Blues Coach Laurie Daley Faces Changes in State of Origin Setup
Blues coach Laurie Daley may have lost Storm mentor Craig Bellamy as his right-hand man for this year’s State of Origin series, but he’s been boosted by the retention of another key figure from Melbourne. It has been confirmed that Bellamy will step aside from his senior advising role with NSW to focus his full attention on the struggling Storm, who have lost six games in a row for the first time under the veteran coach.
The news comes as a major blow to Daley’s hopes of regaining the Origin shield from the Maroons, who came from behind to win Games 2 and 3 to clinch last year’s series.
Dragons interim coach Dean Young also stepped down from his role as one of Daley’s assistant to give the winless NRL strugglers his complete focus. He’s been replaced by former NSW skipper Boyd Cordner.
However, Daley has been boosted by the news that Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi will continue his role as the Blues’ team performance manager. Ponissi is regarded as one of the game’s most astute operators and has been integral to Melbourne’s long-term success alongside Bellamy.
He joined NSW as team performance manager ahead of the 2024 Origin series under Michael Maguire and helped the former Blues coach mastermind a series victory that year. And Ponissi retained the role under Daley last year, acting as a key figure around the team’s training and performance environment.
But he won’t be joined by Bellamy this time around after the Melbourne coach deemed that juggling his club role with the Origin job was just too difficult to juggle. Bellamy was used as a sounding board for Daley to help profile players and give advice on team selections and game plans, among other responsibilities.
Cameron Smith Understands Why Craig Bellamy Quit NSW Role
Cameron Smith understands why Craig Bellamy quit NSW role. The legendary No.9 says he saw the effect it had on his former coach at the Storm when Bellamy previously led NSW at Origin level.
“I remember when he coached the Blues in 2008, ’09 and ’10 and I remember him finishing up that season and saying it took a lot of focus away from his club preparation,” Smith said on Nine’s 100% Footy. “His club is in a really difficult spot right now so I think he’s made the right decision to go back and focus fully on the Storm.”
If anyone can turn around Melbourne’s ailing form, it’s Bellamy as far as Smith is concerned. The Melbourne legend said the club faced a similar situation in 2012 when they lost five games in a row, before an incredible turnaround that ended with an unlikely premiership.
“I remember the fifth consecutive game we lost against the Dragons… and Craig Bellamy came walking out onto the field… and said ‘I don’t know where to go from here’,” Smith recalled. “What we did the next week was simplify our football, not worry about all the fancy plays, let’s strip it right back, make our tackles, complete our sets and let’s just work hard and it will turn and it did. I don’t think we lost a game for the rest of that season.”
