Seven years after his last series in charge following a Queensland three-peat, Laurie Daley has been appointed NSW men's State of Origin coach.
Retaking the reins for 2025, Daley told media on Friday he won't be rushing any decisions about what the Blues' side might look like come game one in late May, but that a "burning passion for the state" follows him into the job.
NSW claimed a comeback series win, lifting the shield in enemy territory under Michael Maguire in 2024, who announced his departure to take the coaching position at the Brisbane Broncos, confirmed two months ago.
Speaking on Monday, Daley said he plans to assemble a camp of players involved in last year's win around February, but will resist looking too far forward in terms of who is pulling on the jumpers.
The Blues clinched the 2024 series without the options of key first-choices.
Latrell Mitchell was included in the list of unavailable players for game three, as well as Nathan Cleary, who was replaced by Nicho Hynes, then Mitch Moses, as he missed with injury.
"You just never know. If all those players are available, I'll be extremely happy," Daley said on Monday.
"I'm happy to make a tough choice, but one thing you learn when you're in the hot seat is that you never actually get the team you think you're going to get, because there's always injuries, there's always suspensions.
"You've just got to roll the dice and pick the best team that's available on the night."
In the second year of his last tenure, Daley snapped Queensland's streak of eight series wins for a long-waited NSW triumph.
He then oversaw three consecutive Maroons wins before exiting the role with a six win, nine loss record between 2013-2017.
The man he took over from, Craig Bellamy, comes on as senior advisor to Daley and the Blues' coaching staff.
"I was looking for someone, if I ever got the opportunity again, to help me and I thought that he would be the best possible person to do that," Daley said, having reached out and convinced his former Raiders teammate ahead of securing his own position
Daley said he believes he has learned a lot since his first time in charge, with the passion to "do the best job we possibly can to represent our state in the best possible fashion".
Between 1989 and 1999 Daley made 23 Origin appearances for NSW, resulting in five series wins for the state.
He has also previously served as long-time coach for the Indigenous All Stars and in 2008 was named as five-eighth in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
In addition top Daley's appointment on Monday, NSWRL also announced John Strange will take over from Kylie Hilder as women's Origin coach, with Matt King and Brett white to continue in assistant positions under Daley.
Men's Origin game one is scheduled for Brisbane Suncorp Stadium on May 28.
