Caitlin Daley, daughter of New South Wales coach Laurie Daley, has publicly addressed criticism of her conduct during the State of Origin series-clinching victory over Queensland. Following the Blues' 30-12 win at Suncorp Stadium, a scathing message directed at the Daley family appeared on social media, criticizing Caitlin's behavior at the match.
"The way in which your daughter behaved at last nights origin game was nothing short of disgusting!! I would be absolutely mortified," the comment read. "Never questioned your ability to coach but certainly questioning your ability in how she was raised after what I witnessed."
Rather than ignore the critique, the 26-year-old shared the message on her Instagram account. She accompanied it with another post featuring one of her father's memorable quotes from his post-match press conference: "Show some balls – Laurie Daley." This appeared to reference the coach's strong defense of himself and his players against media criticism.
During the press conference, Laurie Daley expressed his disappointment with criticism that he felt had crossed a line, particularly from those who had not attended training sessions or press conferences. "People that report like that need to have a hard look at themselves," he stated, also alluding to the impact of such criticism on his family.
Caitlin's Instagram posts included celebratory photos from inside the Blues' dressing room with the State of Origin shield, alongside her father and family members, and enjoying the victory with friends. One image showed her sticking out her tongue with a middle finger gesture while celebrating the Blues' triumph.
Despite the shared criticism, the response from Caitlin's followers was largely supportive, with many praising her public stance. Comments included "TOUGH," "Heroic, iconic, brave, outstanding," and "Respect Family."
Caitlin first gained public attention as a teenager in 2014 when her father began his first tenure as NSW coach. At 15, she was photographed supporting Laurie alongside her mother, Michelle, and younger brother, Will. Michelle Daley commented at the time that her husband had dedicated himself entirely to the role, hoping for success he truly deserved after extensive preparation.