Boozy Blues crew join the dole queue
IN THE end it was the hefty bar bills from three team camps and a drinking culture that contributed to the downfall of Blues coach Laurie Daley and his Origin staff.
Three weeks ago, Daley’s position as NSW coach was “safe”.
NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden and two influential board members told me so. They said that while the re- view into the Blues’ performance this year would be damning, Daley would get one more year.
Trodden completed the review last week and recommended Daley be reappointed for 12 months.
Before he had a chance to present to the NSWRL board on Friday, the directors made the decision themselves.
Chairman George Peponis had conducted his own investigation into costs during the team camps. Invoices from The Star in Sydney and a Peppers Salt resort at Kingscliff on the NSW north coast revealed thousands of dollars were spent on beer, wine and cocktails during the team camps.
They were signed off by team manager Andrew Farrar.
There is no suggestion players were involved in running up the huge bar bills. But according to sources, Peponis was “horrified by the size of the bills”.
“George was astonished by it,” the source added.
The coaching and management staff drank most evenings after training. On the back of Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan having an all-afternoon session on the booze and the punt at Lennox Head before Game 3, the directors decided there was only one way to fix the drinking culture.
To start again from the coach and work backwards. That all positions in the Blues coaching staff and management team would reviewed.
Whether Trodden survives remains to be seen. He has been Daley’s biggest supporter and was convinced he had enough support in the boardroom to save his job.
He texted me on Friday and said: “You need to speak to the board – I only just found out as well.” The fact his recommendations were tossed aside would indicate Trodden is under pressure.