Blues pay tribute to 'hero' Daley as he stands down as coach

Laurie Daley has officially stepped down as the NSW State of Origin coach, concluding his tenure with a series victory over Queensland. The NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) has paid tribute to Daley, hailing him as a "hero" for his significant contributions to the state's rugby league.

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I've always considered it an absolute honour and privilege to be involved with the NSW Blues State of Origin team, whether that was as a player or a coach, and I've always been ready to answer the call for my state whenever they needed me.

Daley, who led the Blues to a series win this year, described his time coaching the team as an "absolute honour and privilege." He expressed pride in how the players overcame challenges during the 2026 series, culminating in a memorable Game Three performance to secure the win. "I can't think of a better way to move on with the Shield back where it belongs in NSW," Daley stated.

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We faced plenty of challenges in the 2026 series and I'm proud of the way the players banded together to overcome them and save their best performance for Game Three in Brisbane to secure a memorable series win.

NSWRL chief executive David Trodden acknowledged Daley's immense service, both as a player and a coach. "He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on a sky blue jumper," Trodden said, referencing Daley's record as the first NSW captain to achieve three consecutive series wins from 1992-1994. As a coach, Trodden highlighted Daley's role in two "greatest Origin series wins of all time," including ending Queensland's eight-year dominance in 2014 and guiding NSW to victory in 2026 despite adversity. "Those wins transcended football. They lifted and reinvigorated the whole state," Trodden added.

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I thank the fans for their passion and their support, and I can't think of a better way to move on with the Shield back where it belongs in NSW.

Daley's departure follows a period of intense public scrutiny after the Blues' performance in the first two games of the series. He had previously delivered a strong rebuke to his critics, suggesting "hidden agendas" had attempted to undermine the team. The Blues ultimately secured the series with a decisive 30-12 victory in Game Three.

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NSWRL owes a massive debt of gratitude to Laurie for the service he has given to his state as both a player and a coach.