Laurie Daley has revealed the door is open for Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy to help out in any capacity during State of Origin in 2026 with the NSW Blues moving their camp this season. Daley is looking to rebound after losing the Origin series against Billy Slater in his return to the arena.
Blues fans thought the state would have an edge last year with Melbourne master Bellamy coming in as a consultant for the series. Although Slater helped mastermind a win against Daley to leave the Blues coach under pressure in just his second series back.
Bellamy is set to stick with the Storm this year after his brief foray back into the Origin arena. However, Daley revealed to SEN Radio he would be happy for the Storm coach to help out in any capacity.
NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley (pictured left) is open to Storm coach Craig Bellamy helping his coaching staff again with the state moving its camp this year. (Images: Getty Images)
Although he was full of praise for his current staff as they seek redemption. Daley’s team consists of Matt King, Dean Young, and Brett White who he feels will all become successful head coaches down the track.
“They all bring different skill sets to the coaching group, all head coaches in the waiting (and are) very, highly regarded and (we’re) very lucky to have them on our staff,” he said on Wednesday. “The other thing about having those guys involved is they’re doing it day to day, and they’re analysing players. They know what’s actually the trends of the game…and what we need to continually look at.
“We meet and speak quite often about individuals, about plans that we have in place, and try and get together just to chinwag and make sure we’re all aligned… before we actually go into camp.” The other big change is where NSW will set-up camp in 2026.
Laurie Daley switches scenery for NSW Blues
While the coaching staff will mostly stay the same, the scene of their camp will change. The Blues have based themselves in the Blue Mountains over the last few years. Although they will be changing location as they shift to the Central Coast.
There new hotel destination at the Magenta Shores will offer the players a chance to get some golf in as they try to relax. This comes as he looks for new ways to get the team to bond ahead of the gruelling series. “The Blue Mountains were terrific. It was an unbelievable location for us, but we just thought that we’d change it up,” he told SEN Radio.
“The boys have been there for the last two years, so (it’s) just to freshen up. Magenta Shores is beautiful. They’ve hosted sporting teams up here before and really looking forward to getting up there.
“One thing you know with an Origin camp, you’ve got to make it a bit of fun as well, and the players these days, they certainly don’t bond the way that we did when we were playing. They bond over a lot of different things, and golf is certainly a big part of the make-up of it. A lot of football players, they just love getting out there. It’s certainly not my thing, but some of the players… absolutely love it.”
Daley will already be looking at selection this year with the criteria eligibility rules changing for the 2026 series. More players will be available for selection with Sharks front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake now available to line-up for NSW this year.
Laurie Daley (pictured left) has moved the NSW Blues camp this year.
(Matt King via Getty Images)