Reece Robson under pressure to hold hooking job for NSW Blues

The Cowboys’ patchy start has NSW incumbent No.9 Reece Robson under pressure to hold onto his jersey for the upcoming series. See how every contender stacks up.

Blues coach Laurie Daley says Reece Robson cannot be complacent as the under fire Cowboys hooker faces a fierce six-way battle to retain his NSW No.9 jumper.

Daley’s warning came as NSW hooking legend Benny Elias called for crafty Tigers rake Api Koroisau to be recalled by the Blues to spearhead their title defence this season.

The Cowboys’ patchy start to the season has put pressure on Robson, who goes into Saturday’s clash against Souths in Perth as the most ill-disciplined player in the league.

Robson and Canberra’s Hudson Young have given away the most penalties (five) this season.

To compound Robson’s plight, the Cowboys rake also has the equal most ruck infringements (six) with Melbourne’s Queensland Origin pivot Cameron Munster.

Back in the NSW hot seat, Daley has been watching Blues candidates closely and noted Robson being sent to the sin bin for a high shot in the Cowboys’ 22-18 upset of Penrith last week.

Laurie Daley has a host of options to pick from when it comes to filing his number nine jersey at the Blues.

Daley is a huge fan of Robson, but says incumbency doesn’t guarantee selection, with hooking aspirants Koroisau, Connor Watson, Blayke Brailey, Wayde Egan and Mitch Kenny turning up the heat ahead of Origin I on May 28.

“It’s a good headache to have when you have plenty of blokes playing well,” Daley said.

“You want the incumbents in each position to be under a bit of pressure so they are playing well.

“You can’t be complacent. Things can change very quickly with Origin. You never know what the side is going to be until you get through that final club game and see who’s available.

“Reece just has to continue doing his job for the Cowboys and hopefully he is in the frame when we pick the team.”

Robson has become an integral member of the Blues. Blooded in 2023 by Brad Fittler, the 26-year-old played all three games for the Blues last season as coach Michael Maguire orchestrated NSW’s 2-1 series defeat of Billy Slater’s Maroons.

The Roosters-bound rake has showed he relishes the speed of Origin. When the ruck quickens, Robson relishes the pace and his iron-clad defence - he is averaging 44 tackles per game this season at an efficiency rate of 91 per cent - is tailor-made for the Origin arena.

But Robson’s ill-discipline and erratic decision-making in the opening month has given Daley food for thought.

Incumbency is no guarantee of selection for Reece Robson. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Kenny, who missed Thursday night’s clash against the Dolphins with a shoulder injury, is a three-time premiership winner who has a Penrith club combination with key Blues Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards and Isaah Yeo.

Watson played two games last season as NSW’s super sub, Egan is elite in attack and defence and Koroisau, NSW’s starting hooker in 2023 before losing out to Robson, is in fine form for the Tigers.

“I think Reece’s last couple of games have been excellent and that’s what I want to see,” Daley said.

“The Cowboys have hit a bit of form and are playing with a bit of confidence. Hopefully they hold that form and that will help Reece as well.

“Api, Connor and Mitch Kenny are all in the mix. Young Brailey at the Sharks is a very good player, too.

“I love Reece Robson’s work ethic. I love how he competes and tackles. The hooker touches the ball more than any other player in the game so they have to get things right.

“But one thing I won’t do is pick people just because of what they have done in the past.

“The incumbents need to be playing decent footy, too.”

Elias, who played 19 games for NSW, likes Koroisau’s creative spark and urged Robson to work on his discipline.

“Reece Robson is a genuine Origin player but the amount of penalties he is giving away this season isn’t ideal,” Elias said.

“The Cowboys’ form isn’t helping him and that could be a sign of frustration from Reece.

“It would be a big call for Laurie to drop Reece given how well he played last year, but if there was a change, I’d go for Api.

“Koroisau has started the season in brilliant form and he would keep Queensland guessing with his magic around the rucks.”

Originally published as Reece Robson under pressure to hold hooking job for NSW Blues