Laurie Daley says he takes full responsibility for cultural issues which led to two players engaging in a drinking session five days before NSW lost the decider to Queensland.
The Blues coach broke his post-State of Origin silence on Monday night, telling Fox Sports' NRL 360 he didn't find out Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson spent the Friday before game three drinking at a Lennox Head pub until the day after match.
"Did they do anything wrong legally? No they didn't," Daley said.
"Did we know they were going down there to have a few beers? No we didn't.
"We knew they were going down to Lennox Head to meet up with a mate and obviously we've done something wrong to allow them to think they could go down there and have a few beers.
"At the end of the day both of those guys agree on reflection that it wasn't a good look and it's something that we will address."
Daley also addressed the about-face which saw prop Andrew Fifita retain his starting spot ahead of David Klemmer.
"I told David that he was starting and then I had a conversation with Andrew, not about starting on the bench, another conversation that will remain private," Daley said.
"After that conversation, I knew that I needed Andrew to start."
Daley said Fifita their discussion centred around Fifita being disappointed in a media ban in the lead up to game three.
"No way did I say to Andrew that you're starting on the bench, we didn't have that conversation," Daley said.
He said the ban was to protect Fifita from answering questions about a racial vilification controversy or his heavily pregnant wife.
Daley, who is off-contract, refused to reveal if he wanted to coach NSW next year but spoke of his passion for the job.
"We've beaten Queensland before under my watch and we'll do it again if I'm there."
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