‘Played good footy’: Blues coach Laurie Daley defiant after latest loss

Despite being on the end of a record-extending fifth series defeat, Laurie Daley’s demeanour after Game 3 took many by surprise.

Coach Laurie Daley seemed to be taking his Blues’ latest series defeat surprisingly well, striking a relaxed tone in his post-match press conference.

Daley, 55, stepped back into the Origin arena following an eight-year absence for the 2025 campaign and it all started well after a dominant 18-6 Game 1 victory.

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The wheels well and truly fell off, however, with the first half displays in particular making for shocking reading as the Maroons stormed back for the latest triumphant performance in a series they have routinely dominated.

Giving up the first 26 points in Game 2 in Perth, the Blues at least made it competitive and rued some wayward shots on goal in a 26-24 defeat.

Watch Laurie Daley speaking in the video player above

Josh Papali'i celebrates after yet another Queensland State of Origin victory. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

But Game 3 was a bloodbath, with Daley’s outfit trailing 20-0 at the break and never really in the hunt in a 24-12 defeat.

While skipper Isaah Yeo looked devastated at the post-match presser, Daley had a calm, almost jovial demeanour.

“Disappointed,” he said. “We got off to a bad start again and in Origin you give away those sort of starts, it’s always hard to come back.

“Proud of the way the boys fought but it wasn’t our night.”

In his first stint as Blues coach, Daley caught the tail end of a dominant Maroons side, losing the 2013 series before bouncing back the following year.

Laurie Daley didn't appear overly upset by the defeat. Photo: Fox Sports

The Canberra Raiders great, who was part of possibly the greatest Blues team ever during his playing career in the early 90s, then lost three straight series against Queensland from 2015-2017.

Sacked by his state after that 2017 series, Daley was replaced by Brad Fittler, who would go on to win three of his six series at the helm.

Michael Maguire then stepped in and steered the Blues to a series triumph in 2024 before stepping down to take over the Brisbane Broncos.

When the NSW selection committee looked around for a replacement, they opted for Daley once again, who had won only six of his 15 games the first time around.

He now has a 1-5 series record in charge and while his side was comprehensively beaten in Game 3, he spoke like it had been a close-run contest.

“We played some good footy, but they just won some moments,” he said.

“We felt like at times we defended three tackles really well and the fourth they made half a break and kick to get out of trouble. Little things like that.

“It felt like an arm wrestle then all of a sudden they won a moment to give them some points.

“You just can’t give up those points.”

While Daley appeared to be taking the defeat in his stride, NSW fans on social media weren’t so kind.

Tom Dearden’s elevation proved a masterstroke from Billy Slater. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Swear words were the order of the day on Elon Musk’s version of X as the gutted supporters didn’t hold back.

Mike Scolz tweeted: “New South Wales should have won this series 3-0 but somehow Laurie Daley has managed to f**k it all up.”

An account called @tjhart78 wrote: “Laurie Daley would have to be the worst origin coach ever. Nathan Cleary – great club player. S**thouse when it comes to representative stuff.”

A fired up @Simonil97 said: “Laurie Daley deserves this for picking an entire middle rotation of players worse than Terrell May (Haas aside) ahead of him.”

@MeggaDons stated: “Series was lost when they brought Laurie Daley back as coach. Terrible decision.”

Brian To'o (right) could hold his head high, but not enough Blues joined him in the series. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Jordan Patu declared: “It’s clear as day that Laurie Daley isn’t the right man for the NSW job. You don’t even have to get into tactics. The demeanour his team took into games 2 & 3 said it all. Not sure where the blues go from here. The talent is there. The coaching & culture just wasn’t.”

Queenslander and former sports reporter Ed Jackson quipped: “Laurie Daley’s fifth origin series loss as coach has to be the greatest of all. So much talent at his disposal including pretty much half of the greatest club team in modern history and you get whumped at home in a decider. Special. Please keep him NSW for all Qlders.”

It would be almost impossible to see Daley’s second stint in charge lasting more than this year’s series.

That leaves NSW selectors heading back to that proverbial drawing board once again.