This is your weekly dose of NRL truth-telling, as tipster and rugby league raconteur Nick Tedeschi tears through the good, the bad and the indefensible, with absolutely no regard for bruised egos.
There Will Be No Apology to Laurie
NSW coach Laurie Daley decided that after an incredibly lucky series win gifted to the Blues by officials both on the field and off the field that it was time to puff out the chest and demand his critics “show some balls”. With the shield safely in the possession of NSW, Daley started peacocking at the press conference, a premeditated retaliation to those who dared criticise his coaching. Fun Fact: Daley won the series. Another Fun Fact: he still can’t coach. And he most likely knows that, the reason he is set to step down after the series win.
There is no doubt that NSW were the better team in the decider and deserved the win. Queensland were disrespectful of the ball and lacking in energy. NSW rode the energy brought by Liam Martin. Some of Daley’s selections were widely criticised in these pages and elsewhere. Some he got right – Mitchell Moses’ kicking game was absolutely outstanding in the decider and key to the win. Many he got wrong – the treatment of Haumole Olakau’atu throughout the series was laughable. His rotations were utterly horrific in every game including the decider. His failure to acknowledge the luck the Blues received and show a little humility because of it was a poor reflection on Daley.
There would not have been a decider if not for the questionable send off in the series opener. The officiating both on and off the field in the decider was nothing short of extraordinarily bad, favouring NSW in nearly every call. The Bostock knock on is but the latest incident that should see Chris Butler fired. His continual stuff ups are maybe the biggest blight on the game and have now impacted an Origin decider. Ashley Klein was no better. Harry Grant continually caught NSW markers not square and was barely rewarded. The call to penalise Queensland just before halftime after James Tedesco was knocked out and then Briton Nikora raised his arms in a bumper motion was plainly wrong. A lot of that is refereeing and Queensland have certainly had their rub of the green over the years but it really was a terribly officiated game that clearly went one way and Daley’s failure to acknowledge this while peacocking around like the reincarnation of Jack Gibson crossed with Liberace.
NSW deserve their credit. Nathan Cleary put to bed any question about his form at rep level. Payne Haas was extraordinary. Liam Martin is the personification of The Origin Player, the type Queensland have thrived with for nearly 50 years and the Blues have continually searched for. Daley is stepping aside though and it is for the best because he is not the best man to coach NSW, he only got the job because of his relationship with the CEO and is extraordinarily lucky to be able to walk away a winner.
Thank You, Channel Nine
In the week we unfortunately received the news that Nine would hold exclusive rights to the Grand Final and State of Origin for the next seven years, ensuring coverage on free-to-air remains as amateur and unprofessional as ever, we did get some positivity from the station when Paul Gallen was cut from coverage for the decider in what was a real treat for viewers.
Benji Bang On In Punting Luai
The jury very much remains out as to whether Benji Marshall is cut out to be a first grade coach or not but he certainly deserves credit in one area: protecting what the Tigers are building. The Tigers have long just floated along in a pink swan, seemingly unaware and unfazed by what it took to be a competitive organisation. Benji, at the very least, is trying to change that by bringing a hard-edge to the club that it desperately needs. Jarome Luai was part of that plan. He was expected to drive standards. He supposedly did do that. He clearly is not anymore. His defence has been nothing short of shameful for a player on such a large contract. In his last nine games, Luai has missed at least four tackles in eight of them. His tackle efficiency currently ranks No.337 in the NRL. Culture is built on defence. It is built on effort. Luai is providing none of that and that has amped up since he made the decision to take the money from the PNG Chiefs. One can’t be critical of that but Marshall has made the call to get rid of him for next year and he should make the call that he has played his last game in Tigers colours.
The Willie M Team of the Week
This week’s team of shockers and slopsters:
- Jahream Bula (Tig)
- Jamayne Isaako (Dol)
- Herbie Farnworth (Dol)
- Heamasi Makasini (Tig)
- Jethro Rinakama (Bul)
- Kodi Nikorima (Dol)
- Jarome Luai (Tig)
- Felise Kaufusi (Dol)
- Phoenix Crossland (New)
- Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (GC)
- Arama Hau (GC)
- Jaman Salmon (Bul)
- Morgan Knowles (Dol)
—————————————- - Nathan Brown (Man)
- Dylan Walker (Par)
- Tom Gilbert (Dol)
- Teancum Brown (Par)
——————————————
Coach: Kristian Woolf (Dol)
Referee Gradings
This week’s official gradings … not including another F for Chris Butler in The Bunker:
- Wyatt Raymond (D+)
- Todd Smith (C)
- Gerard Sutton (C+)
- Adam Gee (C+)
- Grant Atkins (C-)
- Peter Gough (D+)
- Jarrod Cole (D)
The 2026 Field Goal Update – 20
Scott Drinkwater’s golden point match-winner was the 20th field goal of the NRL season.
Fun Fact #1
Sir Donald Bradman played fullback for Bowral Primary School before giving away the sport.
Fun Fact #2
Just two men have played premiership Rugby League and represented Australia in cricket: Herbie Collins and Ray Lindwall.
Fun Fact #3
Verdun Scott is the only man to represent New Zealand in both Rugby League and cricket while Alan Wharton is the only player to represent England in cricket and play top level Rugby League, representing Salford.
Rumour Mill
Jarome Luai has been linked to a one-season move to Parramatta as the Eels continue to enhance their reputation as a transit lounge. Jamie Humphreys has reportedly backed out of a mooted move to the Perth Bears with Canterbury now in the mix to win his signature with backup Bulldogs No.7 Sean O’Sullivan set to head to Super League.
The Coaching Crosshairs
Laurie Daley is mercifully set to step down as NSW head coach, leaving a vacancy that is coveted but should really be limited to a very small field. If one lesson was learned from the success of Michael Maguire, it is that the Blues need a proper coach. While Queensland can succeed with relying on a state legend, NSW with a bigger talent pool and less of an obsession with winning needs a coach with plenty of experience – and success. The experience element should rule out some of the utterly ridiculous names being floated like Matt King and Boyd Cordner and the Johns brothers while success should put a double thick black line through the application of Trent Barrett. There should be only two names considered for the job: Ivan Cleary, who is stepping down from Penrith at the end of the 2027 season, and Michael Maguire, who is one-from-one with the Blues and is every chance to be out of the Broncos sooner rather than later. Cleary is the long-term solution and the NSWRL should be doing all they can to convince him to do double duty next year.
Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week
Billy Slater is as well prepared and on the ball as any coach in State of Origin history but his fascination with plodder Trent Loiero is well and truly off the mark. Slater made the inconceivable decision to put Loiero on before the much better Patrick Carrigan and when Sam Walker had to go off for a HIA and Reece Walsh was used, Carrigan was the odd man out who couldn’t get on the field, a field he was desperately needed on. Queensland have thrived using unfashionable players but not using Carrigan in order to play Loiero was just madness.
Watch It
Perhaps the greatest and most unlikely try ever scored in a big game, the ‘Wide To West’ try needs to be watched at least once a month for every true Rugby League fan with the commentary as good as it gets.