Cricket
Motorsport
Basketball test
League - Test
Combat Sports
Netball
Football
Why Daley selected 'rusty' Moses for Game II to win Game III
Nicholas Quinlan • July 10th, 2026 4:23 pm
With the shield returning to New South Wales, coach Laurie Daley has spoken about one of the key decisions that led them to series victory.
It's been an emotional rollercoaster for the Blues, who won Game I with the biggest comeback in State of Origin history in Sydney before they were blitzed by Queensland in the second half of Game II at a packed MCG to take the series to a live decider.
But in enemy territory, NSW pulled off a major upset to defeat the Maroons 30-12 to see Daley win his second shield as coach after seven attempts.
Throughout the series, the Blues coach faced unprecedented criticism, with fans calling for his sacking mid-series.
Reflecting on the victory, the 56-year-old admitted the moment sat up there in his prestigious representative career.
“It was very special,” Daley explained on SEN’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns.
“I think the fact that (it was) the decider, Lang Park, the way in which we won, I think it has to sit right up there.
“Obviously Grand Finals are different, but in terms of rep footy, I think that one in 2014 (and this one), they're both pretty special.”
One of the big selections calls that Daley made during the series was bringing Mitch Moses back in as the starting five-eighth for Game II.
The Eels captain missed the series opener due to a hamstring strain, which saw Ethan Strange make his Blues debut in Game I.
The Raiders five-eighth starred in their 20-point comeback, with many believing that the 21-year-old should remain in the No.6 jersey for their clash at the MCG.
Instead, Daley selected Moses as the starter despite not playing since Round 11, with the Parramatta halfback having an average performance in their 44-24 loss.
Moses only played one more game for Parra before once again starting in the No. 6 for NSW in Game III. This time around, the 31-year-old had a far better showing, having kicked for 721 metres.
But as Daley explains, this was his plan along to ensure Moses has as much playing time to be ready for the decider.
“I made it (the decision) by myself,” he said.
“Without looking too far down the track because you want to win every Origin, we knew we had to pick him for Game II, otherwise he wouldn't have got any footy.
“He would have been underdone going into Game III if that was the way we wanted to go, which we wanted to because we thought that that was the seven and six combination. We thought for us this year, that was the right way to go.
“But because they (Parramatta) had the bye after (Game) II, he would have only had one game before (Game) III and then he would have had a long layoff.
“So, we were thinking, we need to play him and probably give him 50 or 60 minutes in Game II then he can have another game after (Game) II, which gives him two games into the third Origin. So, he'll be a lot better.
“We thought he'd be a bit rusty in (Game) II, obviously we started well but it wasn't a great second half performance by us.
“But when you break it down, everyone wasn't happy with that game, and sometimes it just takes a jolt to sort of get your mindset back in and go, this is where I'm gonna play, this is how I'm gonna do it, make it really simple, not overcomplicated, and make sure they nail their job.”
With Daley coming out of contract with NSWRL this year, it has been reported that he won’t go around for 2027.
He is yet to confirm whether he’ll continue in the role.
