With Brad Fittler stepping away from his position as NSW head coach, the Blues are preparing for a new era as they aim to end a two-year losing streak to the Maroons.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart appeared to be the leading contender for the job, however he has removed himself from the race, as has former Blues enforcer Paul Gallen.
So who will the NSWRL pin their faith in next? There’s certainly no shortage of options.
Read on for some of the potential candidates for the Blues top job!
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LAURIE DALEY
Appears to be one of the favourites at this stage.
Daley coached the Blues from 2013-2017 and was the last at the helm before Brad Fittler took over in 2018.
Daley’s 2014 Blues’ squad ended the Maroons historic eight-year reign, so he has runs on the board even if his overall record in charge wasn’t flash (one series win in five years).
Veteran rugby league reporter Danny Weidler appeared on Daley’s Big Sports Breakfast show during the week and said “I’m getting told there is a push for you behind the scenes to become Blues coach”.
“I’m not saying that you’re driving it and you’re responsible for that but there are people rallying support for you behind the scenes. That’s a fact,” Weidler said.
Daley responded by saying he’s open to the chance to coach NSW again.
“I’ve said along if people thought I could help out I would help out in any role. Coach could be an option, being a mentor, being in a leadership role, whatever it may be. I’m always happy to help where I can,” he said.
The obvious query with Daley is whether he would be effective stepping back into the high-pressure role after doing very little coaching in the last six years, bar a few games at the helm of the Indigenous All-Stars team.
CRAIG BELLAMY
Considering his competitive nature, you’d imagine the Storm maestro would have some interest in another crack as Blues coach after his uncermonius first stint in charge.
Bellamy coached NSW for three years from 2008-2010 during Queensland’s eight year winning streak.
His stats don’t make for great reading, with Bellamy-led Blues teams winning only two games and losing seven.
Bellamy was quick to shut down the possibility of coaching NSW back in June, telling reporters he wasn’t interested in returning to the Origin arena.
Of course at the time, Fittler was still in charge so with the position now vacant, Bellamy’s tune may have changed.
One thing is for sure, if Bellamy does get another opportunity to coach NSW, it will pit him against his former fullback Billy Slater in a tantalising match-up.
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PHIL GOULD
The most successful NSW coach in history, with just one series loss from eight campaigns, would always be welcomed back in Blues camp by players.
Gould either played, coached or has been an administrator in first-grade for 47 years and is widely considered one of the sharpest minds in the game.
However, it was reported the NSWRL board had an issue with Brad Fittler wanting to bring Gould onto his staff for 2024.
The 65-year-old is a strong personality but why the top brass are hesitant to get him back involved remains unclear.
Gould is currently the general manager at the Bulldogs and some pundits have questioned if he’d have the time to coach the Blues again.
What can’t be questioned is his ability to win, with Gould lifting the shield six times – while also drawing a series – during his two stints as coach between 1992-96 and 2002-04.
JOHN CARTWRIGHT
He’s been a key part of the Broncos stunning resurgence over the last three seasons as an assistant under Kevin Walters and now the former Titans coach has thrown his hat in the ring to lead to Blues.
Cartwright boasts over 20 years of NRL coaching experience, but hasn’t been a head coach since standing down from the Titans in 2014.
Unlike a few of the names on this list, Cartwright has publicly expressed his interest and believes he is the right man for the job.
“I’m definitely interested (in the NSW job),’’ Cartwright said to News Corp.
“I’ve always loved that arena. I’ve been fortunate enough to work in it on and off for the last 15 years. It would be a dream job for me.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play for NSW and then be involved as a coach. Just seeing the dominance of Queensland, off and on, over the last 15 years, it’s a challenge and I love a challenge.
“Winning a premiership is the ultimate but Origin is something that is uniquely different and I believe you have to understand how big of a beast it is.
“I know I can bring something to the role. It’s not like coaching a club team. I think it’s a fair bit different. But I think coaches that are day-to-day on the job are really important.
“Knowing how the players expect to prepare, having someone that is experienced in doing that is really important.”
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MICHAEL MAGUIRE
Even though he hasn’t coached since he was sacked by the Tigers in 2022, ‘Madge’ will likely be a leading contender for this job.
Having coached over 300 NRL games, his CV is certainly strong enough. He led Souths to a premiership in 2014 and boasts a 10-5 record as the Kiwis coach.
In addition to his representative duties with New Zealand, McGuire is an assistant coach under Ricky Stuart at the Raiders.
He’s made no secret of his desire to coach the Blues, labelling the chance to do so a “dream”, however it isn’t known whether McGuire would be able to coach both NZ and NSW.
“I can’t really answer (if he can do both jobs), I’m really enjoying coaching the Kiwi boys,” Maguire told SEN back in June.
“But you always look at a situation, it would always be a dream to coach at the Origin arena but look, I’m very comfortable with what I’m doing at the moment.”
IVAN CLEARY
The Blues could do a lot worse than appointing Penrith’s coach on the back of winning three straight premierships.
Cleary has been a head coach in the NRL since 2006 and boasts a 56 per cent winning record from his 423 games in charge at the Warriors, Tigers and Panthers.
The 52-year-old has been able to get the best out of his son Nathan in clubland and could help the star halfback finally conquer the Origin arena.
Cleary has also already coached NSW regulars Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau.
Cleary sat in Brad Fittler’s box for Origin III this year which was the only game of the series which the Blues won.
Whether the Panthers’ board would be willing to share their coach in the middle of the season remains to be seen.
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MICHAEL ENNIS
He’s one of the outsiders of the field considering his lack of experience but there’s many good judges who believe Ennis has what it takes to be a successful head coach in the NRL one day.
An astute rugby league mind, Ennis currently works as an analyst on Fox League and will join Anthony Seibold’s Manly staff on a part-time role in 2024.
The 39-year old has previously worked on the coaching staff of the Sharks, Eels and Raiders, with Canberra reaching a grand final during Ennis’ time in the nation’s capital.
Will the NSW board put their faith in an inexperienced coach to lead the Blues out of two straight series losses? It remains to be seen, however there’s no doubting the former NSW dummy-half won’t lack any passion if the Blues take a flyer on him.
PAUL MCGREGOR
McGregor was an assistant for the Blues under Brad Fittler in 2022 and 2023 but when Freddy stepped down from the role, the former Dragons coach informed NSWRL that he would not be involved in 2024.
Will the Blues turn to a former Fittler assistant so soon? It’s probably unlikely.
