Brad Fittler has taken the biggest gamble since naming his first NSW side after axing Blues veterans Josh Addo-Carr and Jake Trbojevic - and he could blood up to four debutants - in a huge State of Origin shake-up.
Already missing established stars Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell through injury, NSW will field a new-look back line with Bulldogs speedster Addo-Carr a shock omission as the Blues counter an expected aerial assault from Queensland.
Giant winger Daniel Tupou will play his first Origin game since the COVID-impacted 2020 series in place of Addo-Carr, while his Roosters teammate and teenage phenomenon Joseph Suaalii was also included in the 22-man squad which was named in alphabetical order on Sunday night. An 18-man team will be announced on Monday.
Fittler hinted there would be surprises in his NSW squad - and he didn’t disappoint, but few would have seen the dumping of Addo-Carr, who has played every game under the Blues coach since he took charge in 2018.
Centres Stephen Crichton and Kotoni Staggs will earn their first NSW caps, while bench forward Ryan Matterson and utility Nicho Hynes are also on the cusp of Origin debuts.
Yet their inclusions were overshadowed by the news surrounding Addo-Carr and Jake Trbojevic, another mainstay of the Fittler era.
Roosters winger Daniel Tupou.
Trbojevic has been picked in every squad under Fittler when available. He missed two games last year through injury.
Asked about Addo-Carr’s Origin claims, Bulldogs captain Josh Jackson said: “He brings a lot to a footy team and he’s been really good in that Origin side ... for a few years now. He’s put in some great performances so it will be disappointing for him. The energy he brings around the place is pretty infectious.”
The winger has scored 10 Origin tries in the last four years and formed a lethal partnership with Tom Trbojevic on NSW’s right edge in the dominant series win in 2021.
Addo-Carr declined to speak to reporters after the Dragons beat the Bulldogs at Belmore on Sunday.
Stephen Crichton will make his State of Origin debut.
Fittler’s desire for a new breed has seen him make a number of selections from left field as he chases a fourth series win in five years. He famously handed out 11 Origin debuts in game one of the 2018 series, and has seemingly had the golden touch ever since.
While Addo-Carr and Trbojevic were casualties, Fittler turned to veteran forwards Tariq Sims and Tyson Frizell in a bid to stem a Billy Slater-led Queensland revival inspired by the Cowboys and Broncos.
Fittler is banking on Tupou’s height to potentially counter the aerial threat of Queensland wingers Xavier Coates and Selwyn Cobbo, who is poised to make his Maroons debut.
While the news was good for Tupou, it wasn’t so bright for Roosters teammate Angus Crichton who has lost his spot in the NSW team.
Liam Martin, who played all three games in last year’s series, is part of seven stars from the table-topping Panthers in the NSW squad. Hooker Api Koroisau will also shadow Damien Cook.
Sharks halfback Hynes is on the cusp of an Origin debut after his off-season switch from the Storm, his ability to cover any injury to Nathan Cleary a key component of his selection.
Fittler also has an eye to the future with Suaalii, the prodigy who was given a special exemption to make his NRL debut before his 18th birthday last year, called into the extended NSW camp after impressing on the wing for the Roosters.
Newcastle’s Jacob Saifiti was another surprise call-up, just a day after twin brother Daniel’s fading Origin chances ended with a knee injury in the Knights’ win over the Warriors on Saturday.
Saifiti is expected to get experience around the Blues camp as part of the extended squad with an eye to an Origin debut in the future.
South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray has been rushed back into the Blues set-up after making a successful return from minor shoulder surgery on Saturday night and will start as an edge back-rower, allowing Isaah Yeo to nail down the lock position and keep his club combination with Cleary and Luai.
The Origin series opener will be played at Accor Stadium on June 8.
NSW squad: James Tedesco (c), Nathan Cleary (vc), Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Damien Cook, Stephen Crichton, Tyson Frizell, Payne Haas, Nicho Hynes, Api Koroisau, Jarome Luai, Junior Paulo, Liam Martin, Ryan Matterson, Cameron Murray, Jacob Saifiti, Tariq Sims, Kotoni Staggs, Joseph Suaalii, Brian To’o, Daniel Tupou, Jack Wighton, Isaah Yeo.
Already missing established stars Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell through injury, NSW will field a new-look back line with Bulldogs speedster Addo-Carr a shock omission as the Blues counter an expected aerial assault from Queensland.
Giant winger Daniel Tupou will play his first Origin game since the COVID-impacted 2020 series in place of Addo-Carr, while his Roosters teammate and teenage phenomenon Joseph Suaalii was also included in the 22-man squad which was named in alphabetical order on Sunday night. An 18-man team will be announced on Monday.
Fittler hinted there would be surprises in his NSW squad - and he didn’t disappoint, but few would have seen the dumping of Addo-Carr, who has played every game under the Blues coach since he took charge in 2018.
Centres Stephen Crichton and Kotoni Staggs will earn their first NSW caps, while bench forward Ryan Matterson and utility Nicho Hynes are also on the cusp of Origin debuts.
Yet their inclusions were overshadowed by the news surrounding Addo-Carr and Jake Trbojevic, another mainstay of the Fittler era.
Roosters winger Daniel Tupou.
Trbojevic has been picked in every squad under Fittler when available. He missed two games last year through injury.
Asked about Addo-Carr’s Origin claims, Bulldogs captain Josh Jackson said: “He brings a lot to a footy team and he’s been really good in that Origin side ... for a few years now. He’s put in some great performances so it will be disappointing for him. The energy he brings around the place is pretty infectious.”
The winger has scored 10 Origin tries in the last four years and formed a lethal partnership with Tom Trbojevic on NSW’s right edge in the dominant series win in 2021.
Addo-Carr declined to speak to reporters after the Dragons beat the Bulldogs at Belmore on Sunday.
Stephen Crichton will make his State of Origin debut.
Fittler’s desire for a new breed has seen him make a number of selections from left field as he chases a fourth series win in five years. He famously handed out 11 Origin debuts in game one of the 2018 series, and has seemingly had the golden touch ever since.
While Addo-Carr and Trbojevic were casualties, Fittler turned to veteran forwards Tariq Sims and Tyson Frizell in a bid to stem a Billy Slater-led Queensland revival inspired by the Cowboys and Broncos.
Fittler is banking on Tupou’s height to potentially counter the aerial threat of Queensland wingers Xavier Coates and Selwyn Cobbo, who is poised to make his Maroons debut.
While the news was good for Tupou, it wasn’t so bright for Roosters teammate Angus Crichton who has lost his spot in the NSW team.
Liam Martin, who played all three games in last year’s series, is part of seven stars from the table-topping Panthers in the NSW squad. Hooker Api Koroisau will also shadow Damien Cook.
Sharks halfback Hynes is on the cusp of an Origin debut after his off-season switch from the Storm, his ability to cover any injury to Nathan Cleary a key component of his selection.
Fittler also has an eye to the future with Suaalii, the prodigy who was given a special exemption to make his NRL debut before his 18th birthday last year, called into the extended NSW camp after impressing on the wing for the Roosters.
Newcastle’s Jacob Saifiti was another surprise call-up, just a day after twin brother Daniel’s fading Origin chances ended with a knee injury in the Knights’ win over the Warriors on Saturday.
Saifiti is expected to get experience around the Blues camp as part of the extended squad with an eye to an Origin debut in the future.
South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray has been rushed back into the Blues set-up after making a successful return from minor shoulder surgery on Saturday night and will start as an edge back-rower, allowing Isaah Yeo to nail down the lock position and keep his club combination with Cleary and Luai.
The Origin series opener will be played at Accor Stadium on June 8.
NSW squad: James Tedesco (c), Nathan Cleary (vc), Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Damien Cook, Stephen Crichton, Tyson Frizell, Payne Haas, Nicho Hynes, Api Koroisau, Jarome Luai, Junior Paulo, Liam Martin, Ryan Matterson, Cameron Murray, Jacob Saifiti, Tariq Sims, Kotoni Staggs, Joseph Suaalii, Brian To’o, Daniel Tupou, Jack Wighton, Isaah Yeo.
