Laurie Daley sacked as NSW State of Origin coach

LAURIE Daley’s tenure as NSW Blues coach is over after the NSWRL announced on Friday it would not renew his contract for the 2018 series.

• PAUL KENT: Why Laurie Daley’s time was up

• CONTENDERS: Who should be the next NSW coach?

• REACTION: Fans, players, commentators on Daley axing

LAURIE Daley’s tenure as NSW Blues coach is over after the NSWRL announced on Friday it would not renew his contract for the 2018 series.

Daley has coached the Blues since 2013 and ended the Maroons long winning streak in 2014 but was unable to build on that initial success.

The Canberra Raiders legend coached the Blues through 15 matches for six wins and nine losses.

“I’ve enjoyed my time working for New South Wales Rugby League,” Daley said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

“I understand that the business is results-driven and I respect the decision of the board to go in another direction.

“I will always support New South Wales and I wish their team and their coach every success in the future.”

Blues coach Laurie Daley was gutted after the game three loss this year.

The NSWRL released news of Daley’s sacking in a statement today, announcing it “had decided it was time for a new direction and Laurie Daley would not be offered a renewal of his five-year contract which ended this year”.

“I have spoken with Laurie and he understands the decision. He is obviously disappointed but he has enjoyed the journey and appreciated the opportunity,” NSWRL chairman George Peponis said.

“Obviously we thank Laurie for the significant contribution he has made over the past five years.

“He is a legend of the game and has done a tremendous job. He is the only New South Wales coach in the past 12 years who has won a State of Origin Series.

“We felt it was time to make a change. All aspects of the business will be looked at from coaching staff to team operations and personnel.”

The axing comes just days after an exclusive Daily Telegraph survey revealed 72 per cent of fans believed NSW would not win another State of Origin series under Daley’s leadership.

Daley’s spot was under pressure following this year’s series capitulation to Queensland, which marked the fourth defeat in the Blues legend’s five-year tenure.

It was compounded by revelations of the boozy exploits of star players Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson during the NSW camp.

Dugan and Ferguson attracted widespread criticism for a long drinking session at Lennox Head on the Friday before game three.

Speaking about the incident on Fox Sports program NRL 360 after the final Origin, Daley admitted mistakes were made during the pre-game camp particularly in relation to the Dugan-Ferguson incident.

Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson were heavily criticised for drinking the Frday before Game Three.

“Did we know they were going down to have a few beers? No we didn’t. Yes we knew they were going down to Lennox Head to meet up with a mate. Obviously we’ve done something wrong to allow them to think they can go down there and have a few beers. We all admit it’s not a great look. If we had have won we wouldn’t have been discussing it but at the end of the day both of those guys would agree that it wasn’t a good look and something we will address and need to address.

“I’ve got a great relationship with those two guys and I’m sure if they had have asked me if they could have a few beers, I would have said no. But that wasn’t the case. I’m not holding anyone out as a scapegoat because I need to look at myself and what we’ve done to suggest to these players they can go out there and do that.”

Laurie Daley coached the Blues through 15 matches for six wins and nine losses. Picture: Brett Costello

There was also a controversy in regards to Andrew Fifita and David Klemmer about who was supposed to be the starting prop.

“I told David he was starting then I had a conversation with Andrew – not about starting on the bench but another conversation that will remain private,” Daley said on NRL 360.

“After that conversation I knew I needed Andrew to start. I couldn’t afford to have Andrew on the interchange bench ... Andrew was disappointed that I didn’t allow him to speak to the media and we discussed that. There were a couple of other issues we discussed but no way did I say to Andrew that you’re starting on the bench. We didn’t have that conversation. After having that conversation with Andrew I knew he needed to start and I went straight back to David and said he was going to go back to the bench.”

NSW's Boyd Cordner didn’t want to see Daley go. Picture: Brett Costello

NSW captain Boyd Cordner was adamant he wanted Daley to stay following this year’s series defeat.

“I love Loz as a coach. I don’t think I’ve met a more passionate man who’s worn the blue jersey. I think it’s carbon-copied for him to have his job just with the emotion he shows,” Cordner said shortly after the series loss.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve. A hundred per cent I want him to stay.”