Bellamy, King, White: Inside NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley’s coaching set-up for 2025

A who’s who of Melbourne Storm legends, led by Craig Bellamy, will spearhead Laurie Daley’s NSW Blues coaching team for the 2025 State of Origin series. Here’s how Daley sealed the Bellamy coup.

Incoming NSW coach Laurie Daley will entrench himself in the Melbourne Storm coaching box alongside Craig Bellamy next season as they plot Queensland’s State of Origin downfall.

The Blues unveiled their new coaching set-up on Monday with Daley, 55, returning as coach on a two-year deal.

In order to take on the position, Daley has had to quit his role with the TAB, where he is employed to spruik betting odds on Fox League, to avoid fears of a conflict of interest.

However, he will remain as a co-host on the Big Sports Breakfast show on Sky Sports Radio, but will step down from on-air duties for the six-week Origin period.

In a major boost for the Blues, Bellamy has been brought on as an adviser, after Daley sounded out the Storm coach.

“I was looking for some guidance and Craig was the best possible person to do that. Craig will help the coaches - we will all learn a lot,” Daley said.

Bellamy will be involved in everything from selections to strategy as part of a Blues football department that has a deep shade of Storm purple about it.

Frank Ponissi, Melbourne’s general manager of football, will remain NSW’s team performance manager, while former Storm players Matt King and Brett White will be Daley’s assistants.

But the coup for Daley is Bellamy, who will spend time in all three Blues camps, with Melbourne having byes before the first two Origins.

The three-time premiership winner will also be in the NSW coaching box for the matches in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane.

“Knowing Craig the way I do, and the way he operates, the way he goes about building structures in a football team, the way he interacts with coaches, the way he interacts with players, this is a bonus for us,” Daley said on Monday.

“When Craig said he was interested, we discussed what type of role it would be.

“Melbourne has a couple of byes during Origin so there will be a period of time where he will spend a lot of time (in camp) and there will be a stage during the third Origin where he will be in camp and certainly there game night, sitting in the box.”

Adding a layer of complexity, Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater is also on the books at the Storm, where he works as a coaching consultant and could come face-to-face with Daley.

“I will be with Craig throughout the year, certain games, sitting in the (Storm) box and learning and seeing how he goes about processing things in games so we just don’t turn up on the night expecting that connection to be there,” Daley said.

“I will work closely with Craig throughout the year and certainly run things past him.

Daley and Bellamy played together at the Canberra Raiders during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“He’s a great mentor. It wasn’t part of the pitch but once I got down to the nitty-gritty, I discussed and flagged it with the NSWRL,” Daley said of recruiting Bellamy.

“The players will be extremely excited to get to work with someone like Craig. You don’t need to talk about what he has achieved in the game. He is passionate about NSW and wants to be part of it. Both of us have that passion and desire to be successful.

“I’ve had a great relationship with Craig over a number of years.”

Daley’s appointment comes after Michael Maguire quit the Blues after just one successful series to replace Kevin Walters as Brisbane Broncos coach.

Daley coached NSW between 2013 and 2017, famously ending Queensland’s eight-year domination in 2014.

He joins Phil Gould as the only coaches to have two stints with the Blues.

Craig Bellamy returns to the NSW Blues as an adviser to new coach Laurie Daley.

“I love NSW, I love coaching,” Daley, who is a Blues hall of famer and former captain, said.

“There are really positive signs for NSW given what they achieved this year. We will do the best possible job to represent our state in the best possible fashion. I am always trying to stay relevant and up to speed.”

NSWRL chief executive David Trodden was excited at the prospect of the Daley-Bellamy partnership.

“Laurie has a deep passion for our organisation and our State of Origin team,” Trodden.

“To have the best NRL coach around and involved in our organisation is an enormous vote of confidence in Laurie and the support staff.

“The NSW coaching group is arguably the best coaching group for any rugby league team in the world. NSW has plenty to be excited about over what lies ahead.”

NEW SKY BLUES COACH

- Dean Ritchie

Sydney Roosters NRLW coach John Strange has been appointed NSW State of Origin women’s coach.

Strange has replaced Kylie Hilder, who stood down from the post after four seasons as Sky Blues head coach.

Former Australian and NSW women’s Origin captain Ruan Sims will remain an assistant coach.

“I can’t wait to get started,” Strange said. “The Origin series will be played out before round one of the NRLW season.

Laurie Daley (R) with new women’s coach John Strange. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I am a lifelong Blues tragic and it is an incredible honour for me to be appointed into the role.

“I look forward to working with the talented players available for selection with the aim of building an invincible Blues force for the 2025 season.”

NSWRL chief executive David Trodden added: “John brings a wealth of experience to our organisation and to our women’s State of Origin team.

“He has a lengthy coaching experience but, in particular, he is a multiple NRLW premiership-winning coach with the Sydney Roosters. John is an absolute leader in his field.”

Originally published as Bellamy, King, White: Inside NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley’s coaching set-up for 2025