Laurie Daley has confirmed that a decision has been made about his future as New South Wales State of Origin coach, with an official announcement expected in the coming weeks.
Daley’s position has been the subject of intense speculation despite guiding the Blues to another series victory. Reports have suggested he may step aside, opening the door for a new coach to take charge of the state team.
Speaking on Channel Nine, Daley said he wanted to allow the celebrations surrounding the series win to settle before publicly revealing what comes next.
He indicated that he was comfortable with the decision he had reached and would make his plans known once the players had been given enough time to enjoy their achievement.
Daley said coaching New South Wales involved considerably more work and pressure than many people realised.
He noted that the position attracted enormous public scrutiny and required extensive preparation, planning and coordination behind the scenes.
The former Blues captain questioned whether a current NRL head coach could realistically combine club responsibilities with the demands of an Origin campaign.
According to Daley, the workload involved in preparing a state team made it difficult for a full-time club coach to manage both roles effectively.
He identified several members of his existing coaching staff as strong future candidates.
Matt King, Boyd Cordner and Brett White were among those praised by Daley, who said each had gained valuable experience through assistant coaching roles at club level.
He argued that all three had the knowledge and ability required to handle greater responsibility within the representative system.
Daley also suggested that an experienced former NRL coach who was not currently attached to a club could be well suited to the position.
He said there were several capable candidates available, even though the pressure associated with the job should not be underestimated.
One of the most prominent names linked to a possible succession plan is rugby league great Andrew Johns.
Johns appeared alongside Daley on Nine’s Freddy and The Eighth and played down suggestions that he could become the next New South Wales coach.
The former Blues and Australian halfback questioned whether he possessed the right personality and sufficient coaching experience to lead the team.
Daley strongly disagreed with that assessment.
He told Johns that he was underestimating his own ability and said he could perform the role successfully if supported by the right coaching and performance staff.
Daley praised Johns for his passion, tactical understanding and continued involvement during the recent series.
He revealed that Johns regularly contacted him throughout the campaign, sending match footage and offering observations on players, tactics and opposition weaknesses.
Daley said advice from someone with Johns’ knowledge and experience carried significant weight and was always taken seriously.
Johns is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in rugby league history and has previously worked with clubs and representative teams as a specialist halves coach and tactical adviser.
However, he has never held a full-time NRL head coaching position.
His potential appointment would therefore represent a major change in responsibility, although Daley believes his football intelligence and passion would allow him to succeed.
The speculation comes after Daley added another State of Origin series victory to his long association with New South Wales.
Across his playing and coaching career, he has now been involved in seven series wins.
That record has strengthened his standing within the Blues system, but it has also raised questions about whether he believes the latest triumph is the right moment to leave the role.
Daley stopped short of revealing whether he would continue or resign, but his comments suggested the decision was final.
For now, he wants attention to remain on the players and coaching staff who delivered the series victory.
Should Daley step down, the New South Wales Rugby League will face an important choice about the future direction of the team.
Internal candidates such as King, Cordner and White could offer continuity, while a high-profile appointment such as Johns would bring enormous public interest and tactical credibility.
The coming announcement is therefore likely to shape the Blues’ preparations for the next Origin campaign and determine whether the team enters a new coaching era.
