The Michael Maguire act that left NSW Blues players in tears, Laurie Daley coaching criticism

It was the powerful act from former Blues coach Michael Maguire that left players in “tears”.

And according to Luke Keary, it is proof of the clear problem that all the punters at home “can see” with the NSW Blues after Wednesday night’s collapse against Queensland.

Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

The Maroons stormed home from a 12-8 deficit to land a significant psychological blow ahead of Game 3, cruising to a 44-24 victory to carry all the momentum into the Suncorp Stadium decider.

While Blues coach Laurie Daley has come under scrutiny in the wake of the loss, NRL 360 host Braith Anasta suggested on Thursday night that if NSW loses the series more questions need to be asked of New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL).

Specifically, he questioned whether chief executive Dave Trodden should be under pressure considering he was the man who brought Daley back in the first place.

“Of course they should be under pressure,” veteran journalist Brent Read said on NRL 360.

“They made this decision and Laurie’s record wasn’t great. Now, everyone says he was up against the greatest Queensland team of all time and you can take that into account, but they had a decision to make a couple of years ago, they went down this path and they’ve got to bare some responsibility for it because at the moment you would say it’s been a really poor decision.”

Anasta said the decision to appoint Daley “perplexed him”, especially when you consider he had spent so much time out of the game.

It was almost eight years to be exact that Daley had spent out of regular top-flight coaching when he took over and according to Anasta, it has shown in the past two series.

That is especially true when you consider how the game has evolved with the introduction of new rules and interpretations.

Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

“A lot changes in our game in terms of structures, rules — everything. It’s a totally different sport almost,” Anasta said.

“He comes to Dave Trodden and he’s won one from five series, and he hasn’t coached for eight years, and he puts the application in. Dave Trodden says you’re the coach.

“Can you explain it?”

In Trodden’s defence, Code Sports journalist David Riccio said that outside of Daley there was not a long list of interested candidates for the Blues job, headlined by Max King who was the “firm second favourite” while Michael Ennis also was keen.

But either way, Read said that from the very moment Daley was appointed it was clear it would not work out, recalling a “cruel” post he made on X at the time.

“I think I tweeted Queensland rugby league fans are doing cartwheels today, because that was the reaction north of the Border,” Read said.

“It was like, seriously? You’re going to go down this path? Particularly when you consider a guy like Matt King was in the system ready to go, and they went to a guy who didn’t have a great record.

“We hate picking on Laurie because he’s a champion guy and New South Wales legend, but his coaching record gave you no confidence.”

While Daley has a chance to become just the third Blues coach to win multiple Origin series, he is also the only Origin coach with 10-plus games to have a win record below 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday he passed Wayne Bennett for the most defeats (12) by any coach in Origin history.

For Keary, who was selected in the extended squad for the Blues during the 2024 series, there is a clear difference between NSW under Daley and former coach Maguire.

MORE ORIGIN NEWS

WHO’S SAFE, WHO ISN’T: Verdict on every Blues player as axe to be swung

TALKING PTS: ‘Big conversation’ Loz must have after nightmare; star poised for payday

Braith questions Daley reappointment | 02:40

“I go off what’s happening on the field. Last year was bad. This year is not good,” he said.

“I feel like you need to wait now. Those questions need to be answered at the end of this year. Why was he there? Who else could have been in the role?

“I go back to my time in New South Wales camp. I’ll go back to 2024, Michael Maguire was there and he has never played Origin…. doesn’t understand Origin some people said.

“He met with every single player in and around that squad, players that didn’t play, met with them, took a Blues jersey with him. He met with all the older players, met with all the ex-players, took a Blues jersey with him, asked them what it meant and presented it back to the players.

“He was meticulous, he had people in tears during that camp. I walked out of the MCG and went these boys are winning this series. He brought that much belief.

“Matty Johns said it last night. He said there’s a belief problem in this team, and you can see it. The punters can see it in the crowd.”

The belief wasn’t just there in the Blues squad under Maguire. It was there in the fanbase too according to Anasta, because they could “see the passion” that the Broncos coach had.

“He took Billy head on. He put pressure on Billy, and he got a result. It’s chalk and cheese, the difference. You can’t compare,” added Anasta.

Now, it is hard to doubt that Daley doesn’t have some form of passion. After all, regardless of how his coaching career has unfolded he is a NSW Blues legend.

But Keary said there is a “big difference” between how Maguire and Daley showed that passion.

Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

What headspace is Haumole in for game 3? | 01:18

“Laurie said it before: he wants to win really badly. He wants for the players and for the state. And then there’s what I experienced with Madge and Freddy… there is a way about doing it and going above and beyond. We’ve seen Billy do it with Queensland,” Keary said.

It is widely expected that Daley is planning to step down as Blues coach at the end of the series, irrespective of the result.

It begs the question: if that is the case, why did the Blues not come out in the first place and confirm that?

“I think there should have been some type of confirmation there or at least declaration from New South Wales Rugby League on where they stand on that,” Riccio said.

“We’re journos, we know what’s going on? They’ve just been really hesitant and reticent to declare that.

“I just think that’s something they could have latched on to.”

Instead, the Blues will head to Suncorp desperate to reclaim the shield. Daley was tight-lipped on Wednesday evening when asked if he will make any changes for the must-win clash.

The Blues coach was similarly cryptic when quizzed on Haumole Olakau’atu’s shock omission for Game 2, and according to Anasta the “lack of real clarity” has been a theme for NSW under Daley’s watch.

“It sounds a bit harsh what I’m saying but if you look at games one and two and you look at last year and you look at press conferences before and after matches, decisions being made and a lack of real clarity around decisions, and you look at the way they play — they play without clarity,” Anasta said.

“To me, it’s just an eye-opener, because I think from the second that he was selected as coach eyebrows were raised by a lot of people as to why he was picked, and if it was the right decision, and I think a lot of people would have had doubt. Now we’re seeing why.”