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Sport Nation
Inside the Bellamy/Daley relationship crucial to a NSW series win
Sam Kosack • May 26th, 2025 5:34 pm
Forget Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses, this is the duo most crucial to NSW’s Origin success.
Laurie Daley returns to the coaches' box for the first time since 2017 with Melbourne mastermind Craig Bellamy at his side as an advisor in camp.
The two spearhead a new-look Blues coaching staff, including Brett White, Matt King and Frank Ponissi, after Michael Maguire departed the role to coach the Brisbane Broncos.
The interest in how their dynamic works in camp has been overshadowed by the Blues injuries, but the partnership is crucial to their series defence as they strive to win back-to-back Origins for the second time since 2006.
Channel 7 sports reporter Jelisa Apps told SEN 1170 Afternoons how the duo has been working together in camp.
“As far as I can see, it's Laurie running the session and constantly turning to Craig… always discussing with Craig, like they’re almost joined at the hip,” Apps, who has been in Blues camp, revealed.
“I think there would be a lot of admiration and respect from Laurie to Craig, and Craig has been off limits to the media on his own choice.
“Everyone's obviously asked to speak to Craig, we’re dying to talk to Craig… but he really doesn’t want to be (in the media)... he’s like 'this is Laurie’s show and I’m just here to help'.
“He doesn't want to be talking to the media… or making anything about himself.
“He's kind of the perfect person to have in, Craig, because even though he's such a big figure in the game, he's very unassuming and… he's kind of the perfect mentor because he's happy to take that backseat.
“From what we can see, it works really well.
“Obviously, Brett White has been part of the setup for a little while and also part of that Kangaroos setup.
“He often doesn't get talked about as… whenever there's coaches' names floated around, I'm always really surprised that Brett White's never mentioned, cause he's certainly done a lot of apprenticeships.”
The men’s State of Origin series opener will take place on May 28.
