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Queenslanders should breathe a bit easier after Laurie Daley sacked as NSW coach

DESPITE just one series win from five attempts, Queenslanders should breathe a bit easier following Laurie Daley’s axing as Blues coach.

Time’s up for Laurie Daley as Blues coach.
Time’s up for Laurie Daley as Blues coach.

YOU can almost imagine the scenes at NSWRL headquarters when Laurie Daley was told he was no longer required as Blues State of Origin coach.

In one chair, NSWRL Chairman Dr George Peponis.

In the other, Lozza.

The mood is tense. Peponis breaks the awkward silence…

Peponis: “Laurie, (pause), mate, ummm… I’ve got some bad news for you.”

Daley: “Bugger…not a two-year contract extension?’”

Peponis: “No Laurie, we have decided with heavy hearts that we will not be offering you a new deal”.

AXED: Laurie Daley sacked as NSW State of Origin coach

CONTENDERS: Who should be the next NSW coach?

Daley: “Yippee!!!...(starts dancing and singing) Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay, My, oh, my, what a wonderful day, Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way…Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!’’

Peponis: (as Daley does cartwheels out of the room) “Laurie! Laurie! Laurie! Lauuurieeee…..”

Of course the meeting would have far more professional and sombre than that clearly false account (maybe).

But there would be a small part of Daley that would be glad to get the bullet from the Blues job. Not that he would admit it.

Time’s up for Laurie Daley as Blues coach.
Time’s up for Laurie Daley as Blues coach.

Imagine the relief though. No more Maroon-induced nightmares.

He won the one series in five attempts as Blues boss.

The late Graham Murray, Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart won zero from seven before him.

As a player, Daley was an Origin player that all of Queensland genuinely feared.

Tough, skilful and passionate. A real warrior. He was just like our boys.

He cared as much about Origin as a Queenslander. And Queensland rightfully respected him for that.

Daley got Origin. So did his Raiders clubmates Ricky Stuart, Brad Clyde and Glenn Lazarus. Maybe it came from hanging out with Big Mal.

He was a big part of the NSW sides that dominated the 1990s because he never quit. He always prepared well and he was ruthless.

That’s why when he took over as Blues coach, it made Queensland sit up and take notice.

The Blues had a bloke in charge that knew what it took to succeed at the game’s highest level.

But Daley ran into one of the greatest sides the game has ever seen.

You can plan and prepare all you want. Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith and the rest of the Maroons marauders would bring anybody unstuck.

Laurie Daley's apponintment as NSW coach made Queensland sit up and take notice.
Laurie Daley's apponintment as NSW coach made Queensland sit up and take notice.

And it would have frustrated him that very few of the blokes he was coaching were prepared to make the sacrifices and the whole-hearted commitment he made as a player.

It would have broken his heart when he found out that Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson spent a day at a pub before this year’s Origin decider.

He would have cringed when Andrew Fifita turned in a stinker in Game 3 after retaining his starting spot.

Sure, Laurie made mistakes – he kept picking Mitchell Pearce for starters.

But he made a valiant attempt to build some sort of culture with the Blues.

It is almost an impossible thing to do when you have no foundation and materials for little more than a house of cards.

Laurie Daley ran into one of the greatest sides the game has ever seen.
Laurie Daley ran into one of the greatest sides the game has ever seen.

He didn’t have the cattle. The cattle he did have, largely, didn’t have a clue.

He failed where many have failed before as Blues coach. It shouldn’t tarnish his standing in the game.

Queenslanders should breathe a bit easier. The next bloke won’t be as qualified for the job.

The magnificent Maroons dynasty rolls on having claimed yet another scalp in a coach-killing run that would make Jarryd Hayne jealous.

In the meantime, watch out for a bloke doing cartwheels in the middle of a Sydney street.

Originally published as Queenslanders should breathe a bit easier after Laurie Daley sacked as NSW coach

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/nrl/queenslanders-should-breathe-a-bit-easier-after-laurie-daley-sacked-as-nsw-coach/news-story/4ad9a8225a2214d0d3e29f48482e08a5