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:
1. Paul Gallen
Much like Ennis above, Paul Gallen is a former NSW great and at least can bring a modern eye to the set-up.
I dare say players would respect Gallen. Or fear that he might be disappointed in them. Either way, Gallen was the state captain during the worst run in Origin series history.
Fair to say he hates to lose.
This would be a "Mal" set-up, much like the one that saw the aforementioned have a near decade of terror inflicted upon us by those up north.
Gallen would be the figurehead, the guy doing the speeches - the inspiration. Meanwhile, in the background, his team of assistants would do all the hands-on stuff.
Plus, like anyone on this list, or anyone reading this, he couldn't be a worse option than Laurie Daley.
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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