Phil Gould has advised Laurie Daley to disregard outside opinions as he navigates challenging selection choices for Origin I. Daley faces a significant dilemma over the No.6 jersey, with Jarome Luai and Mitchell Moses vying for the position. Additionally, there is ongoing speculation about the future of Jake Trbojevic, despite his former role as captain.
Daley’s previous tenure as coach ended in 2017, following a mixed record of just one series win out of five, despite famously ending the Maroons’ dynasty in 2014. There were perceptions that he was too lenient with players, a notion he refuted in a recent interview, asserting that he employs a unique coaching style built on strong player relationships.
Paul Gallen, a former player under Daley, expressed surprise at suggestions that players took advantage of Daley’s leadership style, stating that he had immense respect for him and expected him to excel in his current role.
Gould, who previously worked alongside Daley, believes the coach’s earlier struggles stemmed from an attempt to appease external influences regarding selections. He encouraged Daley to trust his judgement and formulate a team based on his understanding of what constitutes an Origin player.
Among his toughest decisions, Daley highlighted the selection of Moses, particularly since the Eels halfback was instrumental in last year’s Blues victory but faces competition with Nathan Cleary’s return affecting the No.6 position. According to Daley, determining the best combination of players will be complex, as each contender possesses the talent deserving of selection.
Moses has also strongly communicated his desire for the No.6 jersey, asserting his comfort playing alongside Cleary and his belief that their combination could be highly effective.