KEY POINTS:
Laurie Daley is glad he's not playing rugby league any more.
The former Canberra, NSW and Australian five-eighths was one of the greats, and there is even a statue outside Canberra Stadium to prove it, but admits he wouldn't enjoy the attention he would attract today.
"Players are
certainly fitter, faster and stronger than they were in my day," he said. "There were aspects in my time I really loved. But you look at players today, they are under so much scrutiny. I don't know if I would have enjoyed being a part of that because their every movement is analysed.
"You only need to read the papers over here, a player is seen in a nightclub and it's a story - even if they might not be doing anything wrong. Players today are very well behaved but there are just isolated incidents that we seem to jump on all the time.
"In saying all that, I could have played in any era and would have enjoyed it."
That's the thing with Daley, he enjoys everything about rugby league. That's why he will join other league luminaries Mario Fenech, Gorden Tallis and Bill Harrigan in the NRL's community carnival roadshow visiting Auckland this week for the first time.
He's a good choice, not only because he's one of the game's most recognisable individuals, but also because there's still a lot of small town about Daley.
From Junee, in backblocks NSW, he has the common touch. "I suppose I'm just a basic bloke when it comes down to it." Basic, perhaps, but an immensely gifted player as well.
Daley was playing first grade for the Raiders by the time he was 18, and State of Origin less than a year later. He went on to play 244 games for Canberra, 23 times for NSW and 34 for Australia - many of them as captain.
Although he started his career in the centres, it was at five-eighths that he made his biggest impression. It's a position New Zealand, and often the Warriors, have struggled to fill in recent years.
"You can make a half or five-eighth as long as they are willing to learn and listen. They need to be prepared to take a backward step to go forward.
"They need to make sure their ego takes a backward step and learn about the game and learn how to direct a team around a park - and that doesn't come easily.
"They have to learn what the game is all about, learn how to control the pace of the game. These things evolve with experience. I think there are a few at the Warriors with bright futures - like Lance Hohaia.
"I think he's a wonderful talent and, given time, would make a good half along with Jerome Ropati. I just guess Grant Rovelli there hinders his development."
Daley regularly sees the Warriors in action through his work as a commentator on Australian TV and as a coaching consultant for the Dragons. The fact he married a Kiwi increases his interest in the game here and he even made a Freudian slip during this interview saying he was looking forward to coming back home.
He's not scared that the Kiwis could edge ahead of Australia on the international scene.
"I just want to see the game prosper domestically and internationally," he says. "I'm all for rugby league to be as strong as it can be, whether it's Australia, New Zealand or even Queensland. If you look at some of the youngsters coming through the New Zealand system, they have proved they can produce wonderful players. They will be a force in the coming years.
"It's because there is now genuine belief. In the past 20-30 years, the Kiwis probably thought they could topple Australia in a one-off test but not in a series.
"Through the advent of the Warriors and others playing in the NRL," says Daley, "there's not so much mystery for them. They know what to expect, their confidence is high and they're not intimidated when they take on Australia.
"Everyone around Australia would be asking questions if it happened but, if you're a realist, there are so many talented players from New Zealand.
"It's inevitable [that they will challenge Australia more often] and become capable of winning series more regularly."
With Daley out of the equation as a player, their chances are even better.
