Former employer turns on Laurie Daley in brutal response to NSW State of Origin appointment

Laurie Daley's former employer, TAB, has delivered a slap to the newly appointed NSW coach by making the Blues the early underdogs in Daley's first game in charge. The 55-year-old was unveiled as Michael Maguire's successor on Monday despite his dismal record in his previous stint in charge of the Blues, winning just six of 15 games between 2013 and 2017.

The former coach had been long linked to a return to the job despite his poor record, however, he had previously been held back from the role due to his involvement with TAB. But Daley has given up those commitments to lead the Blues in 2025 as NSW look to secure back-to-back series wins.

Following the news of his return to the Blues, reactions to his appointment were mixed, with many believing it showed NSWRL haven't learnt from their mistakes of the past. While others noted he is a NSW legend and deserves another shot.

But his former employer, TAB, isn't confident he will find any more success than the last time he was in charge. TAB has Queensland as $1.80 favourites and NSW $2 outsiders in Game 1 of the 2025 Origin series. And according to News Corp, punters are not confident Daley is the right man to lead NSW, with Queensland holding 95 per cent of the money wagered on the series winner.

"It’s straight back into the furnace at the ‘Cauldron’ for Laurie, which he’ll probably love," TAB's Rohan Welsh told News Corp. "He might not be facing Cam Smith, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, or Greg Inglis again but TAB punters seemingly don’t think this Queensland team will be a pushover for ‘Loz’ and the Blues.

"The big money on Queensland winning the series was obviously taken before Daley’s appointment but the uncertainty around whether the NSW would pick a rookie coach, coupled with the announcement of game one being in Brisbane, has seen Queensland dominate the series winner market with TAB. Around 95 per cent of the hold has been with the value on offer for the Maroons so far."

NRL fans question the appointment of Laurie Daley

As soon as the news spread that Daley was the man NSWRL were entrusting to take the Blues to back-to-back series wins, much of the NRL world slammed the decision, feeling as if NSW hadn't learned from the mistakes of the past. Despite his monumental series win in 2014, Daley's reign in charge of NSW is not one looked back on fondly.

The coach won just one of the five series he was in charge of the Blues and was sacked at the end of 2017 after the likes of Andrew Johns slammed his lack of tactical prowess and his inability to adapt. And following news of his appointment on Monday, many Blues fans felt as if NSWRL had made a terrible mistake.