Craig Bellamy handed shock new role as Laurie Daley confirmed as NSW State of Origin coach

Laurie Daley has been unveiled as the new Blues State of Origin coach, with the NSW Rugby League board also handing Craig Bellamy a special advisory role. NSWRL announced Daley as Michael Maguire’s successor on Monday, but the news has divided fans, with many feeling as if they are repeating mistakes of the past.

The former coach has 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 land back-to-back series wins over Queensland.

Daley's presence as a NSW legend is understood to have been a major factor in why NSWRL decided to go with the 55-year-old. He won six of 15 games between 2013 and 2017, crucially winning the series in 2014 to break Queensland's eight-year stranglehold on the Origin Shield.

In doing so he became only the second man after Wayne Pearce to play, captain and coach a Blues side to a series victory over Queensland. "I am honoured and excited to be given the opportunity to coach the NSW Blues once again," Daley said.

"I have always been passionate about State of Origin and the pride that comes with representing NSW. I look forward to working with the players, staff, and supporters to achieve our goals. I am conscious of my responsibility to them and I look forward to building on the great work of Madge (Michael Maguire) last year to keep the shield in NSW."

But despite the monumental series win, his reign in charge of NSW is not one looked back on fondly. Daley won just one of five series in charge of the Blues and was sacked at the end of 2017 after the likes of Andrew Johns slammed the coach for his lack of tactical prowess and his inability to adapt as the Blues let a 1-0 lead slip. And following news of his appointment on Monday, many Blues fans felt as if NSWRL haven't learnt from the mistakes of the past.

Craig Bellamy to help Laurie Daley in advisory role

Daley will take over a side full of confidence in 2025 after NSW beat the Maroons in the Origin series this year, despite dropping Game 1. Who will be part of Daley's Blues side next year will certainly be dictated somewhat by early season form, but it would be a shock to see a vastly different team to the one that ran out this year.

As for the coaching staff, the Blues hierarchy have retained the majority of Maguire's team while also appointing Melbourne Storm super-coach Bellamy in a special advisory role. Bellamy coached the Blues from 2008 to 2010, but only won two of nine games in charge.

But Daley revealed it was his idea to get Bellamy on board, and the Storm coach will help during camps and on game-days. "We've had a great relationship over a number of years and I was looking for someone to help me out," Daley said about Bellamy.

“I was looking for some guidance, I was looking for someone - if I ever got the opportunity again - to help me, and I thought he was the best possible person to do that. I’m pretty excited to have him involved.”

Matt King and Brett White - two of Maguire’s assistants - were in the mix to take over as head coach. And despite missing out on the top job, NSWRL have retained them on Daley's staff.

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Why did NSWRL opt to not go with a current NRL coach?

Much of the talk in the lead up to the appointment of Daley was about if the likes of Bellamy, Ivan Cleary or Ricky Stuart could be persuaded to take on the Blues job considering it is a part-time gig. However, the writing was on the wall that it was not a prospect NSWRL was considering when NSW boss David Trodden told SEN radio last month that they don't believe it is realistic for a club coach to also take on the responsibility that comes with Origin.

"The answer is it is less likely (NSWRL would appoint an NRL coach). That is not because we have a previous position against appointing a NRL coach. We don't," he said. "The reality is most NRL coaches have clubs that won't allow them to split their time between a NRL job and a State of Origin job. The job has become so big it is really difficult to do.

"One of the things you might have seen last year was the enormous amount of time Maguire invested into the the current players and the past players...that is not something a current NRL player can do. Historically when we had NRL coaches doing State of Origin jobs, we had selectors picking the team. That doesn't happen anymore. That doesn't happen anymore. The coach picks the team. What happens if the NRL coach is faced with the prospect of leaving out his own players."