Looking for new leaders: NSW coach Laurie Daley with 2016 vice-captain Robbie Farah and skipper Paul Gallen. Credit:Matt King But Hayne's stunning return to the code has forced Daley to also contemplate his leadership credentials, which were considered crucial in NSW's drought-breaking 2014 series win – their only success in the last 11 years. "At the moment he's a guy that's very senior and a player that people follow," Daley said. "He might've been someone we may have looked at [for captaincy earlier if he hadn't left rugby league]. But at the moment I wouldn't like to put that sort of pressure on him. "It wouldn't worry you where you picked him. If he's playing well, you'll find a position for him. Whether that's fullback, centre, wing, five-eighth ... you just gotta have him in there somewhere. "The guys that stand out from this year's series [for a leadership role] have been your Woodses, Cordners, Josh Jacksons, your Wade Grahams ... the younger breed that are coming through. They're the guys you look to as your next leader. They're all in the frame but that won't be decided until next year."

Representative class: Jarryd Hayne's name has been thrown into the mix for the NSW captaincy. Credit:Christopher Pearce Daley said he will consult Gallen, among others, about the best person to lead NSW forward after a success-starved decade before finalising an appointment up to a month before the start of next year's series. Woods' candidacy has been done no harm by the way he has led the Tigers during the messy Farah saga. Big plans: Work has begun on the NSW centre of excellence being built across the road from ANZ Stadium. "You always want to be captain but I'm not thinking about that at the moment," he said. "I'm captain of the Tigers at the moment and I've got to focus on that.

"I could be injured when Origin comes around next year or playing bad footy so I've just got to keep playing consistent footy and hopefully I'm in the frame for Laurie to pick as captain. You've got other players coming back like Jarryd Hayne, Robbie Farah's still there. They're other senior blokes as well." The NSW Rugby League turned the first sod on its state-of-the-art $20 million centre of excellence on Wednesday. The full-sized training field and administrative facility will be built across the road from ANZ Stadium with Sydney Olympic Park to become the headquarters of rugby league in the state. "Coffs [Harbour] was good for us [for Origin preparation], but coming back here knowing what the plans look like and how it's going to turn out ... it'd be pretty special," Daley said as the Blues prepare to bunker down in camp in Sydney from next year. "It's one of those ones where the guys will be just blown away by what it is. It's in a great spot – next to our home – this is our home. Hopefully we can use it to our advantage."