LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The partnership between Laurie Daley and Craig Bellamy got off to a rocky start as Daley watched from Bellamy's coaching box during the Melbourne Storm and Dragons game, which ended in a surprise 14-8 loss for the Storm.
Daley, the new NSW Blues coach, was there to observe Bellamy in action as they prepare to work together in State of Origin.
Despite their past struggles at the Origin level, Daley is optimistic about their partnership, stating, "I've a great relationship with Craig over a number of years.
(It) started out as a player (at Canberra) and obviously we keep in touch."
Daley's presence at the game was seen as a bad omen for NSW by fans, who are skeptical about his coaching abilities after a mixed track record in the past.
While Daley helped break Queensland's winning streak in 2014, he only managed six wins out of 15 games as Blues coach.
Bellamy also faced challenges in Origin, winning just two out of nine games from 2008 to 2010.
Despite these concerns, Daley brought in Bellamy to help improve NSW's chances in the upcoming Origin series.
However, their first outing together ended in disappointment.
The decision to partner with Bellamy has been met with criticism, with questions raised about Daley's time away from coaching.
While some doubt their ability to turn around NSW's fortunes, Daley remains confident in their working relationship.
The loss for the Storm may not have been directly influenced by Daley's presence, but it certainly did not bode well for the beginning of their partnership.
As they continue to prepare for the State of Origin, Daley and Bellamy will need to work together to prove their doubters wrong and lead NSW to success.