Laurie Daley has officially ended his second stint as NSW Blues coach on a high after this year’s State of Origin series triumph.
The 56-year-old returned to the role last year and oversaw defeat in the decider in Sydney but reversed the ledger to win the 2026 series in Brisbane.
He had long been expected to stand down in the aftermath, having endured relentless criticism for his coaching style and selections throughout the series.
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Daley soaked up the victory with hints that he had kept receipts from his critics and took one final shot at Queensland on the way out on Monday.
“When you love your state as much as I do, you’d do anything for the jersey of NSW,” he said on Big Sports Breakfast.
“They say we don’t have passion, but we do.”
Daley’s exit almost certainly leaves NSWRL on the hunt for a stop-gap solution for 2027.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is keen to move into the representative arena but not before he leaves his club role at the end of next year.
Whoever is chosen will have a tough task stepping up to replace one of the Blues’ greatest.
Daley is the only NSW representative to win a series as captain and coach, leading the Blues in 1994, 1994 and now 2026.
“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 said in a NSWRL statement.
“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 3 in Brisbane to secure a memorable series win.
“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.
“I have been incredibly proud to have worked alongside an outstanding group of players, coaches, management and support staff.
“The dedication, resilience and care they showed for each other and for the jersey is something I will always be proud to have witnessed.”
NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden said the organisation “owes a massive debt of gratitude” to Daley.
“He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on a sky blue jumper, becoming the first NSW captain to lead his state to three consecutive series wins in 1992-94,” Trodden said.
“He has also led NSW to arguably two of the greatest Origin series wins of all time as a coach, after ending Queensland’s eight-year winning streak in 2014 and overcoming adversity to steer the Blues home in 2026.
“Those wins transcended football. They lifted and reinvigorated the whole state. He deserves to leave the NSW Origin arena as the hero that he is.”