NOW it falls to Laurie Daley to attempt what Graham Murray, Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart have been unable to achieve over the past seven years.
With Queensland plotting an eighth successive rugby league State of Origin series win, NSW fans look hopefully to former skipper Daley to end that era of dominance.
Calm and approachable, Daley has brought his own stamp to the NSW coaching job.
Unlike his three most recent predecessors, he’s never coached an NRL club.
But few would have a better idea what it takes to win an Origin series than 43-year-old Daley, who was handed the Blues captaincy at just 22 and played in five series triumphs over an 11-year period.
He has been open for months on his backing for players like halfback Mitchell Pearce and his calmness has been reflected among his players in the NSW camp.
Daley’s relaxed demeanour disguises a thorough, methodical approach and former Blues prop Steve Roach is aware people can misread that.
“The biggest mistake anyone can make is to underestimate Laurie,” said Roach, a member of Daley’s backroom staff.
“He is one of the nicest guys in the game but you don’t captain your state at 22 and play in so many Origin wins without having something about you.
“This is very much his team. I don’t think I am saying anything here that Queensland don’t know already.”
Mal Meninga, Daley’s former Canberra and Test captain, has coached Queensland since 2006 and lost just six times to the Blues in 21 matches but his side face one of their toughest tests in 2013.
In addition to two of the three matches being played in Sydney, Meninga’s side are without inspirational prop Petero Civoniceva for the first time since 2000, following his retirement last year.
However, the Blues acknowledge that Queensland have made a habit of successfully replacing seemingly irreplaceable players in recent years.
“There was (Shane) Webcke, (Steve) Price, (Darren) Lockyer now Petero, all legends of the game but they seem to cope without them,” said Roach.
“I like the look of our side for game one and I think we have a great chance to win, but like every single Origin, there will be very little between the sides.”
The superstar Melbourne trio of Billy Slater, skipper Cam Smith and Cooper Cronk are core components of the Queensland side and Daley laughed off claims they will go into the series playing below their best.
The NRL premiers have won just one of their past four matches, but the Blues coach said it would be ridiculous to question their form.
“The Storm are sitting second on the ladder, that hardly suggests they’re going badly,” Daley said.
“They’re big-game players, as are Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis. We all know that, but I am very happy with the side we’ve picked.”
Despite his preference to start in the back-row, Blues skipper Paul Gallen will play prop alongside James Tamou with Daley opting for added mobility in his pack.
Luke Lewis and Greg Bird are two of the best back-rowers in the game and Ryan Hoffman, back in Origin for the first time since 2008, has been performing well for Melbourne since his return from a stint in the UK.
Daley’s biggest selection call is in the halves, where he’s picked debutant James Maloney to replace Todd Carney at five-eighth alongside his Sydney Roosters teammate Pearce.
But he believes the cool, collected Maloney brings out the best in Pearce and will handle the pressure-cooker Origin atmosphere well.
He’s gambled on the mercurial Blake Ferguson to make a success of his debut on wing, recognising his potential as an impact player.
And he’s also handed a first Blues jersey to destructive Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita to supply thrust off the bench.
Meanwhile, Queensland’s side has an understandably familiar look with South Sydney forward Chris McQueen becoming only the fifth player to make his Maroons debut since 2011, his selection reward for an excellent start to the season. - AAP
[ Source: Australian Times ]