NRL 2023: The players who will deputise for Origin stars at every club
How many players will your club lose to State of Origin, and who are the youngsters who will step up in their place? We analyse every club.
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South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou is confident the club’s depth can cover for a potentially season-defining State of Origin period that could gut their line-up for the next two months.
With Origin around the corner, club coaches are preparing for their hardest part of the year, losing key players to their respective state teams.
For teams like Penrith and Brisbane, who could potentially lose up to seven players, this period may prove costly if the clubs don’t have the depth to replace their stars.
The Rabbitohs, who are arguably the hottest team in the league heading into Origin, are another who could lose almost half their starting line-up after this weekend.
Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray and Damien Cook are expected to line up for NSW, opening the door for the likes of Blake Taaffe, Tallis Duncan, and Peter Mamouzelos.
“This is the most exciting part of the season for me,” Demetriou said.
“I get really excited as a coach to be able to spend some time with those guys and see them step up and do their job.”
Demetriou was impressed with the way his team handled last year’s series and is expecting his players to do the same this year.
“They did a great job last year,” he said.
“Blake Taffe has been in great form in NSW Cup so I’m really looking forward to having him back. Peter Mamouzelos has already proven what he can do at NRL level.”
Demitriou won’t only be relying on the guys from last year with the Rabbitohs coach already dropping hints at some fresh faces that will be featured over the Origin period.
“We have got guys outside of our top guys who have been playing, and are itching to play,” he said.
Other clubs will be forced into relying on more experienced campaigners.
If Nicho Hynes is to be picked, Braydon Trindall will slot right back into where he started the year for the Sharks in the No. 7 jersey.
Similar situation for the Roosters with Lindsay Collins set to be called into camp for the Maroons, opening minutes for Nathan Brown or Dylan Napa.
Since last week, clubs are now allowed to field players from outside their top-30.
The Daily Telegraph have analysed possible Origin I teams, and predicted which players will stand in for the game’s biggest stars.
RABBITOHS
The Rabbitohs could have as many as seven players involved in this year’s series, led by stars Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray and Damien Cook. Campbell Graham, Cody Walker, Jai Arrow and Tevita Tatola also could be picked. Blake Taaffe is a proven first-grader who has played in a grand final and is a no-brainer to fill Mitchell’s shoes, while Izzac Thompson should get a recall if Graham gets a call-up. Peter Mamouzelos, the heir to the Rabbitohs’ No. 9 jumper, is also certain to get a chance to add to his five NRL games. The 22-year-old is slowly building into a crafty hooker and has a lot of similarities to current hooker Damien Cook. Tallis Duncan is another who could debut in place of Murray. Some judges rate the youngster named after Gorden similar to the Rabbitohs captain.
BRONCOS
Brisbane are another club whose early-season success could translate into Origin call-ups for up to seven of their stars. Payne Haas, Selwyn Cobbo and Patrick Carrigan are walk-up starts, while Corey Oates, Reece Walsh, Kurt Capewell and Thomas Flegler will all be in contention could also feature. Brendan Piakura, Kobe Hetherington, Xavier Willison and Keenan Palasia could all see some action in a depleted forward pack. Hetherington is all but certain to deputise at lock for Carrigan, while Piakura has been in impressive tryscoring touch in the Queensland Cup. Former Dragons winger Jordan Pereira is a big body that could cover Cobbo and Oates.
PANTHERS
Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o are Origin locks, while Jarome Luai, Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and even Spencer Leniu could join them in sky blue. That leaves the two-time defending premiers again relying on their nursery to keep their quest for a threepeat going, including one-gamer Thomas Jenkins, whose tough carries and tryscoring abilities mirror that of To’o. The Panthers also have some experience to cover their forwards, with Matt Eisenhuth, Chris Smith and Luke Garner set to step in. Eisenhuth has done the job before but has been injured with a bad shoulder, while Garner could get another shot should Martin get called up. But their biggest challenge could be replacing the halves combination, with Kurt Falls and Jack Cogger plying away in the NSW Cup. With 42 NRL games under his belt, Cogger will feel no pressure taking the reins and steering the Panthers around. This would be Cogger’s first appearance in first grade since 2020.
SHARKS
Nicho Hynes is likely to be the only Sharks star in line for an Origin call. But the Sharks are well-equipped to handle his absence, with playmaker Braydon Trindall arguably one of the best players in the league without a regular starting gig. Trindall held down the fort while Hynes was injured earlier this year and will come back and do a similar job.
STORM
Cameron Munster and Harry Grant will be huge outs for the Storm, with Tyran Wishart and Bronson Garlick expected to fill in respectively. Jayden Nikorima could also be called on to spell either in a utility bench role. Veteran prop Christian Welch and winger Xavier Coates could also be brought in by Billy Slater, with Young Tonumaipea previously showing on a number of occasions this year that he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
DOLPHINS
The league’s newest team are set to be rewarded for their impressive inaugural season so far with three players set to become the first Dolphins selected for Origin, including Felise Kaufusi, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tom Gilbert. It’ll test an already shallow roster, with Jamayne Isaako likely to step in at fullback and former Origin star Edrick Lee getting a run on the wing. Poasa Faamausili is a chance of packing down, and don’t be surprised if cult hero Valynce Te Whare joins him given there are only two bona fide second-rowers on their roster. Te Whare proved in his debut he is ready for the bright lights of the NRL and definitely has the size to play in the second row.
RAIDERS
The representative retirements of Josh Papalii and Jack Wighton leaves bolters Hudson Young and Corey Horsburgh as the only Origin candidates from the nation’s capital. Their possible absence could force Ricky Stuart into shuffling the deckchairs in his pack, with Corey Harawira-Naera and uncapped Hohepa Puru likely to step up.
WARRIORS
Traditionally don’t boast too many Origin candidates, the Warriors can take advantage of a depleted Broncos side in Round 13, and Parramatta in Round 19.
TITANS
Skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is the only Origin certainty, however David Fifita could easily join him. That could prompt Justin Holbrook to go with Klese Haas, Thomas Mikaele or Joe Vuna. Mikaele showed strong signs in England before returning home, while Vuna has also flashed glimpses of his hole-running games in a handful of games this year.
ROOSTERS
The Roosters have traditionally lost a number of players to Origin, however captain James Tedesco could be the lone wolf this year. Lindsay Collins is a strong chance to join him, while Angus Crichton and Joseph Suaalii could be missing as well. Suaalii may instead be an option to replace Tedesco at the back, as could former Maroons representative Corey Allan. Nathan Brown also looms as the beneficiary of a Collins call-up for Queensland, with Matt Lodge starting.
KNIGHTS
The Knights have could lose a handful of stars at an inopportune time of the season, including captain Kalyn Ponga, Tyson Frizell, Dane Gagai, and possibly Daniel and Jacob Saifiti. Tyson Gamble, Jack Johns, Enari Tuala are likely to come in as Origin cover, but don’t be surprised to see Adam O’Brien blood the likes of mid-season recruit Dane Aukafolau or rookie Thomas Cant. Aukafolau is considered a Frizell clone, while Cant is a natural lock.
SEA EAGLES
Star skipper and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans is the only Origin lock, although both Tom and Jake Trbojevic could join him pending form and fitness. Cooper Johns will deputise for Cherry-Evans, Kaeo Weekes will back-up Tom, while Morgan Boyle stands to get the nod if Jake follows suit. Weekes was used as the bench utility earlier this season, while Johns also impressed during the pre-season and is slowly developing as a playmaker.
COWBOYS
Valentine Holmes will line-up for the Maroons, with Reuben Cotter likely to join him. That opens the door for Brendan Elliot and either Riley Price or Sam McIntyre. Elliot has twice answered the call already due to injuries, while Price’s energy and high workrate is similar to the job Cotter does in the front row.
EELS
Co-captain Junior Paulo stands to be the only Eels star to get the call, with J’maine Hopgood and Clint Gutherson on the Origin fringes. That bodes well for coach Brad Arthur, who’s the only coach to be without his Origin stars for all three shortened rounds. That could mean a debut for Italian international Luca Moretti or a sixth game for promising youngster Ky Rodwell. Ofahiki Ogden will likely start in place of Paulo though new recruit Joe Ofahengaue is another possibility.
BULLDOGS
Josh Addo-Carr looms as the only serious contender for an Origin jumper, although Matt Burton could also be in the mix for the Blues utility spot. A Fox call-up would mean more game time for any of Braidon Burns, Declan Casey or Blake Wilson, while Kyle Flanagan will almost certainly get a recall if Burton heads off to camp. The Bulldogs play a depleted Sharks and Rabbitohs team during the Origin-affected rounds.
DRAGONS
The Dragons will get a glimpse of life without Ben Hunt when their star playmaker heads off on Origin duty, with the keys then given to Jayden Sullivan and Talatau Amone. Many have been calling for Sullivan to start in the halves, and the youngster will now get his chance in games against a weakened Dolphins and Raiders teams.
TIGERS
The Tigers need all the luck they can get to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder. And while they’ll get to face Melbourne and Cronulla without their key players, the Tigers may have to do it without captain and hooker Apisai Koroisau. Jake Simpkin is the first-choice replacement for Koroisau with young rake Rua Ngatikaura a chance to come onto the bench or Daine Laurie may get a run as a backline utility.
Originally published as NRL 2023: The players who will deputise for Origin stars at every club
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