Laurie Daley is the current coach of the VB Blues, but he was also one of the finest players to grace a Rugby League field, and captained one of the greatest NSW sides of any era to victory in 1992 and 1993.
He grew up in Junee and was playing for their local side when picked up by the Canberra Raiders, and represented Country in the Country-City Origin clash before his 19th birthday.
In 1989, he went on to debut for NSW, where he forged an incredible 23-game career.
Daley played 244 games for the Raiders, before retiring in 2000 after picking up the club’s player of the year award six times in eleven years.
From 2008-2012 he was the coach of the country team, before taking the top job at the VB Blues from 2013.
He was the coach in the 2014 drought-breaking series win over Queensland, and in doing so, became the second man after Wayne Pearce to play, captain and coach a NSW side to a series win over Queensland.
Since retiring, he also took up media roles with Fox Sports and the Nine Network, while in 2008 was named in the list of Australia’s 100 Greatest Players.
Farewell one of our greatest Origin captains, Paul Gallen, by being a part of The Star-backed Blatchys Blues for Origin III. Click here to purchase tickets and to secure a seat to witness history. Don’t forget, for all the latest on the VB Blues and State of Origin, download the official NSWRL app and make www.NSWRL.com.au your homepage.
