New South Wales coach Laurie Daley surprised his radio colleagues by appearing live on air Thursday morning after celebrating the Blues' State of Origin series win with his team until dawn. Daley, a co-host on Sky Sports Radio's Big Sports Breakfast show, had been on hiatus during the series. He had abstained from alcohol for 15 weeks leading up to the match.
Daley arrived at the Brisbane studio just before 6 a.m., hours after the team's victory, telling his co-hosts, "I've sobered up, I've sobered up." He confirmed he had been partying with the team "until dawn." His co-hosts expressed surprise at his early arrival, noting the studio was near the team's hotel. Daley quipped, "Do you reckon I would've turned up if we'd lost?"
Emotional Response to Criticism
The win marked one of the State of Origin's greatest underdog victories. Daley became emotional on air as he discussed the significance of the win and the intense personal criticism he faced during the series, particularly after the team's struggles in the first two games. He stated that the criticism had been difficult to endure, especially when it affected his family. "It's very emotional. You appreciate friendships," Daley said, acknowledging the messages of support he received.
Daley also addressed his critics directly in a post-match press conference, urging reporters who had questioned his coaching ability without attending training sessions to "show some balls." He reiterated these sentiments on the radio show, explaining that while he could accept criticism about team selections or performance, some comments had become personal.
"I didn't listen or read, but people would tell me, message me about what was said, and it's not nice," Daley stated. He highlighted the impact on his family, noting, "And when your mother cries, or your daughter or your brother or your sister, it just annoys me."
Future Coaching Prospects
Daley's contract as Blues coach is now out of contract. When asked about the possibility of coaching the team again, he remained non-committal, stating he had made up his mind about his future before the series began and that he would "see what happens."