Laurie Daley’s euphoric, drink-fuelled breakfast radio appearance on his own show

It was Laurie Daley’s finest moment.

After four months of not drinking due to a health scare, she left her hair down until the morning after the Blues signed her for the 2026 Origin series and then did what Laurie Daley did to repay her friends for their loyalty.

He is a member of Sky Sports Radio. Big Sports Breakfast show for ten years. He is taking seven weeks off during the Origin series to concentrate on the job at hand.

Laurie Daley celebrates her NSW Origin series win with a bear hug from front-rower Mitch Barnett.NRL Footage

Host Gerard Middleton is joined at the time by Maroons legend Kevin Walters and former Blues player Josh Reynolds.

The trio were broadcasting from Brisbane this morning. Live at 5:55 a.m., Daley entered the studio to the cheers of his radio friends who defended him live on air amid incessant attacks since last year’s series loss. It was very Daley of him to come out that way. For him, friendship is everything.

After some backslapping and hugging, she sat down and fought back tears.

“It’s very difficult for me to describe it. It’s very emotional. You value friendships,” he said.

“I got a lot of messages from a lot of people.

“I really appreciate it. I love everyone’s support. Congratulations.”

He was celebrating. On broadcast he was both relieved and happy as his much-criticised team beat Queensland 30-12 on home soil in front of 52,500 Maroon fans to take the series 2-1.

Daley has endured heavy criticism during his rebirth as Blues coach. In his first stint from 2013-2017 he came up against the all-time champion Queensland team and won one series (2014), improving his overall win-loss record to 6-9.

Blues coach Laurie Daley was heavily criticized after his side won the title in the second leg at the MCG.Steven Siewert.

He took office again last year to prove that he could excel as a leader at this level. Shocked after losing the 2025 series after the win in game one.

Fans of his daily show could hear his devastation even weeks later. A great radio artist struggled to cope with his loss. But he continued to stand out as critical listener messages and emails piled up on the laptop in front of him each day.

In this series, the Blues had a poor performance in game one before Kalyn Ponga was sent off and the Blues achieved a miraculous victory. They were humiliated in the second half of the second leg at the MCG. For Daley, the series of losses would be unbearable.

However, he gave his team strength and they achieved a great victory. The difference between victory and defeat at Suncorp was staggering, and he knew how big the gap would be for him and his reputation.

“I’m very happy. I’m very emotional.”

He addressed the criticism aimed at him, as he did in the post-match press conference the night before. To be fair, most of the criticism was justified. They played poorly for four consecutive games, with all but 20 minutes against 12 men.

“It’s been hard to accept some of the things I’ve written and said,” she said, her voice breaking and tears streaming down her face.

“I don’t care if people put the boot in if it’s about selections or how we play, but some of it was personal.

“We may have differences of opinion, but I saw that people wanted to have fun for whatever reason. I didn’t listen or read, but people were telling me what was said, texting me, and it wasn’t nice.”

She said it was especially difficult for her loved ones.

“Your family is very protective of you, and that’s what you love about them.”

“People want to attack everyone and they have no idea what they’re going through. You do it, but it’s your family. And they get upset. And when your mother, your daughter, your brother or sister cries, it bothers me.”

In the post-match press conference, he asked where most of those who questioned him were.

“Some of the things that have been written and said… come on. Anyway, I hope these guys can take care of themselves,” he said.

One story in particular touched him deeply. It was an unsourced report in Brisbane Courier Post He said the pre-match speeches were very dull and boring, and the players entered the arena in a bad mood, which led to Queensland scoring 20 points in the first 30 minutes of the second and third games last year and the first this year.