Maroons legends react to Brad Fittler’s stunning Origin cull

Brad Fittler has pushed the panic button ahead of NSW’s must-win clash against the Maroons on Sunday, and his brutal team cull has stunned some Origin legends.

The basketcase Blues are in a state of chaos after NSW coach Brad Fittler made seven changes to his team – including axing star centre Latrell Mitchell – in a desperate bid to save the series in Origin II.

The reigning Origin champions hit the panic button for the return bout in Perth this Sunday night with Fittler ripping apart his NSW squad despite losing Game One at Suncorp Stadium by just four points.

Blues coach Brad Fittler has gone hard at the selection table. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

In one of the most dramatic selection shake-ups in Origin’s 39-year history, Fittler showed no mercy, dumping four players – Mitchell, Cody Walker, Josh Morris and Angus Crichton for Game Two.

Three others will not play due to injury, with Payne Haas (hamstring), Nick Cotric (ankle) and David Klemmer (wrist) unavailable.

In-form Newcastle halfback Mitchell Pearce was set to answer an SOS in the No.7 jumper only to have his fairytale comeback shattered when the 18-game Origin veteran injured his hip against the Storm on Saturday night.

Amid the upheaval, Fittler named seven new faces in James Maloney, Wade Graham, Blake Ferguson, Daniel Saifiti, Tariq Sims, Tom Trbojevic and Dale Finucane.

Underlining the knee-jerk rebadging of the Blues, Saifiti has come from the clouds and will be asked to spearhead the NSW pack from the front row at age 23 in his State of Origin debut.

After steering the Blues to supremacy in his maiden campaign last year, Fittler is under serious pressure for the first time as NSW coach as Queensland prepare to go for the jugular and wrap-up the series in Perth.

Daniel Saifiti has made the Blues team. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Fittler will arrive in the wild west on Monday and there is a prevailing sentiment he has gone wild at the selection table.

Queensland Origin front-row legend Shane Webcke last night summed up the attitude of many in the game, expressing his shock at Fittler’s ruthless dismantling of the Blues.

“It’s just crazy,” Webcke said.

“I just saw their team and all I can say is, ‘Wow ... what are they thinking?’

“A good example is Josh Morris. He was bloody strong in Game One and is a real steady hand in the centres. I don’t understand why he was dropped.

“I think they have panicked.

Josh Morris was one of the best for the Blues. Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

“This is not like ‘Freddy’ Fittler either. He is usually so composed but it looks shaky for NSW ... it’s bloody beautiful for Queensland.”

Speaking on Fox Sports on Saturday night, former Queensland coach Mal Meninga was stunned at the prospect of young Knights prop Saifiti replacing his clubmate Klemmer.

“An inexperienced prop coming in to what is a must-win game, taking the place of a very experienced player in David Klemmer ... I find that a bit strange,” Meninga said.

While Mitchell was disappointing in Game One, he is one of the NRL’s genuine superstars who dominated last year’s Origin series.

It would be the equivalent of Queensland dropping Greg Inglis.

The Blues were banking on Pearce, who has lost six Origin series, to lead NSW’s fightback, but Fittler yesterday rued the withdrawal of the 30-year-old.

“I knew he had a hip problem and he got knocked against Melbourne early in the game,” Fittler told Channel Nine.

“It’s disappointing, he was really keen.

“There just wasn’t enough time to get him right.”