“I Can’t Share My True Thoughts”: Laurie Daley’s Honest Reaction as Blues Suffer from Disadvantageous Penalty Count

Laurie Daley expressed concern regarding the uneven penalty count faced by NSW following the Maroons’ surprising victory in State of Origin II in Perth.

With the chance to secure an insurmountable series lead at Optus Stadium, the well-equipped Blues found themselves trailing significantly at half-time and ultimately fell short in a thrilling contest that ended 26-24.

During the first half, Daley’s squad was penalised eight times compared to Queensland, who had not seen a single penalty. This disparity only intensified after the break, with the Blues receiving nine consecutive penalties before beginning their comeback.

In this same timeframe, referee Ashley Klein did not penalise Queensland, and by the final whistle, the count was 10-2 against the Blues.

However, when asked to comment on the officiating, Daley chose to refrain from speaking on the matter.

“I’m not going to express my true thoughts on it; that’s why I won’t comment,” the coach remarked.

Some penalties were issued for foul play, notably against Jarome Luai and Zac Lomax, while others were more subjective decisions by Klein.

Blues captain Isaah Yeo offered a slightly more critical perspective, noting their difficulty in defending and maintaining possession as a more pressing concern.

“There were definitely a few instances where we shot ourselves in the foot, but others were 50/50 … sometimes you get those calls and sometimes you don’t,” he reflected.

“You’d hope for a more balanced count, but at times we were our own worst enemies. It’s crucial not to let the ball drop in the next set once you’ve got a grip on it.”

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Trailing 26-6 at half-time after Queensland scored four tries in the first period, NSW shifted momentum in the second half.

Ultimately, goalkicking proved to be the decisive factor for the Blues; they managed to score five tries to Queensland’s four, yet Lomax missed three conversion attempts.

Last year’s Origin champions will now enjoy home-ground advantage at Accor Stadium for the decider on June 9.

When questioned about possible changes or his faith in the same players to rebound and succeed, Daley responded with assurance.

“I felt confident at half-time,” he stated.

“I understand the potential of this group, and that’s what’s disappointing, as they didn’t give themselves a chance.

“I know our best football and its capabilities. I must also take responsibility for the first half’s performance, which was subpar.

“It’s crucial for me to evaluate my actions because something isn’t clicking.

“It’s tied at 1-1; this is the essence of Origin – it creates excitement and draws attention.

“I’m certain everyone looks forward to the decider, and they’ve got it.”