State of Origin selection: Daniel Saifiti facing the axe from NSW Origin team
One of NSW’s best forwards in last year’s State of Origin series is set to be overlooked for Game I. Find out who is in the frame to secure a front-row spot.
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Blues spearhead Daniel Saifiti is facing the axe from the NSW State of Origin team.
Instrumental in NSW wrapping-up the series last year, the Knights co-captain is at increasing odds to be named when the Blues squad is chosen on Sunday.
Eels prop Regan Campbell-Gillard has leapfrogged Saifiti for a position in the Blues front-row. Campbell-Gillard has only played one Origin game for NSW in 2018.
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Saifiti would need either an injury to more favourable NSW forward candidates, or produce a man-of-the-match performance against the Warriors on Saturday, to prompt a major sway in the minds of selectors.
Jake Trbojevic, Payne Haas, Junior Paulo and Campbell-Gillard are the Blues leading front-row contenders, with Tyson Frizell, Cameron Murray and Angus Crichton all capable of playing either in the backrow or middle of the field.
Struggling to find the rich vein of form of his dominant 2021 season, Saifiti was challenged by NSW selectors last month to lift his game as he was under pressure to return to the Origin arena.
Saifiti has been part of NSW coach Brad Fittler’s squad since 2019.
From all the key on-field metrics, Saifiti is struggling compared to last year with runs, metres, post-contact metres, tackle busts and line breaks.
He has averaged just 100 metres per game compared to 139 last season.
The Knights’ inconsistent performances have contributed to Saifiti’s dip in form.
PICK YOUR STATE OF ORIGIN I TEAMS AND COMPARE AGAINST THE EXPERTS
Saifiti was enormous for the Blues in their series-clinching wins in Origin I and II last year, running for 244 metres across the first two games — the most by any forward on the field.
The 26-year-old withdrew from Origin III — which the Blues lost to Queensland — due to a rib cartilage injury.
NSW team advisor Greg Alexander recently eluded to concern over Saifiti’s form from within the Blues brains trust.
“Daniel has been a concern,” Alexander said on SEN Radio. “There’s no doubt that he’s not making the impact that he has over the past couple of seasons and he needs to get going.
“He needs to get going pretty quickly too.”
Honest in his own self-assessment, Saifiti won’t be shocked to learn he’s out of favour with Origin selectors.
“I’ve got two weeks to prove my worth but honestly if it doesn’t happen I’ve done it to myself because at the current rate I wouldn’t pick me,” Saifiti told NRL.com before Magic Round.
“I love playing in that arena and don’t think I’ve ever let the jersey down but there’s too many good props playing better footy.
“You look at Payne, Reggie (Reagan Campbell-Gillard) and Junz (Junior Paulo), I’m happy for those boys because they’re going to good and leading from the front.
“It’s good for NSW too and you take motivation from that.”
Saifiti was honoured with the NSWRL True Blue Award in 2020 — given to the Origin player who displays the qualities upon which the NSW team ethos is built.
Blues’ No.1 issue ahead of Origin I
-Dean Ritchie
This could be Queensland’s version of 22 Jump Street.
NSW will look to select lanky centre Stephen Crichton to partner compact winger Brian To’o if pitted against rangy Queensland winger Xavier Coates in State of Origin I.
NSW, beware the aerial ambush.
Officially, Penrith claim To’o stands 182cm but teammates claim he is five feet, eight inches – 172cm - the NRL’s smallest winger.
That would give Coates (194cm) a whopping 22cm height advantage if Queensland halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster kick for the jumping star Storm winger. And NSW winger Josh Addo-Carr will also be trumped in size by the Maroons other winger, Selwyn Cobbo.
The Blues coaching staff is aware To’o and Addo-Carr (183cm) could be vulnerable against the towering Queensland pair of Coates and Cobbo (191cm).
To combat that edge, Crichton (193cm) is poised to be selected and positioned alongside his Panthers teammate, To’o.
Queensland has a decisive and enviable height advantage with Cobbo and Coates having scored a combined total of eight tries this year from kicks. Brisbane’s Corey Oates, another wing option for the Maroons, has scored five tries from kicks.
“I’m tiny bro,” To’o told the media last year.
The Daily Telegraph has been told To’o, Addo-Carr, Cobbo and Coates appear certain of selection for Origin I in Sydney on June 8.
“It’s going to be an advantage, right? It will depend on your size in the centres where you can get a little bit of help from the inside if needed,” said former NSW centre Ryan Girdler.
“Experience is the key as well in terms of getting yourself in the right spot. Addo-Carr has played Origin and first grade for a long time and I wouldn’t say he is a guy teams generally go after.
“To’o is pretty good under the high ball as well but it is an advantage Queensland is going to have and ‘Freddie’ (coach Brad Fittler) will have to find ways to make sure they aren’t getting to those parts of the field where they finish with an attacking kick to those guys and use that advantage. But there’s not much you can do about it.”
While the NSW side is yet to be confirmed, Crichton and Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs are heavy favourites to be named in the centres with Latrell Mitchell (hamstring) and Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) unavailable through injury.
With Crichton called on to assist To’o if Queensland go to the air, Staggs will likely partner Addo-Carr. To’o, Addo-Carr and Crichton can play either left or right side of the field.
Former Blues skipper Paul Gallen believes Crichton and To’o should be together on the left even though Crichton plays on the right edge this year for Penrith.
NSW will announce its side for the series opener this Sunday night after the final game of round 12 – Canberra v Parramatta at GIO Stadium. The Blues have been knocked about by injury and are desperately hoping to come through this final round before selection unscathed.
Penrith – readying themselves for Friday night’s massive match against North Queensland – could have six players in the NSW side - To’o, Crichton, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo.
Injured South Sydney skipper Cam Murray was scheduled to return in round 14 but hopes to be back for Saturday’s match against Wests Tigers. There are still several positions to be nailed down but NSW has a core of players already pencilled in.
NSW players will start entering camp on Sunday at the Crowne Plaza, Coogee, where the team will be based in camp. Players will train until next Friday when told they can return home for the weekend before regrouping on Monday at the Novotel, Sydney Olympic Park, on Monday.
The Blues will train at the NSWRL’s Centre of Excellence on Tuesday and Thursday and at Coogee Oval on Friday before a final captain’s run at Accor Stadium on Tuesday week. All NSW staff will be Covid tested twice a day and, to avoid the virus threat, the official post-game function will be cancelled.
The True Blues Ball will go ahead on Monday with the team presented to an audience of corporate partners and True Blue members while a select few former NSW players will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Freddy’s biggest NSW selection headaches
- David Riccio, Brent Read, Michael Carayannis
Struggling NSW Origin forwards Daniel Saifiti and Jake Trbojevic are banking on the loyalty of coach Brad Fittler, while injured enforcer Payne Haas is a week-to-week proposition.
Meanwhile, an injury to Ryan Papenhuyzen means Sharks ace Nicho Hynes and Raiders gun Jack Wighton are duelling for a Blues bench spot.
The countdown is on to the opening game of the State of Origin series in Sydney on June 8.
Fittler will, after this weekend’s round of games, select his NSW team that will attempt to defend the Origin shield against a Queensland side coached for the first time by rookie mentor Billy Slater.
And these are the candidates in every position vying to be selected by Fittler, in what will be the NSW coach’s fifth Origin series in charge.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal:
* Down on form, forwards Saifiti and Trbojevic could survive based only on what they have done for NSW in the past.
* Mitchell Moses remains the back-up halfback to Nathan Cleary – despite the hot form of Adam Reynolds.
* Dragons back-rower Tariq Sims is in the frame despite an indifferent start to the year
* Rabbitohs man-mountain Keaon Koloamatangi has emerged as a Blues bolter
* Stephen Crichton had his nose in front of Kotoni Staggs and Siosifa Talakai for a centre spot in place of the injured Latrell Mitchell. But with Tom Trbojevic’s latest setback, another spot in the Blues’ backline has opened up.
The Blues will also need to deal with uncertainty over the fitness of the game’s leading front-rower Payne Haas.
The Broncos prop has an AC shoulder injury that is a “week to week proposition”, according to Brisbane’s head of football Ben Ikin.
“I am sure the NSW’s medical staff will be in regular contact with the Broncos’ medicos in the lead-up to the State of Origin series over Payne,” Ikin said.
“We won’t take any chances with him and nor would they.
“He is managing the shoulder issue at the moment but it is a week-to-week proposition. That said, the Broncos and our coach Kevin Walters have always treated Origin with the utmost respect.”
Haas’ availability for the NSW side is likely to hinge on discussions between the medical staff of Brisbane and the Blues in the lead-up to the State of Origin opener.
Haas has required injection in his shoulder to play in recent weeks after suffering an AC joint problem in his shoulder.
The issue isn’t going away and Fittler may have a decision to make in coming weeks as he weighs up whether to take an injured Haas into the Origin series.
His decision is made all the more difficult given the form of Newcastle’s Saifiti and Sea Eagles talisman Trbojevic.
NSW legend Luke Lewis expected Fittler to stick solid with some of his underperforming stars.
“Freddy is a pretty loyal character,” Lewis said. “He will most likely pick and stick for game one, but if they don’t deliver he will make some changes.
“I would be picking Staggs with Mitchell out. But I would also have Talakai on the bench as a no.14. He has shown he can play every position and can dominate.”
Saifiti was enormous for NSW last year, running for 244 metres across the first two games of the series, the most by any forward on the field.
But for the battling Knights this season, Saifiti has struggled, averaging just 94-metres per-game.
Trbojevic has also failed to leave his renowned imprint on Manly so far this year – perhaps a reflection of the inconsistent performances of the entire Sea Eagles outfit.
The Manly back-rower’s defensive efforts – averaging just under 39 per-game – are what will ultimately sway Fittler towards retaining him.
FULLBACKS
James Tedesco
Only needs to survive injury and suspension to be picked.
WING
Josh Addo-Carr
Far from his best in struggling Dogs team but has scored 10 tries in 12-games for NSW.
Brian To’o
Returned from six-week injury on Saturday night. Needs to get a wriggle on.
Daniel Tupou
Hasn’t played for Blues since 2020, but his height advantage gives Blues a point of difference.
CENTRES
Tom Trbojevic
Ruled out of the series with a shoulder injury.
Latrell Mitchell
Not playing game one.
Stephen Crichton
Injuries to the above incumbents has Crichton in line for an Origin debut. Penrith connection helps.
Kotoni Staggs
Has grown into the season. Pushing hard for the vacant spot.
Campbell Graham
Been on the cusp in recent years. Not without a shot.
Matt Burton
Last year’s Dally M centre of the year.
HALFBACK
Nathan Cleary
Name is inked in.
Mitchell Moses
Impressed playing through pain in his Origin debut. Will take his chance if needed
FIVE-EIGHTH
Jarome Luai
Will keep his place.
Jack Wighton
Returns from suspension this weekend and will have 80 minutes in round 12 to show Fittler what he’s got to jag the No.14 bench spot.
HOOKER
Damien Cook
First-choice hooker. Under no pressure.
Api Koroisau
Made his Origin debut in game three, 2021. Still the understudy to Cook.
Blayke Brailey
Blistering start to the year has seen him emerge as a candidate if injuries strike.
FRONT ROW
Payne Haas
Genuine concerns over his shoulder. Picked if fit.
Daniel Saifiti
Could become the biggest casualty of Newcastle’s horror start.
Dale Finucane
Dependable and will come into the mix again if injuries mount.
Jake Trbojevic
Could be a surprise exclusion. Favoured to keep his jersey but has work to do.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Good shot of adding to his only previous Origin in 2018.
Junior Paulo
Will take his place in the Blues’ 17 again.
LOCKS
Isaah Yeo
Certainty to start at lock.
BACK ROW
Liam Martin
Will be picked and could be given his first starting jersey.
Keaon Koloamatangi
Strong chance of making his Origin debut. Was a squad member last year.
Angus Crichton
Is being considered as a potential middle player too. No certainty to keep his spot.
Tyson Frizell
Missed Origin for the first time in five series last year. Newcastle’s poor start will count against him but highly respected by Blues coaching staff.
Cameron Murray
Injured. Naturally a lock but played on an edge for NSW last year and could return to that role later in the series, if fit.
Josh Schuster
Unlikely to play a part in the first game having just returned from injury but is a smoky for the rest of the series.
Tariq Sims
He may have been shown the door by the Dragons but the Blues still hold him in high regard.
UTILITY
Nicho Hynes
Shown he can play in the middle of the field for the Storm last year.
Jack Bird
Outsider who has done the job before. Versatility making him a potential squad member.
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Injury has again stopped him from playing Origin. Strong chance of bench utility when fit.
Siosifa Talakai
Barnstorming start to the season. Could force his way into the squad
Matt Burton
Added bonus is his combination with ex-Penrith teammates.
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