Another year, another Blues Origin series loss. Three out of the four years have seen the State of Origin shield sit north of Tweed.
For four of the past six years, fans in sky blue have had to cop the "QUEENSLANDER" chant. Every year, we hear the same old "NSW don't get Origin".
Well, up until the appointment of Laurie Daley as coach (again), I'd have disagreed.
Unfortunately, the second we saw Daley standing there in the press conference, unveiled as coach, it became apparent. NSW don't get Origin ...
QLD'ers laughed at us. NSW fans threw their arms up in "what the..." at the news.
Yet the Blues still entered the series decider as $1.40 favourites. 82,000+ fans packed into Accor Stadium to see Nathan Cleary lead the state to a second straight Origin series.
Unfortunately, a series of downright awful selection decisions, combined with a terrible game plan and QLD's ability to play football, resulted in a horror night for those of us in Blue. Another series loss as heavy as home favourites.
Simply put, NSW were outcoached. They were out thought. Out enthused! Out selected, if that's a thing.
Yet Laurie Daley still had the nerve to sit there in the post-match and say he believes he's the man for the job. After offering up a hundred excuses, mind you.
Well, as you've probably guessed by now, I am not a fan of Daley. At all. The fact he hasn't yet been sacked and made to send individual apologies to fans almost insults me.
Despite rumours that the NSWRL board is set to re-appoint the multiple-time series losing failure, I am hoping that common sense prevails and a replacement is sought.
Below are just five better options than Laurie Daley. Culling this down from 125 was difficult, but we got there:
2. Michael Ennis
If the NSWRL want to continue this ridiculous notion that every former player can coach, at least pick one with modern ideas.
Michael Ennis was named recently as the likely successor to Anthony Seibold should the Harvard man make way at the end of the season.
People joke about Ennis in commentary a lot, and rightly so, but his knowledge of the game is very good!
When you listen to him talk on podcasts or in spots where he's not asked to react quickly, he is brilliant. He's also one of the most inspirational players of the modern era.
He helped take the Cronulla Sharks to a premiership. That's all the proof I need that he can do anything.
Ennis is currently an assistant coach at Manly, after stints at Canberra and Cronulla (kind of).
He can oversee the NSW squad for the next few seasons before a full-time NRL gig comes along. Much like he successful tenure currently enjoyed by Billy Slater.
HAHAHa!! GALLEN!!
Biggest hog at club level, and barely any success at origin most overated player to play in the NRL and only won a premiership because Flanagan finally woke up to himself and signed Barba, Maloney anf Ennis.
Plus I think he may be in a coma for a couple of years once SBW is done with him
My money would be on dean young getting promoted, enough with the retread hires, when will you media get that teams are going to start hiring younger assistants more, similarly to the nfl and nba