NSW coach Michael Maguire has bristled at being questioned over sticking with Jake Trbojevic for his side’s must-win Game 2.
Trbojevic, who doesn’t captain his club side, was a shock choice to lead the Blues in the series opener but he spent the majority of the game on the bench.
Maguire was criticised for his use of the front-rower, who played just 29 minutes, but the coach said that was due to his side being reduced to 12 men early in the game.
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Maguire has resisted calls following the loss to promote three-time reigning premiership skipper Isaah Yeo to the captaincy and starting side.
Instead, Yeo remains on the bench and Trbojevic will run the Blues out on Wednesday next week at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
NSW icon Mark Geyer was one of several pundits to say Trbojevic shouldn’t be captain and Maguire bristled on Monday when asked why he’d stuck solid.
“Because he’s my pick as captain,” Maguire deadpanned back at reporters.
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“He’s got the passion, he’s got the ability, he’s been there, he’s experienced. I saw him around the players throughout the camp, just how he galvanised (them).
“He’s a player that everyone loves to play for, until you actually live it and see it… he’s really impressive, Jake.
“The way he carries himself for what I believe the team is moving towards and everyone has got their different attributes that they bring but around the group he has a real strength in bringing people together.
“The circumstances of the game changed, we had a plan there where Jake was going to go back out but due to the circumstances… Jakey will play plenty of time (in Game 2).”
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