Much has been made of ex-NSW coach Ricky Stuart’s expected influence on the Blues State of Origin side this year.
But current NSW mentor Laurie Daley has hinted the biggest impact may be made by Craig Bellamy after taking copious notes from Melbourne’s NRL premiership winning coach at the Indigenous All Stars camp.
The likes of NSW forward Greg Bird have come out in support of Stuart staying on as a Blues consultant, backing the intense former mentor to be a key to breaking Queensland’s Origin stranglehold.
However, Daley has got a leg up on what is required ahead of his first Origin gig this year thanks to the Indigenous All Stars coach’s assistant Bellamy.
“You can see why Melbourne have been so successful,” Daley said on Tuesday.
“He doesn’t want to step on my toes but he knows when something needs to be said and how to put his point across.
“When he says something the boys are not only scared to talk but probably scared to move.”
Asked if he had that talent, Daley laughed: “No I don’t.
“But he’s very good. His attention to detail is second to none.
“As far as I am concerned he’s the best coach. I am learning a lot as we go along and that can only help me.”
Daley said he also hoped to use Bellamy as a Blues advisor but seemed to have given up on any ideas of recruiting him as a NSW assistant.
“I don’t think he would be available for that. He’s been there in the past and I think he found the commitment too much,” he said.
“I am sure we will have discussions about Origin along the way but it makes it difficult for him when he’s got key players playing for Queensland (at Melbourne).”
Daley joked that he had bonded so well with Bellamy that the in-demand coach had revealed where he was headed next season.
“He told me yesterday. No I honestly have no idea and I wouldn’t ask him. When the time is right he will make that decision,” he laughed.
Meanwhile, NRL All Stars enforcer Paul Gallen (elbow infection) all but confirmed his availability for Saturday night’s clash.
He had off-season surgery on both groins and his elbow and was also hospitalised last month with a staph infection.
“I am definitely not myself at the moment. They will still have me on the antibiotics for a number of weeks but I am looking forward to playing,” Gallen said.
Meanwhile, NRL All Stars hooker Robbie Farah said he would not mind if the showcase event was moved to the end of the season during grand final week “as long as it remained on the calendar”.
He also believed the event could incorporate more entertainment to make it “a true All Stars like in the NBA”.
“There could be NRL’s fastest race, a goal kicking comp – there’s heaps of great ideas,” he said.
