His days of running the football might be behind him, but his days of talking footy certainly aren't. Especially the mornings.

His dulcet tones can be heard waxing lyrical about all things sport every weekday morning on Sky Sports Radio.

But especially rugby league. Knows a thing or two about that. Played 244 first grade games, 21 Tests and 23 State of Origins. Then coached the NSW Blues to the Origin title in 2014.

More importantly played in three premierships. All for the Green Machine. Including the maiden one. 1989 baby.

But now, 30 years later, he's up at 3.50am and to bed by 9pm so that he can talk footy.

And that means talking Origin. So why don't we? Why not indeed.

Especially given his beloved Green Machine has a few coming into contention.

One less than a week ago though. The unfortunate neck injury for Joey Leilua looks to have cruelled his hopes of slotting in at right centre for the Blues.

But Daley likes a couple of others. Nick Cotric. Jack Wighton. Both have impressed as part of a Raiders outfit that's also impressed.

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Wighton's followed Daley's path from the outside backs to the halves. Maybe he can follow him down the Origin path as well.

That utility spot on the bench seems his best chance. Not in the halves. Luke Keary and Cody Walker are ahead of him there.

Although Wighton and Keary go head to head in the Magicest of games at Suncorp on Sunday. Top v Third. Roosters v Raiders.

And not in the centres. One Latrell Mitchell seems to have the mortgage on that jersey. Another Rooster Wighton and Co want to stop from crowing.

But utility. Wing, centre, fullback, five-eighth. Even the back row. Wighton's got it covered.

"Jack possibly, given he can play a number of positions," Daley said.

"Keary and Cody Walker would be in front of Jack as a five-eighth. As a utility, Jack would certainly be in the discussion."

What about that test? Up against Keary. The premiership winner. Soon-to-be Origin player. One of the best sixes in the business.

He'll team up with old man Cooper. The Cronk. The highly acclaimed halves pairing up against the not-so-renowned Wighton and Sam Williams.

Maybe not so renowned, but that doesn't mean they've been not so effective.

Williams has been steering the ship to wins, while Wighton's been running the opposition ragged.

"The Roosters forwards have been doing a really good job so that allows [fullback James] Tedesco, Keary and Cronk to play with a bit more time," Daley said.

"If Sam and Jack are to play well, their forwards will have to handle the Roosters forwards to stop their ascendancy.

"If they can do their job, Jack and Sam will do theirs and it will be an exciting game of footy."

And Cotric? His Origin chances are even better. But they will depend on whether the Turbo's working.

No Tom Trbojevic back from a hamstring and come in spinner. Maybe even if the Turbo is back.

He's already shown he can play on the right. Did it against Turbo's Manly just the other week.

"If Trbojevic is not there I think it'd come down to either [Cotric] or Blake Ferguson," Daley said.

"So he'd certainly be in the mix and he can do himself a world of good if he can string three good games together because he's a talented player and would certainly go well on that stage."

All in all, things are looking bright not just on the Origin front, but the NRL front as well.

Daley likes what he's seen in the remodelled Green Machine. The attack's still there, but now there's the defence. The best in the NRL.

It has Daley eyeing off a top-four finish. They're currently third. Sitting in amongst the Roosters, South Sydney and the perennial Melbourne Storm.

And if they stay on track, then anything's possible.

"It's always been a matter of whether they can concentrate for 80 minutes, be disciplined and work hard for one another in defence. And that looks as though it's there," Daley said.

"They're on track to plays finals football and hopefully finish in the top four ... if they do that they give themselves a chance because anyone can win on any given day."

So back in time to '89. When the Raiders "played hard, worked hard and enjoyed their success".

For Daley it seems like it was yesterday. He feels blessed to be part of the Raiders' inaugural title.

Not just for him. Not just for his teammates. But for everyone who bleeds lime green. Everyone he celebrated with 30 years ago.

"Just the pure elation and the joy we all had when we won and to get back to Canberra to see how happy the town was," Daley said.

"The supporters, they really embraced the Raiders and it was not only for us it was for all those people that worked so hard - the McIntyres, the Don Furners, those guys that put so much into trying to get the Raiders established.

"To see them there and to share in the success was amazing."

NRL ROUND NINE

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, 2pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Michael Oldfield, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Bailey Simonsson, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Reserves: 18. Aidan Sezer, 19. Emre Guler, 20. Royce Hunt, 21. Jack Murchie.

Roosters squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Matt Ikuvalu, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Victor Radley, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Boyd Cordner (c), 12. Angus Crichton, 13. Isaac Liu. Interchange: 14. Nat Butcher, 15. Zane Tetevano, 16. Sitili Tupouniua, 17. Mitchell Aubusson. Reserves: 18. Lindsay Collins, 19. Josh Curran, 20. Lachlan Lam, 21. Sam Verrills.