Daley takes over at NSW
August 21, 2012 12:42:26 UK
New South Wales have appointed former Blues captain Laurie Daley as their coach for the next two seasons.
He takes over from Ricky Stuart, who stepped down after accepting the coach's job at the Parramatta Eels last month.
NSW players had wanted Stuart to stay on as they bid to end a depressing sequence of seven straight series defeats.
But following the 21-20 series finale defeat to Queensland at Suncorp Stadium, the NSWRL have opted to hand the task to the vastly experienced Daley.
A respected commentator with Channel Nine and Fox Sports, Daley has coached County Origin and the Indigenous All Stars as well as being assistant with the Blues.
As a player, he won two premierships with the Raiders as well as captaining successful Blues Origin teams.
NSW hooker Robbie Farah endorsed Daley's appointment: "I'm very happy, he's obviously a player that's achieved a lot in the game as a player and a coach and knows a lot about State of Origin and what it's about," said Farah.
"Origin next year's a long way away but if I have the opportunity to work with him I'm sure I'll be looking forward to it very much.
"I think there were a few good candidates obviously - Brad Fittler and the like - but Laurie's got the nod and I'm sure he won't let anybody down.
"Ricky had a great support staff around him in terms of assistant coaches and everyone else so it'll be the same next year and Laurie will have a lot of help around him."
NSW are 2.15 to win the 2013 Origin series, with Queensland available at 1.70.
Meanwhile, Daley's former club the Canberra Raiders are 5657.00 to win the NRL Grand Final.
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