NSW Origin Team 1 analysis: Why Brad Fittler chose to axe Josh Addo-Carr for Daniel Tupou

Brad Fittler has revealed he agonised over Josh Addo-Carr’s axing as the Blues coach sprung a shock team selection at centre on Monday morning.

Josh Addo-Carr was a shock omission from Brad Fittler's Game 1 NSW squad. Picture: Getty

Brad Fittler is adamant ‘the team had to come first’ before a show of loyalty to Canterbury flyer Josh Addo-Carr, as the NSW coach sprung another shock team selection on Monday morning.

Fittler revealed premiership winner Stephen Crichton would debut off the bench in game one with Canberra playmaker Jack Wighton favoured at left centre.

It was even a surprise to Wighton, who had to confirm the news with Fittler when told about the move by a reporter on Monday morning.

Fittler said Wighton’s two-week ban had helped the Raiders five-eighth ‘freshen up’ and deliver impressive back-to-back performances against South Sydney and Parramatta.

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Brad Fittler reveals he agonised over the decision to axe Josh Addo-Carr, but ultimately thought it was best for the team. Picture: Getty Images.

“He has looked fast and fresh and broke the line a lot,” Fittler said.

“I was mindful of not putting inexperienced people together. I think that is really important.

“The experience (was key).

“Given the kicking game we have seen from Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster.

“That needs to be one of the best parts of our game. I think that is sometimes where experience under conditions can help.

“He’s looked fast and broke the line a lot. His kicking game has been fantastic. That was a huge part of the decision.”

Fittler agonised over whether to axe Addo-Carr, who has played every Origin match since making debut in 2018, scoring 10 tries, for the lanky Roosters winger Daniel Tupou.

“I’ve been in contact with Fox, we are both aware of the situation and we are cool … well, I think we are,” Fittler said.

“We both recognised finding some form back in Canterbury is basically the best thing.

“Without a doubt he has been the heart and soul of this team for a few years now. That was the toughest call for sure.”

Blues selector Greg Alexander said the addition of Tupou would help neutralise the threat of an aerial raid from Queensland’s edge combination of Selwyn Cobbo and Xavier Coates.

“It’s easy to say you reward loyalty and pick and stick and that is true to an extent,” Alexander said.

“We’ve done that again this year but just thought we would be a better chance combating what Queensland might be able to throw at us by going another direction.”

Jack Wighton was shocked to be selected as starting centre, but Fittler has rated his form since returning from suspension. Picture: Getty Images.

Fittler has included boom Roosters rookie Joseph Suaalii into the squad but the teen prodigy could be a lot closer to an Origin debut with another solid performance in round 13.

Suaalii has played on an edge all season and his injection into Blues camp suggests the 18-year old has jumped ahead of Addo-Carr in the race to a wing spot.

“His decision making is mature, he’s obviously very physical and looks as experienced as anyone out there. The good thing about this team is a couple of players have pushed their way into the side,” Fittler said.

“Your team has got to evolve, you can’t just have 17 33-year olds. At the moment there is really good competition and that’s the best way to have our best team.”

Part of Fittler’s evolution was to leave workhorse Manly Jake Trbojevic out of the side in favour of a more dynamic option in the middle like ball-playing lock forward Isaah Yeo.

“Isaah Yeo plays a similar role (to Trbojevic) and he has probably gone to another level in club form,” Fittler said.

Dragons back-rower Sims has also been elevated into the starting 13, alongside Cameron Murray and Yeo in the back row, with Penrith’s Liam Martin and Parramatta forwards Ryan Matterson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard making up the Blues’ bench.

Cronulla playmaker Nicho Hynes will be 18th man.

FITTLER REVEALS SHOCK CENTRE PLOY, TRUTH BEHIND FOX AXING

Blues coach Brad Fittler has thrown a selection surprise, naming Tariq Sims and Jack Wighton as starters in the NSW team to take on Queensland in the opening State of Origin match on Wednesday week in Sydney.

Wighton has beat out debutant Stephen Crichton for a centre spot, relegating the Penrith star to a utility spot on the interchange bench.

Dragons back-rower Sims has also been elevated into the starting 13, alongside Cameron Murray and Isaah Yeo in the back row, with Penrith’s Liam Martin and Parramatta forwards Ryan Matterson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard making up the Blues’ bench.

Brad Fittler has sprung some selection surprises for Game 1. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

As expected, Payne Haas and Junior Paulo will start up front, with Damien Cook at hooker.

James Tedesco will captain the side at fullback, with Brian To’o and Daniel Tupou on the wings with Kotoni Staggs to partner Wighton in the centres.

Penrith duo Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary will be the halves pairing.

Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes will be 18th man for the Accor Stadium clash.

Tyson Frizell, Jacob Saifiti, Apisai Koroisau and Joseph Suaalii have missed out on places in the Blues’ 17-man squad and will remain in camp as shadow players.

Fittler, meanwhile, lifted the lid on his polarising decision to drop try-machine and Blues incumbent Josh Addo-Carr from the NSW Origin team.

Fittler described the decision as “tough” and admitted he had spoken with the Bulldogs flyer who promised the Blues coach he would respond by being selected for Origin II and III.

Fittler also explained his decision to axe series-winning Blues members Jake Trbojevic and Angus Crichton while revealing Penrith’s Api Koroisau would miss the final 17 despite joining the Blues camp in Coogee.

“It’s been quite a stir with the players, he’s so unique, the Fox. Just the way he is around camp,”’ Fittler told SEN’s Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy on Monday.

Fittler made the tough call to swing the axe on some loyal servants. Picture: Getty

“I feel like at the moment, it wouldn’t be right on Fox or the team, at this time, that he goes into game one.

“We’ve communicated and he’s committed to getting back into the team.

”My line to him was, he belongs here.

”I think what it does is readjust your focus and the ones that have got the fight and spirit will come back and be better.

”Not only has there been loyalty (with this side) with a lot of players in their positions, but also there’s players that have played their way in through form.

”And that’s very important.’’

Despite scoring 10 tries in 12 Origin appearances, Addo-Carr was left out of Fittler’s 22-man squad.

Addo-Carr and Brian To'o were NSW’s wing duo last season. Picture: David Swift

Roosters veteran Daniel Tupou - who last played for the Blues in 2020 - was chosen ahead of the Bulldogs flyer, widely known as “The Fox”.

Tupou’s taller frame was a major factor in his selection ahead of an anticipated aerial assault from Queensland’s wingers Xavier Coates and Selwyn Cobbo.

“It was more of a case of Daniel Tupou playing his way in,’’ Fittler said.

“What he’s done at the Roosters, how safe he is, always finishing, the way he brings the ball back out of trouble.’’

”Jake Trbojevic is obviously a tough one as well.

”We felt like we had that position (middle forwards) covered.

”Isaah Yeo has gone to another level with control around that middle and Angus Crichton was another (tough) one.’’

Sitting next to Fittler, NSW team advisor Greg Alexander said simply: “He’s (Addo-Carr) out of form.

”You like to ‘pick’ and ‘stick’ but there’s some specialist positions that you need to prepare for what the team will throw at you.’’

Fittler said during the interview that Koroisau would miss the final 17 and return to play for Penrith on Friday night.

THE TWIN DISASTERS THAT BROKE FREDDY’S ‘LOYALTY’ POLICY

By Fatima Kdouh

Picking and sticking was easy for Blues coach Brad Fittler when NSW had Queensland covered – pound for pound, centimetre for centimetre.

That‘s seven centimetres to be exact.

Which is the height difference between Maroons debutant Selwyn Cobbo, who stands at 190 centimetres, and Canterbury‘s Josh Addo-Carr.

Addo-Carr should have left Belmore Oval last night and hopped into his car and made the 20 kilometre trip east to Coogee to join the rest of his NSW teammates.

Josh Addo-Carr was a shock omission from Brad Fittler's Game 1 NSW squad. Picture: Getty

Instead, the two-time premiership winner drove home after being left out of the Origin side.

Cobbo is expected to line-up on the left edge which would have put him on a collision course with Addo-Carr, that was before the Bulldogs flyer was unceremoniously cut from Fittler‘s side on Sunday night.

Instead, Fittler has gone with lanky Sydney Roosters veteran winger Daniel Tupou.

Fittler will insist it‘s a tactical move to neutralise the threat of an aerial assault on the edges by Cobbo and 194 centimetre Melbourne winger Xavier Coates.

The memory of Cobbo‘s dominance in the air against Addo-Carr in round seven has been burned into the minds of Blues selectors.

SHOULD ADDO-CARR HAVE MADE IT? PICK YOUR NSW BLUES TEAM

The height of 190cm winger Selwyn Cobbo (L) was a factor in Addo-Carr being left out. Picture: Getty

A few weeks before the Brisbane game, playing against his former side the Storm, Addo-Carr again finished second best in a head-to-head battle against Coates.

Those performances were enough to poke holes in Fittler’s ‘loyalty’ policy.

And while some fans have praised Fittler taking an axe to Addo-Carr based on club form there is no doubt it is a harsh call.

Fittler has trumpeted the pick-and-stick approach since the Blues put a stop the Maroons‘ dynasty in 2018 – a historic series win that Addo-Carr starred in.

And yes, delivering in club land has been a caveat to Fittler‘s loyalty policy.

But Addo-Carr has been a victim of a Canterbury side that has not only struggled to find points, but to inject the 26-year-old into their attack.

Brad Fittler reveals he agonised over the decision to axe Josh Addo-Carr, but ultimately thought it was best for the team. Picture: Getty Images.

Surely, if there is one player that deserves to be shown loyalty it‘s Addo-Carr.

The speedster has never let the Blues down and has scored 10 tries in 12 Origin matches.

He is one try away from equalling Michael O’Connor and Jarryd Hayne as the Blues’ all-time leading tryscorers.

Addo-Carr is built for the cauldron of Origin.

Fittler’s selection shock will be dressed as a strategic decision but that raises questions about To’o being retained when the Panthers winger gives away 12 centimetres in height to Coates, who he marked in last year’s Origin series.

Selectors are backing To’o to make-up for the height deficiency with his blockbusting runs out of yardage and defensive proficiency.

But if To’o is unable to diffuse the aerial threat in game one, is the Panthers dynamo facing the same fate as Addo-Carr.

Originally published as NSW Origin Team 1 analysis: Why Brad Fittler chose to axe Josh Addo-Carr for Daniel Tupou