NSW coach Laurie Daley concedes critics have every right to question his pick-and-stick policy after another series loss, but "fatherly instincts" won't allow him to blood a slew of youngsters, such as Bryce Cartwright, in State of Origin before their time.
Daley is under pressure to end the representative careers of veterans Paul Gallen, Robbie Farah and Greg Bird after Queensland won their 10th series from 11 attempts. With the series decided, the final home game is viewed by many luminaries as an opportunity to fast-track the next generation of Blues, including Cartwright, James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Joseph Leilua, Nathan Peats and Wade Graham.
Phil Gould, the most successful NSW Origin coach, has been particularly critical of Daley's loyalty to players incapable of wresting the shield from the Maroons. While the Panthers supremo didn't name Farah and Gallen, it is believed the duo are among the "selfish" senior players he claims are holding the state back.
Daley indicated immediately after the game that he intended to stick with the squad that came up short at Suncorp Stadium, but has since softened his stance, raising hopes more rookies will be blooded. Speaking at the annual North Sydney Bears sportsmans lunch, Daley admitted he was thrown into the interstate arena before he was ready to handle it, setting his career back, and he did not want other youngsters to suffer a similar fate.
"Young Bryce Cartwright is there or thereabouts, we had him in as 18th man," Daley said. "The thing for me, and I don't know if it's fatherly instincts, but some of these young guys I want to protect.
"I don't want to put them into a situation that I was in. I'd rather have them ready to go when I know they're ready rather than hoping they're ready.
"That's one of the reasons I've held young Bryce back at the moment. We think he's going to be a really good player for us, but we don't want to expose him.
Stay or go? Blues captain Paul Gallen. Photo: Mark Kolbe
"We've done it over the past 10 years when we were going through all those changes, chopping and changing. We were putting in guys for one or two games, we'd get beat and then we wouldn't see them again.
"They lost confidence out of doing that. My way of doing it is different to a lot of people – I like bringing them in, have them in and around the camp for a couple of games so they get to know me, I get to know them and they get to know the players.
"Then when they come in and get their opportunity to start and be part of the 17, they feel comfortable, like they've been there before.
"I got there and stage fright set in. Everyone is different, but that's the way I work."
If anyone knows about tough starts to their Origin career, it is Daley. As a teenager he made his debut at Lang Park in game one of the 1989 series where Queensland dismantled the Blues 36-6. To make things worse, Daley missed his first shot at goal from in front. He was eventually dropped for game three as Queensland swept that series 3-0.
It was part of a stop-start beginning to his time in the blue jumper. He played five out of a possible nine games before eventually stamping his class at Origin level when he started at five-eighth in every game during NSW's three-peat between 1992 and 1994 on his way to 23 games for NSW during a 10-year stint.
Daley, who has won one of the four series he has overseen since taking over from Ricky Stuart, has been accused of being too close to his players.
"Again, you go back to what your core values are as a coach and as a person," Daley said.
"If I'm criticised for being loyal, I'll accept that. That's part of my make-up, part of my human nature. I can't change who I am.
"I'm hoping we get a successful team, that's what I'm trying to do.
"There's been a big turnover of players and there might be a few changes again coming into game three, but I think when you've got a plan you've got to stick to that path, see it out and see where you are at the end of it.
"We've got a lot of talent there and, again, you feel disappointed because you let a lot of people down.
"At the end of the day, I'm responsible for that. I've got to cop all that criticism and rightly so. We didn't get the job done."
NSWRL chairman George Peponis has declared Daley will see out the final year of his contract regardless of the result at ANZ Stadium in game three.
However, it has not stopped some from questioning Daley's position.
"You've got to have good mates as well," Daley said.
"A couple [of mates] rang up and said, 'You've got plenty of time now.' I asked what they mean, I've got another game to go and they said: 'Nah, you'll be looking for a job soon. You'll be at Centrelink.'
"It's good to have mates, isn't it?"
