For the previous seven seasons, NSW had finished runners-up to Queensland in a two-horse race and off the field the Blues were also failing.

Some players did not react well to the scrutiny and pressure, and the constant chopping and changing of the team made it hard for NSW to develop heroes of the calibre of Maroons stars Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.

NSW-qualified players such as Inglis, Korbin Sims and Luke Keary wanted to play for Queensland over the Blues. Jamie Lyon didn't want to play at all.

"Whether Will was supporting Queensland or not, I am not sure, but it was a line he just said after I got the job and that sort of stuck with me," Daley said.

"I thought 'Wow, have you been supporting Queensland'. I never asked him if he did but I said, 'Mate, you're from NSW so you have got to go for NSW'.

"Then I noticed some other kids getting around in Queensland gear and supporting Cameron Smith or Billy Slater or Greg Inglis and I thought that is not great so we needed to change that.

"We needed to re-engage those kids and make sure they had a team that they could be proud to follow. Hopefully, we are on that journey that kids can now think it is OK and cool to support NSW."

After ending Queensland's eight-year domination last season, a NSW win at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night would confirm the beginning of a new era in Origin history led by a new breed of stars such as Aaron Woods, David Klemmer and Josh Dugan, who have emerged under Daley's guidance.

But 23 Origin appearances between 1989 and 1999 taught the former Blues and Australian captain how tough it is to win the series in consecutive years, and how hard it is to win in Brisbane.

What he wanted to ensure was that the players performed on and off the field to a standard which would make NSW fans proud to support them, regardless of the result.

"You want the people of NSW to connect with the team because we are representing them, so we want them to be proud of us," Daley said. "When you pull on the Blues jersey you have got to understand that there are some things that you have to do that are non-negotiable. Our guys are understanding that now, which is so pleasing.

"It's been enjoyable to see this group of guys grow and come together, work hard for one another and be respectful. They are guys who want to play well on the field but they want to do their best off the field as well and I think that is important.

"We just keep re-enforcing to the guys that we are playing for everyone and we want people to be proud, and to get in behind the team. We haven't really achieved anything yet, but it does feel like there is a growing support for us."

Paul Gallen's determination to play with a rib cartilage injury that he is constantly icing at the Blues' Coffs Harbour training base, the work Robbie Farah put in around the clock to recover from a shoulder injury for Origin II and the efforts he has gone to just to be considered for the series decider with a broken hand, and Michael Ennis' decision to contest a judiciary charge so he could be on standby, show how much playing for NSW now means.

Ryan Hinchcliffe, Josh Reynolds, Tariq Sims and Sione Mata'utia have all trained this week as part of what is effectively a 23-man NSW squad, even though none is any realistic chance of playing in the series decider.

It is a far cry from Lyon turning down a personal request from then Blues coach Ricky Stuart to play in the 2012 series.

"We are hoping that people will look at Origin in a different light now and say I want to be a part of that," Daley said. "It's good for the game if you have got your best players wanting to be a part of it and when you have got that it really drives the contest and the spirit of the two teams."

Daley gave up a promising career as a television commentator and analyst to take on the NSW job after Stuart stood aside to coach Parramatta in 2013.

It is a risk 45-year-old Daley would have been unlikely to take for any other role but the opportunity to coach the Blues was one he could not pass up.

"When Ricky decided to give it away there was an opening and like most people in NSW I was disappointed we were losing and I thought I could do something different and help change things so I put my hand up," he said.

"I didn't know how it would turn out but I am passionate about NSW and passionate about this team, and I wanted the players to do well and feel that connection with the people who support them."