Bulldog’s Bite: The Laurie Daley I have known for 36 years
Laurie Daley is a champion bloke you just can’t get angry with. His great mate Dean Ritchie reveals the NSW’s coach’s chilled take on life and the country town that always keeps his feet on the ground.
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It was after a Sunday game in Canberra during the Raiders’ great reign when Laurie Daley insisted on eating seafood for dinner.
“I want nothing else, just seafood,” he told teammates Ricky Stuart and Brett Mullins.
So the trio jumped into Stuart’s car and started a 90-minute pilgrimage around the national capital, all to satisfy Daley’s calamari craving.
The first two restaurants were closed before, finally, the three players found a joint on the other side of town that was open for business.
Tired, sore and hungry, Daley, Stuart and Mullins finally sat down nearly two hours after leaving Bruce Stadium, allowing Loz to tuck into the seafood he’d made such a fuss about eating.
Mullins promptly ordered prawns, Stuart opted for oysters while Daley carefully scoured the menu before declaring: “I’ll have a T-bone.”
Stuart jumped up and threatened to throttle his champion five-eighth.
This is Laurie Daley – a champion bloke you just can’t get angry with.
I have known Daley for 36 years. In that time, we have become confidants and mates. He is funny, ethical, quirky, trusting — once you’ve secured his trust — and highly competitive.
He has a chilled take on life, is fiercely loyal – a trait on display again after he named an unchanged side for State of Origin decider in Sydney – and often finds the funny side in human behaviour.
Given his country background, Lozza can be naive at times but it’s a trait which mates find endearing. But don’t be fooled, if you’re full of shit, he will see straight through you. Beneath the surface lies a motivated mongrel.
I’ve seen his top lip curl and his eyes narrow with focus when he wants victory.
Away from footy, Daley isn’t much of a success around the house. He certainly tries with the tools but things don’t seem to work out. He once rang his father, Lance, to find out what type of fuel goes into a lawnmower. And his best mate, Scott Duncan, once asked Daley to pop the bonnet on his car to check the oil.
“Do cars take oil?” Daley asked inquisitively, a question he later disputes asking.
Daley was once sponsored by a beer company. He wasn’t a huge fan of the ale because he loved Tooheys. So Daley would publicly buy a can of the sponsored product, promptly tip it out, and pour Tooheys into the empty can.
He puts on an all-expenses paid harbour cruise for friends the Friday before every NRL grand final. A decade ago, after several hours on the boat, Daley spotted two blokes on board he didn’t recognise. He gently fronted the pair, thanked them for coming before asking: “Do I know you?”
It turned out the blokes — Gavin and Mark – had seen some footy players jump on Daley’s boat and thought it was the rugby league harbour cruise they’d booked, which was leaving from the same wharf 15 minutes later.
Daley has a motto. You go on one cruise, you’re invited on every cruise, so Gavin and Mark – nicknamed ‘The Stowaways’ — have been on every boat trip since.
That’s what you get with Laurie – sincerity and reliability.
His best friend isn’t some corporate high-flyer from Sydney. It’s Duncan, nicknamed ‘Scooter’, who still lives in Junee and works at the local abattoir. Duncan, who went to Junee High School with Daley, will be in the crowd next Wednesday night.
When in Junee, Daley is totally relaxed and enjoys a beer at the Commercial Hotel, a watering hole his mum and dad once managed, and the nearby Red Cow, two of the town’s four pubs. The Cow is about a kilometre from Laurie Daley Oval, a field renamed in his honour.
Daley sleeps in Scooter’s spare room when he’s in Junee and gets around town in a car he calls the ‘rat mobile’. Owned by Duncan, it’s a 1985 Nissan Skyline, worth about $300. The car slides to the left in motion, has a back left door that doesn’t open and RAT lettering on the number plate.
No limousine or fancy hire cars for Daley in his hometown.
Daley is also highly ethical. When he suspected some players were involved in drugs at Canberra 25 years ago, Daley felt compelled to tell management. He abhors drug use.
There was also an incredibly painful moment when Daley visited Junee jail in a bid to rehabilitate inmates. I was there with him to write a feature story.
He shook hands with multiple prisoners but was only told hours later that one was Mick Murdoch, one of the Anita Cobby murderers. Daley was absolutely mortified.
I remember Daley ringing my father in his finals weeks before eventually succumbing to cancer. Dad was touched. Daley attended the funerals of my mum and dad, and I was there when his father, Lance, passed.
Daley loves nothing more than getting down to the local pub on a Saturday with his close circle of friends, throwing a few bucks in the middle, and having an afternoon punt over a few beers. The next morning, he will invariably recall the funny side to the tales and bullshit spun the previous day.
There have been times when I know Daley desperately wanted to shirk a commitment but didn’t because he’d given his word. I’ve seen him out and about signing autographs, posing for selfies and giving his time to adoring young fans.
Daley always agrees to a request. Others say no, Daley says yes. He can’t help himself.
I have worked with Daley for seven years now on the Big Sports Breakfast radio show and we previously appeared on the legendary Loz and Dog Show, which ran for three years on The Daily Telegraph website. Not sure how it rated but it was a hoot.
I was also privileged to ride in Daley’s car past adoring fans to his last-ever game for Canberra at Bruce Stadium in 2000. He was as humble as ever.
Daley is incredibly proud of his family – wife Michelle and three kids – Jaimee, Caitlin and Will. They are his world. He is a gym junkie who loves Johnny Cash and Cold Chisel’s Flame Trees.
Lozza, who shares a close friendship with his manager, Steve ‘Chimes’ Gillis, was born with seven older sisters. The apple of Lance’s eye, young Laurie had his own bedroom while the rest of his sisters crammed into another long room.
Dinner time at the Daley house meant first in, first served. Eat up or miss out. I recall having breakfast at his sister’s Jacqui’s place in Junee once while his mum Fran did the cooking. The food hadn’t touched the dining room table before Daley, possibly suffering a hangover, had his fingers all over the bacon.
On Monday this week, Daley was about to hold a press conference until he realised I wasn’t there. I was still a few minutes away so he made the media wait until I arrived. Once a mate, always a mate.
And also on Monday, Daley was heading to a major press conference with NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper with his tracksuit top tied around his waist, like we did in the 1980s.
It was so Laurie.
Don’t ever change, old mate.
WHY THIS SPICY ORIGIN FEUD IS SET TO EXPLODE
This could get a touch interesting – and very spicy.
Triple M will early next week announce its commentary team for State of Origin III in Sydney with Aaron Woods expected to be among the callers.
Woods caused a major stir before Origin II when he labelled Maroons coach Billy Slater a grub.
Slater fired back but then issued an apology for bringing late Queensland coach Paul Green into the retort.
The Queensland coaching box is located right next to the Triple M commentary booth on the western side of Accor Stadium.
It means Slater will likely hear every word uttered by Woods during the game.
Will ‘Woodsy’ bag Billy again? Will it be distracting for Slater? Will Billy bang on the glass divider and tell Woods to pipe down?
Either way it should make for an engrossing 80 minutes.
DOG TREATS
Wests Tigers have again tightened in betting to claim a fourth successive wooden spoon.
The Tigers shortened from $7 into $5 after a sixth successive loss last weekend.
Parramatta is also being backed to finish last. According to TAB, the Eels were $6 after round 16 to record the season’s most losses but are now paying $4.75.
The Eels hold nearly 20 per cent of the betting pool.
Newcastle has firmed from $11 into $10 following their loss to Canberra last Friday night. Gold Coast are clear $2 favourites.
Following a strong win over Parramatta, St George Illawarra has drifted from $8 out to $19.
MENDOORAN TIGERS
My story last week about Mendooran Tigers returning to play country rugby league after a 40-year absence was my favourite this year.
It displayed the full spirit, mateship and pluck of a bush town, population just 275, desperately wanting to revive their beloved footy team.
And the story only got better after Mendooran defeated Binnaway in their comeback game last Saturday afternoon.
Up the Tigers.
RAISING EYE BROWS
Which State of Origin star was spotted wandering into a brow tinting, facial and waxing shop last week?
Imagine Tommy Raudonikis entering such a shop in the 1970s? Not likely. Times have changed.
ENGLAND GREAT DOWN UNDER
Former England Test star Garry Schofield is in Australia for a visit.
Schofield, 59, attended Origin II in Perth and will be among the sellout crowd in Sydney on July 9.
A wonderful attacking centre, Schofield had stints with Balmain and Western Suburbs in the 1980s.
Schofield is great mates with former Souths halfback Craig Coleman, the pair playing together at Leeds.
LEAGUE MAN AT RAH RAH
Was that Sea Eagles CEO Tony Mestrov watching the big northern beaches Shute Shield game between Manly Marlins and Warringah Rats last Saturday? Sure was. Fox League personality Matt Nable was also spotted among the crowd at Narrabeen.
GO BEARS
Bears fans might have grabbed another victory last week at Parkland greyhounds in Queensland.
A mutt named Go Bears saluted, paying $3.
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