NSWRL CEO David Trodden has gone on the front foot in the wake of the Blues’ State of Origin failure under Laurie Daley to declare the coach will not get the boot despite the capitulation from a 1-0 series lead.
The Blues will conduct a review of the series and Daley’s position will be a topic on the agenda but after signing a two-year deal to return as coach, the Raiders legend appears set to get another crack at the Maroons in 2016.
“We always do an extensive review, win, lose or draw,” Trodden told NewsCorp.
“You’re constantly striving to improve.
“The proper time for reflection is not the day after the game. You let the dust and emotion settle, you calmly collect your thoughts and find out what we can do better next year. Laurie is contracted for next year and we don’t break contracts.
“He was devastated after the game and we’re all disappointed.
“But you don’t achieve sustained success by constantly chopping and changing your coach. You settle on a plan, put processes in place and stick to it. That’s what we’ll be doing.”
Blues players have insisted Daley should not shoulder the blame and the coach was adamant after Origin III that he is the right man to lead again in 2026.
The Blues mentor has lost his fifth series loss in six attempts.
He laughed off a question about his job in the post-match press conference, declaring he should “most definitely” stay on next year.
He was signed to a two-year deal when he replaced Michael Maguire as coach at the end of last year, with assistant Matt King the only other candidate interviewed.
As per the NSW Rugby League’s annual process, he will now prepare a review of the Blues’ series loss for the board.
Axed as NSW coach in 2017, Daley looked set to lead a new era in the coaching box when the Blues dominated Queensland in the series opener at Suncorp Stadium.
But the team grew progressively worse in defeats in Perth and Sydney, missing the start in both games and trailing by 20 at halftime.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
NSW’s 24-12 loss on Wednesday night made it four defeats in series deciders for Daley, with a winning rate in all games at just under 39 per cent.
Daley’s players leapt to his defence after the match, after previously making clear that the Blues legend had previously coached against Queensland’s dynasty.
“He wasn’t the reason that we lost. It was us as players,” halfback Nathan Cleary said.
“He committed a lot to this preparation. I thought the preparation was really good.”
Second-rower Liam Martin said the playing group needed to shoulder the blame.
“We let him down,” Martin said. “We are so disappointed as a playing group because the coaching staff, ‘Loz’, everyone involved, deserved so much more from us.
“If there’s any criticism, criticise us as the playing group, not ‘Loz’. He couldn’t have done much more.”
with AAP
