It was Laurie Daley’s finest moment.
After not drinking for the better part of four months because of a health scare, he let his hair down until dawn after his Blues sealed the 2026 Origin series and then did what Laurie Daley does, repaid mates for their loyalty.
He has been a member of Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast show for a decade. During the Origin series, he takes seven weeks off to concentrate on the job at hand.
Host Gerard Middleton is joined by Maroons legend Kevin Walters and former Blues player Josh Reynolds during that time.
The trio were broadcasting out of Brisbane this morning. At 5.55am, live on air, Daley walked into the studio to the cheers of his radio mates who have defended him on air during relentless attacks since last year’s series loss. It was so Daley to turn up like that. To him, friendship is everything.
After some backslapping and hugging, he sat down and fought back tears.
“For me it’s, it’s very hard to describe. It’s very emotional. You appreciate friendships,” he said.
“I had a lot of messages from a lot of people.
“I really appreciate it. I love everyone’s support. I’m celebrating.”
Celebrating he was. On air he was equal parts relief and elation after his highly criticised team belted Queensland 30-12 at their own home ground in front of 52,500 mostly Maroon fans to win the series 2-1.
Daley endured heavy criticism himself during his re-incarnation as Blues coach. During his first stint from 2013-2017, he was up against the all-time champion Queensland team, winning one series (2014) for an overall win-loss record of 6-9.
He took on the job again last year in an attempt to prove he could cut as a leader at this level. He was left shell shocked after losing the 2025 series following victory in game one.
Devotees of his daily show could hear his devastation for weeks afterwards. A brilliant radio performer, he struggled to deal with the loss. But he kept fronting up day after day as critical listener texts and emails piled up on the laptop in front of him.
This series, the Blues were outplayed badly in game one before Kalyn Ponga was sent off and the Blues snatched a miracle victory. In game two, they were humiliated in the second half at the MCG. A series loss would have been unbearable for Daley.
But, he steeled his team and they produced a mighty victory. The difference between a win and a loss at Suncorp was seismic, and he knew just how enormous the gulf would have been for him and his reputation.
“I’m just so happy. So emotional.”
As he did the night before in his post-match press conference, he addressed the critics who took aim at him. In fairness, a lot of the criticism was justified. For four games in a row they had played poorly, except for 20 minutes against 12 men.
“Some of the things I’ve written and said, it’s been hard to take,” he said as his voice broke and tears welled.
“I don’t care about people putting the boot in if it’s about selections or how we played or whatever, but some of it was personal.
“We can have difference of opinion, but I just found that people for whatever reason people wanted to have a crack. I didn’t listen or read, but people would tell me, message me about what was said, and it’s not nice.”
He said it was particularly hard on his loved ones.
“Family are very protective of you. And that’s what you love about them.
“People want to attack everyone and they have no idea what they are going through. You cop it but it’s your family. And they get upset. And when your mother cries, or your daughter or your brother or your sister, it just annoys me.”
In the post-match press conference, he asked where many who questioned him were.
“Some of the stuff that’s been written and said … gee, come on. Anyway, hopefully, those blokes might have a decent look at themselves,” he said.
One story in particular stung him. It was an unsourced report in Brisbane’s The Courier-Mail which said his pre-match addresses were so uninspiring and dull, the players entered the arena feeling flat and that led to Queensland piling on 20 points in the first 30 minutes of matches two and three last year and match one this year.
“Where are they?” he said, looking around the room for the authors.
On radio, he gave special praise to man-of-the-match Nathan Cleary who endured endless questions about his performances for New South Wales.
“I can’t work out in my mind why people attack him. I can’t in my mind work out why people don’t think he’s one of the greats,” he said.
“He’s someone who is an easy target I suppose, because he doesn’t bite back. He’s as good as I have seen.”
Neil Breen is the national sports editor and a Walkley Award-winning journalist.Connect via X.
