Rugby league legend Laurie Daley has announced he is stepping down as the coach of the New South Wales Rugby League Team.
His decision follows NSW's 2026 Origin Series decider win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane last month.
The success made Daley the only NSW representative to win a series decider in Brisbane as both a captain (1992, 1994) and a coach (2026).
In a statement from New South Wales Rugby League, Daley said it has been "an absolute honour and privilege to be involved with the NSW Blues State of Origin team, whether that was as a player or a coach."
"We faced plenty of challenges in the 2026 series and I’m proud of the way the players banded together to overcome them."
The memorable win from the NSW Blues came after intense public scrutiny over the team's form in the first two games of this series.
Where Daley's selection of nine Origin debut players and use of the interchange bench during games came under fire, especially after a 44-24 loss to QLD in State of Origin Game 2.
Daley did not respond to calls to change his strategy and refrained from comment until the culmination of the series. Using his post-game presser to call the excessive criticism, “unnecessary, I think it was hidden agenda."
The NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said in a statement that the organisation, "owes a massive debt of gratitude to Laurie."
“He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on a sky blue jumper."
