'All three deserve to be there': Laurie Daley drops huge clue on 'toughest question' Blues selectors face

Phil Gould has called for Laurie Daley to not listen to external voices as he prepares to make tough selection decisions for Origin I.

Daley has a number of conundrums facing him with the No.6 jersey set to be a battle between Jarome Luai and Mitchell Moses.

Jake Trbojevic's selection is also subject to rampant speculation despite him captaining the side last year.

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Daley last coached the Blues in 2017 with his contract terminated after winning one series out of five.

Albeit, he ended the Maroons' dynasty in 2014.

During his reign, there was a perception Daley was too soft on players, which he denied in an interview on 100% Footy.

"That was the impression people had from the outside but I think I'm a different coach to a Craig Bellamy, to a Michael Maguire, you've got to do it your way, but I'd like to think I've always had strong relationships with my players," he said.

"At the end of the day we weren't good enough and I need to be better, and I will be better and hopefully I'll be able to provide the environment for these players to play to their potential."

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Reacting to the question, Paul Gallen, who played under Daley, didn't agree with the sentiment.

"I think he was great, I loved being under Laurie Daley, I had a great relationship with him, still do. I don't know about the question around players walking all over him came from, that's a bit of shock to me that question because everyone had the upmost respect for Laurie, what he did in the game, what he did as a coach," he said.

"He was fantastic, I expect him to do a good job."

Former Blues coach Phil Gould, who Daley once assisted, believes the issue he had last time came from trying to please those people on the outside.

"The perception that he was soft on players I think was totally wrong, I don't think he was soft on players," he said.

"I think the last time he coached he was trying to please people on the outside about selections, I think he was heavily influenced by people on the outside where if you're going to do that job, it's got to be you that does it, you've got to have your own selections. I think I would just urge him to be his own man.

"He knows what an Origin player is, he knows what it should look like, he knows Origin football as good as anyone and he's got to trust his own judgement on that and I would urge him to do that. He doesn't need advice from other people."

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For Daley, the "toughest" selection issue he has is around Moses.

The Eels halfback was instrumental in the Blues' series win last year but with Nathan Cleary returning, he is now in contention for the No.6 jersey.

"I think is obviously our toughest decision, I'm certainly thinking of Mitch Moses as a six, strongly as a six, his running game would suit State of Origin," he said.

"Whoever we go with, whatever combination we go with, is going to be difficult because all three deserve to be there."

On 100% Footy, Moses pitched to Daley why he would be the best man for the Blues jersey.

"I feel pretty comfortable playing on the left side of the field, I've only pretty much played on the right side because I'm a right foot kicker and I was predominantly the dominant kicker," he said.

"... being able to play in the six with Nathan would be unreal. I've never played with a half before that's taken control and I've been able to sit back and pick my opportunities. That excites me ... I feel like that could work."