Billy Slater forced into awkward Origin call on Melbourne Storm players due to Craig Bellamy

Queensland coach Billy Slater could be facing an awkward situation in having to select Storm players in State of Origin next year when he coaches against Laurie Daley and Melbourne's Craig Bellamy. Daley's return to the NSW coaching role stunned many in the NRL world with the Canberra legend departing the role in 2017 with five wins in 16 games.

However, Melbourne Storm coach Bellamy's inclusion in his coaching staff clearly persuaded the NSW board to go with the duo. This is despite claims the players were keen on last year's assistant coach Matt White to step-up and take the role.

And Bellamy's inclusion has brought with it an interesting match-up with his former player Slater. The NRL and Queensland legend took over the Maroons in 2022 and won his first two series against Brad Fittler's NSW outfit.

Slater's inclusion was a genius move with the legendary fullback bringing fresh ideas to the Origin arena, which included the selection of Reece Walsh. However, he is coming off the back of his first defeat last year and will be looking to shake things up in Queensland.

And he will be doing this against his old coach. Bellamy admitted years ago he didn't like coaching against his Storm players when he was in charge of NSW. This is part of the reason why full-time NRL coaches have not been selected for some years to take control of a state team. Except this time Bellamy will be going up against a player he coached for more than a decade.

And former NRL players Denan Kemp and Justin Horo have questioned whether this will play on the mind of Slater who will most likely select a number of Storm players including Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Xavier Coates. "I reckon that would have been a tough proposition when he coached for a couple of seasons for NSW as head coach against Billy Slater, against Cooper Cronk and against Cameron Smith," Horo said on SEN on Thursday. "Because how much information did he want to give NSW."

Kemp added: "It's a super unique situation for having a guy like Bellamy. It's a conundrum for Billy. He'll be thinking 'how many Storm players am I picking and in what position?'"

Denan Kemp questions how Laurie Daley will play

Daley is taking over a Michael Maguire squad that won the series 2-1 and was set to create their own dynasty with Nathan Cleary set to return to the Origin fold in 2025. However, Maguire's exit and Daley's inclusion changes the mindset and Kemp questioned whether the new coach will just run with Maguire's successful game plan, or look to implement his own tactics.

"In regards to the game plan is Daley going to go, 'what worked for Michael Maguire will work for me.' Or is he going to try and put his unique spin on it. Last year's game plan was the complete opposite. Queensland played like the Melbourne Storm. Where NSW was very conservative."

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Horo pointed out that Maguire went away from the Penrith system, a game plan Fittler turned to due to the Panthers' dominance for years. Maguire selected Rabbitohs star Cameron Murray as the lock for a quicker play the ball, compared to Penrith and Kangaroos starter Isaah Yeo. NSW have won the last three games when Murray has started at lock for NSW.

The Panthers captain was used off the bench in Game 2 and 3 and played through the middle. "The best representation of Maguire getting away from the Panthers system, was putting Isaah Yeo on the bench...Madge went away from the Penrith system - obviously not having Nathan Cleary there was huge as well - and it worked out," Horo added.