Laurie Daley has called time on his tenure as New South Wales State of Origin coach, stepping away after guiding the Blues to a memorable 2026 series victory over Queensland.
The NSWRL confirmed Daley’s resignation on Monday, bringing an end to his second stint in charge after he led NSW to a 2-1 series win, capped by a decisive Game III victory at Suncorp Stadium.
Daley Bows Out on a High
Daley’s decision follows months of speculation about his future after a demanding Origin campaign.
In a statement released by the NSWRL, Daley reflected on his time with the Blues and said finishing with the State of Origin shield back in New South Wales made the decision easier.
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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.”
“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.”
“I can’t think of a better way to move on with the Shield back where it belongs in NSW.”
Ends a Distinguished Blues Career
Daley’s legacy with New South Wales extends well beyond his latest coaching stint.
As a player, he captained the Blues to three consecutive Origin series victories between 1992 and 1994 and remains one of the state’s greatest representatives. As coach, he famously ended Queensland’s eight-year Origin dominance in 2014 before returning to reclaim the shield again in 2026.
NSWRL chief executive David Trodden paid tribute to Daley’s contribution.
“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.”
“He deserves to leave the NSW Origin arena as the hero that he is.”
Who Replaces Daley?
Attention will now turn to who succeeds Daley ahead of the 2027 State of Origin series.
Current Blues assistants Matt King and Boyd Cordner have emerged as leading internal candidates, while Ivan Cleary has long been viewed as a future Origin coach once his club commitments conclude. Other experienced names have also been linked to the role.
The NSWRL is not expected to rush the appointment, with the organisation likely to conduct a thorough review before naming its next coach.
A Fitting Farewell
Daley leaves the role exactly how every representative coach hopes to—holding the State of Origin shield.
After enduring criticism throughout the 2026 campaign, he guided the Blues to one of their most resilient series victories, cementing his place as one of New South Wales’ most influential figures both on the field and in the coach’s box.
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