Mitchell Pearce has pointed the finger at NSW coach Laurie Daley for being tactically outmanoeuvred by Billy Slater in the State of Origin decider, claiming the Blues’ shortcomings were rooted in poor preparation and a lack of strategic edge.
Daley’s side suffered a 24-12 loss at home in the deciding match, and with just one series win from six attempts, questions are once again being raised about his future.
Speaking on the Sixes and Sevens podcast, Pearce didn’t hold back.
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“I’ve got to put it straight out, I think we got out-coached,” he said. “I think Billy Slater came in with a plan. The game plan was to shut down our edges with quick line speed. Clearly, their edge defence was outstanding for 80 minutes, it was relentless.”
Pearce says Daley’s rebuild approach doesn’t suit Origin
The Blues’ defeat comes as Daley attempts to fill the shoes of Michael Maguire, who led NSW to series glory in 2024. But Pearce was unconvinced by Daley’s post-match optimism, particularly his suggestion that the squad is still building.
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“Every year you basically win or you lose ... it’s not an NRL club where you rebuild,” Pearce said. “There’s no time to build. Everyone’s talking about how good our roster is. We ain’t building. We need to deliver... we’ve got the calibre there.”
Pearce also took aim at Daley’s messaging in the lead-up to the match, contrasting it with Slater’s clarity and purpose.
“Even before the game, Billy spoke about his plan... Loz spoke about the great week they’ve had in camp. He didn’t really speak about what the team was going to do in the night,” Pearce’s former teammate Todd Carney added.
Daley remains adamant he’s the right man for 2026, but with Maroons lifting yet another shield, scrutiny is only set to intensify.