Tom Trbojevic shock omission as NSW Blues team confirmed for State of Origin I
The NSW team for the State of Origin series opener has been announced — and there’s a big name missing, while the Blues are also battling injury dramas. SEE THE FULL TEAM
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Manly star Tom Trbojevic is the shock omission from a 20-man NSW squad which includes a genuine bolter – Bulldogs prop Max King.
Trbojevic, struggling with a corked quad, was omitted with NSW coach Laurie Daley opting for Zac Lomax and Brian To’o as his wingers.
King, 28, has claimed a bench spot as reward for Canterbury’s stunning start to the 2025 season.
“Max’s selection for the Blues is a proud moment for our entire club and testament to his incredible resilience in overcoming career-threatening injuries to reach the pinnacle of our game,” said Bulldogs chairman Adam Driussi.
“His journey exemplifies what rugby league is all about – a quality player and an even better person earning the ultimate recognition through sheer determination and character.”
While selecting a powerful side, Daley has his injury concerns around world’s best prop, Payne Haas, and centre Stephen Crichton.
Crichton is being troubled by a groin injury with South Sydney’s Campbell Graham, who was brilliant against Wests Tigers on Sunday night, named on standby.
Haas sustained a quad injury in Brisbane’s loss to St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday and remains in doubt for the State of Origin opener in Brisbane on May 28.
Brisbane will send Haas for scans and may delay his journey to Sydney to join the NSW side.
Haas, who played 55 minutes against the Dragons, will be given time to prove his fitness but quad injuries are notoriously difficult to overcome in a week. He had a massive ice pack strapped to his left calf post-game in the Broncos dressing room.
Daley named western Sydney pair Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses in the halves with Penrith’s Isaah Yeo the captain.
With forwards Jake Trbojevic (concussion) and Jacob Saifiti (calf) already unavailable, and Haas in doubt, Daley named standby forwards Melbourne’s Stefano Utoikamanu and Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu as emergencies.
Tom Trbojevic would have been “fit, healthy and ready” — according to Manly coach Anthony Seibold — for the rigours of State of Origin despite grimacing and hobbling during his side’s win over North Queensland on Saturday.
But Daley didn’t agree and overlooked Trbojevic.
Crichton and Latrell Mitchell are NSW’s centre pairing with fullback Dylan Edwards fending off a strong challenge from James Tedesco.
The forwards all but picked themselves, as did Connor Watson, Hudson Young and Spencer Leniu on the bench.
Wests Tigers five-eighth Jarome Luai was unable to overtake Moses in the race to be NSW five-eighth. North Queensland’s Reece Robson retained the hooking position.
NSW players will start arriving into camp from midday on Monday.
The squad will divide their time between the NSWRL Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park and the Fairmont Blue Mountains Resort in Leura, before heading to Brisbane on Sunday to prepare for Origin I.
Originally published as Tom Trbojevic shock omission as NSW Blues team confirmed for State of Origin I
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