Why footy legend Laurie Daley has reopened old wounds about the horror tackle that left one-time NRL star Alex McKinnon paralysed
Laurie Daley has urged NSW Blues not to fire up Queensland He recalled how Maroons were inspired in 2015 series decider Brought back memories of the NRL's worst injury ever
Former NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley has recalled the horrific aftermath of the tackle that left Alex McKinnon paralysed as he warned Michael Maguire to be measured when it comes to firing up Queensland ahead of game two next week.
Channel Nine's 60 Minutes program aired a segment in which Queensland and Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith came across as unsympathetic in the eyes of many viewers following the awful incident in March 2014.
Smith - who was captaining the Storm in the match - argued with the referee immediately after the tackle by his teammates Jordan McLean, Kenny and Jesse Bromwich left McKinnon with two broken vertebrae.
He was unaware of the extent of the damage the ex-Knights star had suffered at the time.
Laurie Daley has warned Michael Maguire to be measured when it comes to firing up Queensland ahead of game two - before recalling how the Maroons were ruthless in the 2015 Origin series decider
It followed a piece days earlier on Channel 9's 60 Minutes where Queensland skipper Cameron Smith came across as unsympathetic in the eyes of many viewers following Alex McKinnon's on-field injury (McKinnon is pictured with girlfriend Lily Malone)
The Maroons playing group were reportedly seething when the 60 Minutes show aired in 2015 - and used it as inspiration as they smashed the shell-shocked Blues at Suncorp Stadium, romping to a 52-6 victory in the deciding game of the series.
'I remember walking into the stadium and it was just different,' Daley recalled on the Big Sports Breakfast.
'The Queensland media started to get behind Cameron Smith then. But the NSW media were just absolutely hammering Smith and they [Queensland] just rallied behind him.
'Just the intensity - I never thought an Origin game could get any more intense, but it felt like there was genuine hatred....it was like they thought that NSW had planted the story to come out on that particular day.'
Alex McKinnon was left paralysed following a tackle in a NRL match for the Knights against Melboure Storm (pictured) in 2014
Daley admitted his team had no answers - despite entering the decider confident after winning the interstate shield in 2014.
'We got our bum smacked and there wasn't one Queenslander in that team that was going to back down or not give it their best or be committed,' he said.
'I'm telling you, that was a game where they just wanted blood. Not only the team but the fans.
'I remember sitting in the coach's box, and you'd see their eyes, and they were banging on the window...it was different.'
Daley's warning comes after Maroons coach Billy Slater - plus assistants Johnathan Thurston and Nate Myles - suggested NSW deliberately targeted Queensland young gun Reece Walsh in the series opener on June 5 in Sydney.
Blues centre Joseph Sua'ali'i was sent off after just seven minutes following a brutal late hit on Walsh, with the Maroons cruising to a 38-10 game one win at Accor Stadium.
Maroons coach Billy Slater has suggested NSW deliberately targeted Queensland young gun Reece Walsh in the series opener on June 5 in Sydney (pictured)
Blues centre Joseph Sua'ali'i was sent off after just seven minutes following a brutal late hit on Walsh, with the Maroons cruising to a 38-10 game one win at Accor Stadium
Maguire then told reporters: 'You've got to make sure that you don't live in glass houses, that's all I'll say.'
Many footy fans believe it was a reference to Slater's at times questionable conduct on the field for the Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australia.
Much to the frustration of many rival fans, in his decorated footy career Slater often resorted to the dangerous tactic of diving feet first at opposition players attempting to score tries.
Game two of the Origin series is at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 26.