State of Origin 2023: All the NSW and Queensland news ahead of Game 3

Dumped debutant Stefano Utoikamanu was part of seven changes to the NSW side and the young Blues prop revealed how coach Brad Fittler broke the news to him. This is your one-stop Origin shop.

Dumped NSW young prop Stefano Utoikamanu has revealed Blues coach Brad Fittler told him he was “rested” for Origin III.

Utoikamanu was one of seven changes for the Blues heading into Origin III. It came after the Tigers prop played just 12 minutes off the bench in his Origin debut.

“He told me he was giving me a rest and was going to put someone else in,” Utoikamanu said. “It was gutting but I’m glad I got the opportunity to play this year and I’ll be pushing for a spot next year.”

The 23-year-old lost his spot to Newcastle’s Jacob Saifiti who will start off the bench on Wednesday night.

Stefano Utoikamanu was dropped after his debut. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty

“It was pretty disappointing I’m not there,” he told AAP.

“But I think naturally, we lost the game, there’s going to be people on the chopping block.

“I didn’t take it to heart or anything.

“(Coach Brad Fittler) is going in a different direction and I’m wishing the best for Saifiti. He’s the man on the bench now and hopefully he does a really good job.”

Fittler reached out to Utoikamanu to tell him of his axing.

Fittler confirmed Utoikamanu was rested.

“No, well that’s it. He was rested,” Fittler said.

“Hopefully he comes back, hopefully he goes away and learns if he could have done more, unless they are retired, they’re rested. It’s just rested mate - from the team.”

Utoikamanu and the Tigers take on Newcastle on Friday night at McDonald Jones Stadium desperately needing a win.

The Tigers sit last on the ladder and locked in a wooden spoon battle with St George Illawarra and Canterbury.

JT COPS OFFICIAL ORIGIN WARNING

Queensland assistant Johnathan Thurston revealed he was given an official warning by the NRL to tone down his sideline antics during State of Origin.

Thurston’s emotional reactions this series have become must-see viewing, but the legendary Maroon was told to cool it after encroaching into the officials’ allocated boundaries.

“I got a warning from the NRL, they sat me down and said I’m not allowed to wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m not allowed to do what I was doing,” Thurston revealed on Nine’s Billy Slater Podcast.

“I said this is Origin, I’ll do what I want,” he laughed.

“I was a little bit subdued … I ride the highs and the lows like all the fans,” he said.

“I love State of Origin, I love watching rugby league.

“You know when we’re winning and we’re losing because of my emotions, you can certainly see those.”

Maroons assistant coach Johnathan Thurston copped an official warning. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

Thurston’s fellow assistant Cameron Smith is no stranger to losing control of his emotions during Origin.

And while Smith’s position in the Channel 9 commentary box during Origin has been questioned, his call on Ben Hunt’s series winning try in 2022 will go down in Origin folklore.

Smith explained why Thurston was warned by the NRL: “I actually caught some vision in my review of Game I at Adelaide Oval.

“He stepped out of that little zone that NRL officials like the coaching or sideline staff to stay in.

“He slipped out there and he had a few choice words to the touch judge, and he might have got in the ear of the touch judge in that game. So he was warned by the NRL, ‘Mate, just stay back and quieten down for us’.”

BROKEN BLUE’S SURPRISE TINO TAKE

- Michael Carayannis

Wests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau has had a surprise take on the tackle which split the rugby league world as he prepares to make a comeback ahead of schedule from a broken jaw.

Koroisau has not played since getting injured while tackling Titans and Maroons enforcer Tino Fa’asuamaleaui in round 15. The tackle sparked fierce debate with claims Fa’asuamaleau’s running style was to blame after his forearms crushed into Koroisau’s face.

The injury cost Koroisau his NSW jersey and the Tigers have been winless in the three matches he has missed.

“That was my fault,” Koroisau said. “I got off the line a bit hard, I didn’t get up square and he caught me off guard when he came off his right foot. There are no hard feelings there. It’s footy.

“I can only control what I can control. He stepped off his right foot and had his bumpers up. Everyone has their bumpers up.

“I missed a few weeks but I put that on me.

“Every big boy runs with their bumpers up these days. I shouldn’t have tackled him with my face.”

Blues coach Brad Fittler, Tigers mentor Tim Sheens and ex-Blues star Braith Anasta were among those critical of Fa’asuamaleaui’s running style.

Fa’asuamaleaui was placed on report because of the incident but he was not charged. It came just weeks after a similar incident involving Fa’asuamaleaui and Canterbury’s Reed Mahoney. The Maroons big man has not reached out to Koroisau who needed two plates and four screws to repair his badly damaged jaw which was broken in two places.

“It is easily No. 1 - that was easily the worst pain,” Koroisau said of the injury. “Usually the adrenaline is in you and you feel good and kick on. This one was up there [with the worst].

“Once the contact happened, the sharp pain that hit me in the face, I finished the tackle, I started to get back but my teeth weren’t touching. That’s when I was like, it’s probably broken, I might have to put my hand up.

“I ate through a straw the first week. I was good to go after three weeks. The only thing I couldn’t have was steak. I only lost half a kilo eating soup and ice-cream.

“Someone tipped me up about popcorn chicken and gravy in the blender. It tasted great, but the texture was horrible.”

Barring a late mishap Koroisau will return for the Tigers against Newcastle on Friday night. He took part in a contact training session on Concord Oval on Tuesday.

“I started training last week,” Koroisau said. “I got through some contact and I had no issues. I put my hand up (to return).

“I got hit in the jaw a few times (on Tuesday), it felt good, I was surprised. It’s a confidence thing. Unless something happens the next couple of days, I expect to run out on Friday.”

Koroisau will be on hand to watch the Blues in Origin III.

“I can’t stand watching footy, there’s too much anxiety involved,” he said. “Watching the Tigers and Blues has been hard. I’ve got full confidence they’ll get the job done.”

BLUES ADDRESS LENIU WHISPERS

- David Riccio

NSW will resist the temptation to unleash Panthers power forward Spencer Leniu into the State of Origin arena.

There had been reports that 19th man Leniu could emerge as a late inclusion for the Blues ahead of game three against Queensland at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.

However, the Blues are expected to stick with the same 1-17 line-up that was originally named for the final game of the series, including Jake Trbojevic starting in the front-row, Damien Cook at hooker and Clint Gutherson on the bench.

QLD DEBUTANT’S NRL CONTRACT REWARD

- Dean Ritchie

This will be a red-letter day for Big Red.

As a reward for his form and commitment, Canberra is poised to upgrade and extend Queensland forward Corey Horsburgh until the end of 2027.

Horsburgh, 25, will make his State of Origin debut for Queensland on Wednesday night at Accor Stadium.

He is signed with Canberra until the end of 2025 but the club wants to extend him for a further two years.

The Raiders could wait another year to open negotiations but the club wants to show its admiration for Horsburgh’s work ethic by extending him shortly.

Horsburgh will return to Canberra after Origin to start contract talks with the club enjoying a bye.

The players’ manager, Jeff Jurotte, is expected to personally fly to Canberra next week to meet Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.

Stuart is handling the bulk of Horburgh’s negotiations.

Passionate and old-school, Caboolture-born Horsburgh has become a mainstay of the Canberra forward pack.

Horsburgh is settled in Canberra and has a young daughter.

“Corey is definitely in our plans,” said Raiders chief executive, Don Furner.

“We will let Origin finish and then plan to speak with his agent when he comes down to Canberra.

Maroons debutant Corey Horsburgh is set to extend with the Raiders. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

“Corey is certainly a player we want to upgrade and extend as a reward for his good form.”

Horsburgh arrived in Canberra as a development player in 2018. He was Queensland’s 18th man for Origin II.

“He’s been impressive for the first half of the season and built some really good habits in his game,” Maroons coach Billy Slater said last week.

“You can tell when players have a great off-season, and Corey is one of those guys.

“Corey has knuckled down, focused on his footy and focused on what’s important in his footy. You see that regularly every week and it’s the reason why Corey has earned the opportunity to play for Queensland.”

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Originally published as State of Origin 2023: All the NSW and Queensland news ahead of Game 3