Footy icon Phil Gould has claimed changes need to be made to the way State of Origin teams are revealed after NSW were hit by two cringeworthy mistakes during their announcement on Monday.
Gould, one of NSW’s greatest ever coaches, has called for the Blues and Queensland teams to be announced at the same time and in a different way to what transpired this week.
His comments have come after NSW coach Laurie Daley was embarrassed on Monday morning.
Daley accidentally read out the wrong last name of Blues squad member Casey McLean, saying ‘Casey McGuire’ instead – even though McGuire is a Queensland Origin veteran who retired in 2012.
To make matters worse, NSWRL CEO David Trodden – who appeared with Daley at the announcement – spoke into a dead microphone as he played master of ceremonies.
‘This is a multi-billion dollar game and State of Origin is the pinnacle of it. Can we please do better than that? That was embarrassing,’ Gould said on his podcast.
Veteran commentator Phil Gould (pictured) has called for a change to the State of Origin team naming process
NSW coach Laurie Daley (pictured) was involved in an embarrassing gaffe earlier this week when he read out the name of a player who retired in 2012 – and played for Queensland
Daley (pictured) will coach his second consecutive series since being reinstated as the Blues coach
‘If they wanted to do it on Monday, why wouldn’t they come in here to Nine, who is the broadcast partner of the game … Laurie can announce it on national television.’
The long-time Channel Nine commentator has made a simple suggestion to make the whole process much more professional, and enjoyable.
‘Both coaches should be in one room with the chairman or whoever and the NRL should conduct it,’ Gould continued.
‘It should be an event and there should be a better and more professional way to do it, other than the way we’ve done it seemingly forever.
‘We missed some great opportunities. It is done very amateurishly, it always has been.’
Game one of the 2026 Origin series kicks off next Wednesday, with the Blues facing the Maroons in Sydney.
The match will be the first Origin clash at the iconic venue since 2015.
Queensland are the current series holders, after winning a decider at Accor Stadium last year.
