A refreshed Laurie Daley has declared himself a better coach on return to the NSW State of Origin side, after already securing his first big win in landing Craig Bellamy as an adviser.
Daley was officially unveiled as the Blues’ next Origin coach on Monday on a two-year deal, ending a nine-week search for Michael Maguire’s successor after his exit for the Broncos.
In doing so, Daley becomes just the second person to return to the NSW role after Phil Gould, having previously led the state between 2013 and 2017.
Axed by the Blues after dropping an “unlosable” series and amid a slew of questions around culture, Daley has only coached the annual All Stars fixture since.
But his desire to return to the Blues set-up was lit when Brad Fittler initially asked him to be an assistant last year, before eventually quitting the role.
Daley then came into camp under Maguire last season, before putting his hand up to lead the state after Maguire’s exit.
And he has no concern about staying across the modern game after his time out, having long held roles in the media and on talkback radio.
“I’d like to think I am a better coach and I’ve learned a lot,” Daley said.
“The thing about rugby league people is you never lose the love or the passion for the game. You watch it a lot.
“The position I have in radio, people are always asking you about that. And you are giving an opinion on what you see is happening.
“Even as a person who just sits and watches rugby league, if I see something I’ll write it down, or I’ll record it.
“I have it in my own memory bank. I think I am always trying to stay relevant and up to speed with the game.”
Daley will lean on Maguire in his role, already planning to reach out to the old coach while keeping his staff and expecting to keep camps in the Blue Mountains.
“I will be all over him like a cheap suit,” Daley said.
“I will find out what he thought worked, didn’t work, camps, most of the staff are still there.
“There is no reason to stray too far from what he’s done. Tactically, what worked and what didn’t …. I’ll work with him and bounce a few ideas.”
But the biggest difference in the Blues’ structure will be Bellamy.
Daley immediately reached out to the Melbourne coach before applying for the NSW job.
The new Blues coach admitted on Monday he did not think he would convince his old Canberra teammate, and only had the appointment locked in recently.
The pair will share a coach’s box at the Storm for select matches before Origin, and Bellamy will spend long periods of time in camp.
Bellamy had as recently as September refused to take up the NSW job, having previously struggled with the idea of coaching against his own club players.
But Daley said this role would be different.
“He will be more about us rather than strategy on the opposition,” Daley said.
“It’s more about as a coaching group how you are working, why you strategise that way, how you’re talking to the players, what message are you trying to deliver.
“And then on the team side of things, looking at what he looks for in players. Selecting the team will be part of his role as well.”
After previously being blocked from coaching roles due to his radio job with the TAB, Daley will take time off from radio during Origin.
