boggles. It would be illuminating if the NSWRL were dumb enough to do just that. But you'd have to suspect that NSWRL were actually dumb enough to do just that. On any reasonable analysis old Laurie is out of his depth. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, and anyway, you might say that good coaches are born, and experience only adds to their core talent. 'Core talent' being the operative words. Does Laurie; good guy that he undoubtedly is by all accounts, have that core talent? The record doesn't show that he does. It just seems a terrible lost opportunity to have a demented, focused, passionate, talented, compulsive obsessive madman winner in the form of Tooves working as a bloody chartered accountant when he - as we all know - would have a Blues side come charging out from between the Gates of Hell itself to get over the top of that great Queensland team.