Blues coach Michael Maguire is set to make at least one change for Origin II at the MCG after the eighth minute send-off of rookie centre Joseph Sua’ali’i – but he is likely to consider others.
Sua’ali’i faces a four-match ban for his shot on Maroons fullback Reece Walsh in Wednesday night’s 38-10 loss at Accor Stadium and will not play before Origin III unless he successfully challenges the Grade 2 reckless high tackle charge.
The loss of Sua’ali’i opens up debate about not only his replacement in the centres, with Latrell Mitchell among the contenders, but also whether NSW should carry an outside back on the bench, as Queensland did, with Selwyn Cobbo replacing the injured Walsh.
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In contrast, the Blues were forced to use a backrower to defend in the centres for 73 minutes in what was almost a repeat of last year’s second Origin when hooker Damien Cook played 77 minutes at left centre after Tom Trbojevic tore his pectoral muscle.
The performance of the 12-man NSW team was brave but it was like watching a slow-motion car crash, with the score blowing out late in the second half to finish about where most had predicted after Sua’ali’i was sent off so early in the match.
It was the third time in the last four Origins that the loss of a centre has proven costly for NSW, with Nicho Hynes targeted in defence after replacing Trbojevic in the 68th minute of last year’s series opener as the Maroons overcame an 18-16 deficit to win 26-18.
Hynes, who entered this year’s series opener under an injury cloud and was not chosen in the Sharks squad for Saturday night’s clash with the Broncos, played in the more familiar halfback role but faces pressure to retain the spot from Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses.
Mitchell Moses Highlights vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards is also likely to be chosen ahead of James Tedesco, as he was for Origin I before suffering a quad injury at training last weekend – forcing Maguire to send an SOS to the former NSW captain.
Centre
The most pressing selection decision for Maguire is who replaces Sua’ali’i in the centres, with a number of contenders headed by South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell, who made it clear after the Origin I team was named that he was available.
Mitchell plays left centre at representative level, but Stephen Crichton played most of Origin I on the right edge after swapping sides midway through the first half and successfully plugging the defensive leaks.
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Newcastle’s Bradman Best is believed to have been the leading candidate for the left centre role before suffering a hamstring injury in Round 11, while Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs fractured his ribs during Magic Round.
Cronulla’s Jesse Ramien was also in the frame for an Origin debut but may have played his way out of the team after the Sharks’ 46-0 loss to Penrith the night before the team was named.
Best is not due to return until Round 16 but Staggs has been named in the Broncos side to play the Sharks on Saturday and will go head-to-head with Ramien.
Burton has previously played centre for NSW, while Penrith’s Izack Tago could also come under consideration.
Fullback
Dylan Edwards was named in the reserves for Penrith’s match against Manly on Sunday but the initial diagnosis from the NSW camp after he injured his quad at training last weekend was that he would be out for two weeks.
If Edwards plays the following weekend against the Knights, he is likely to get the chance to finally make his Origin debut in Melbourne but if he doesn’t play Tedesco would be expected to retain his spot for 24th consecutive Blues appearance.
James Tedesco Try
Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen is not due back from his ankle injury until Round 16, which is played the weekend after the team is selected, while Manly’s Tom Trbojevic is scheduled to return from his hamstring injury until Round 18, and may be a chance for Origin III.
Halfback
After a five-star performance in his comeback from a fractured foot for Parramatta against the Sharks, many were asking whether Mitchell Moses would have been the NSW halfback if he had returned a week earlier.
With Nicho Hynes ruled out at halftime in Cronulla’s 46-0 loss to Penrith with calf tightness, the chances are high that Maguire would have opted for a fit Moses and he is now set to have the opportunity to choose between the pair.
Hynes has been rested from Saturday night’s match against the Broncos so will only get the one opportunity to impress, against the Dolphins next Thursday night, while Maguire will closely watch the performances of Moses against the Bulldogs on Monday and Roosters next weekend.
Interchange
The Blues had a carefully considered bench rotation plan but that went out the window once Sua’ali’i was sent off and Maguire found it hard to get captain Jake Trbojevic back on the field after his first stint as they had used three interchanges within the opening 30 minutes.
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Meanwhile, Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton, who has previously played centre for NSW, could only watch from the sideline after being named as 18th man.
Burton can cover anywhere in the backline but if the Blues want a bench utility who can also play in the forwards then Connor Watson would be the frontrunner if he is fit.
The Roosters utility can play lock, hooker, in the halves or even fullback and was under consideration for Origin I but he suffered a throat injury at training that is set to sideline him for a further week.
However, Watson is likely to again come into contention for Origin II if he makes a successful return next Saturday night against the Eels.