Winners and losers from NSW Blues State of Origin II squad
The Sharks retain two of their most important players after Nicho Hynes and Cam McInnes were dropped from the Blues squad, but there won’t be any upside for the club in round 16.
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Desperate to save the State of Origin series in Melbourne, NSW have made five big changes to the squad for game two on June 26.
One is forced, others obvious and some are harsh.
Here are the biggest winners and losers out of Michael Maguire’s Origin II squad.
WINNERS
NSW
Because the Blues desperately missed a centre in Game 1.
Latrell Mitchell’s recall to the side for the first time since 2021 is a big win in multiple ways.
For starters, to lose Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from game one and replace him with one of the best centres in the world is an extremely fortunate position to be in for NSW.
He’s in form, he’s hungry to prove himself, and that’s the best version of Latrell Mitchell there is.
He’s another goal-kicker alongside Mitch Moses and Zac Lomax, an alternative fullback option in case of a last-minute forced shuffle, and he’s a genuine game-breaker. Just what Queensland don’t need.
Add in South Sydney captain Cameron Murray, and the Blues are instantly a more dynamic side.
Connor Watson
The Roosters utility becomes one of the best stories of the season with his inclusion for game two.
He sat out the entire 2023 season with a devastating knee injury, only to have his hopes dashed for an Origin debut ahead of game one this year with a throat injury.
In one of the more remarkable shows of resilience, the popular 28-year-old not only returned to the field, but did more than enough to earn his dream debut with the Blues in Melbourne.
From the bench he’ll be cover in the halves, hooker, as a roaming forward and even in the centres.
Dylan Edwards
He was shattered to have missed game one with a quad injury, and there was every chance it could have been his first and last opportunity to play for NSW.
Anything can happen in rugby league. Hypothetically, if the Blues had dominated Origin I, if James Tedesco had a blinder as his replacement, it would have been a lot harder for Michael Maguire to recall him.
However, the Penrith star made a successful return to the field on Sunday, scoring a try, six tacklebreaks and 236 metres against the Knights to prove his fitness and earn a much deserved debut.
Jake Trbojevic
The newly appointed Blues skipper is a big winner.
He only played 29 minutes in game one and without much ball he didn’t get the chance to do anything more than 24 tackles and five hit ups.
Queensland
Because they go into Origin II in Melbourne a game up without needing to make mass changes.
Mitch Moses and Jarome Luai at halfback and five-eighth reunites the pair from game two last year.
However, the Blues have made a change in the halves in each of the past five Origins through injury or otherwise, which is far from ideal after back-to-back series losses.
LOSERS
Nicho Hynes
His form has been under a microscope recently and after a modest showing in game one, the Cronulla halfback has been overlooked for a second chance in the No.7 jersey.
It’s a tough call to make considering there are few halves in the world who could take hold of a game while down a player for 72 minutes as the Blues were in game one.
A missed chance to nail down his spot against the Dolphins on Thursday night didn’t help his cause.
The Sharks have the bye in round 16 too, so it’s not even an advantage to his NRL side. He just gets the week off.
Matt Burton
The point of the 18th man is he’s the next in line in case anyone goes down.
Here we have five changes to the starting NSW line up and he still can’t get a look in.
Burton has been 18th man for the past three games but has been left out of the squad altogether for game two, when ideally he would be the perfect bench utility to replace any outside back in a worst-case scenario.
At least the Bulldogs get a win.
They were unhappy he wasn’t free to play NRL while in Origin camp three weeks ago, and he’ll be available to take on the Roosters (with James Tedesco) on the Central Coast on Saturday.
Bradman Best
The Newcastle centre was one of the Blues’ best (so to speak) last year and can consider himself unlucky not to be there this time around.
The 22-year-old was electric in a loss to the Panthers on Sunday, scoring a try and keeping the Knights in the game in the second half with a whopping 236 running metres.
Bulldogs centre Stephen Crichton is one of the first picked for the Blues and Latrell Mitchell’s recall was a no-brainer, but Best’s form made it a less obvious decision than it should have been.
Cameron McInnes
The Cronulla workhorse was defensively perfect during his Origin I debut, making 33 tackles in 47 minutes.
He’s the only Blues player aside from Suaalii not to miss one either.
Leaving him out of the starting side is a big call by Maguire, although he has been named on the extended bench and will join the squad in camp, along with Mitch Barnett and Luke Keary.
Originally published as Winners and losers from NSW Blues State of Origin II squad
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