NSWRL boss Dave Trodden has launched a passionate defence of Blues coach Laurie Daley, denying their personal relationship was the reason he was hired.
Daley, who is in the midst of his second stint in charge at State of Origin level, has been the subject of criticism and debate throughout the series.
Blues coach Laurie Daley is under immense pressure. Getty
Despite winning the first game, admittedly against a 12-man Queensland side after Kalyn Ponga was sent off, NSW were blown away in game two.
The pressure has been mounting on Daley and there’s a growing push for him to step away from the position at the end of the 2026 series.
“It’s difficult to remember any coach at any time recently that’s copped it as bad as he has,” Trodden told 9News Sydney on Thursday night.
“A lot of the stuff that’s been directed at Loz has been really personal, really unwarranted and really disappointing, quite frankly.
“He doesn’t deserve that, either as a person or as a coach.”
The harshest piece of criticism came from a News Corp report that claimed Daley’s pre-game speeches were uninspiring and ‘putting players to sleep’.
Trodden is adamant the coach knows how to motivate his players.
“It’s just nonsense,” he said.
“People have this totally misconceived idea about what happens in the dressing room before the game. The reality is, with almost every coach, they go around before a game providing last-minute messages to players.
“Some players might need to be revved up, some might need to be calmed down.
“It’s the last-minute messaging, more so than the big Churchillian speeches.”
With the battered Blues now staring down the barrel of a second-straight series loss, some of the criticism has now turned to Trodden, who brought Daley back into the fold nine years after his initial coaching tenure ended.
But the long-time chief executive refuted claims his close ties to Daley was the reason behind the appointment, labelling it as ‘demeaning’ to all parties.
NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden. Getty
“I have a high regard for Laurie and I don’t shy away from that,” Trodden said.
“I’m proud of the relationship I have with Laurie, I’m not embarrassed by it at all.
“The annoying thing is people make observations which are totally unfounded and totally untrue, without even bothering to check what the processes are.
“It demeans Laurie, it demeans the board and it demeans everyone in the organisation and that’s a bit hard to cop.”
NSW will look to regain the shield with a major upset on July 8 when they travel to Suncorp Stadium for a decider against Billy Slater’s side.