The race to coach New South Wales in State of Origin has moved into the open, with Michael Ennis saying he would like the job at the right time and Corey Parker backing him as a strong option for the Blues once Laurie Daley steps away.
Parker made the pitch on SEN radio on Wednesday, saying Ennis would do an unbelievable job and arguing the Blues need someone younger and in touch with the week-to-week system. He also said Daley had been across five series and won one, adding that by all reports this would be Laurie’s last. Ennis, who was recently sacked from his assistant role at the Dragons after also holding the same job at Manly, did not hide his interest when he spoke later on the same station. “I grew up idolising the era of Laurie so it feels a little rude talking about it on the even or Origin 1,” he said. “But when Laurie has decided he has had enough it’s definitely something I would like to do. I love that arena, I love what comes with it, the expectation and the pressure. The level of the players. I would love to do it at the right time.”
That interest carries real weight because Ennis knows the Origin environment from the inside. He played eight State of Origin games for NSW between 2009 and 2015, and his playing career covered 274 NRL games with the Knights, Dragons, Broncos, Bulldogs and Sharks. He was also part of Cronulla’s push to the 2016 premiership, giving him a résumé that extends beyond the representative arena. For the Blues, the coaching discussion matters today because speculation is growing that Daley will step down regardless of the result in this year’s series.
Daley, however, is not giving any ground. On the eve of Origin 1 he said he knows exactly what he wants to do and that his future looks clear. “I know exactly what I want to do,” he said. “There’s no surprise with what I’m doing. I know what my future looks like, but for me I am headfirst into Game 1.” He went further, saying, “It’s not a story as far as I’m concerned. Why would I be worried? I’m not a career coach - never have been, never will be.”
That is where the complication starts for NSW. Ivan Cleary is being tipped to take over at some stage, but he will not be allowed to take the state role in 2027 while still Panthers coach. If Daley does go at the end of the 2026 series, the Blues hierarchy would need to find someone new who is not affiliated with an NRL club. That makes the door Ennis is already nudging open look more practical than speculative, even if the job itself is still tied to what Daley decides to do next.
For now, the story sits between confidence and transition: Daley insists his path is fixed, while the next wave of candidates is already being discussed in public. If the current coach does move on, NSW will need to decide quickly whether it wants experience, continuity or a clean break from club ties.
