State of Origin 2022, Game II: NSW Blues team confirmed, Damien Cook benched
Brad Fittler has named his team to save the 2022 State of Origin series, with two benchings to create plenty of debate. See the official team.
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The Blues are banking on Panther power to square the series after Blues coach Brad Fittler named eight members of Penrith’s grand final-winning squad in the starting 13 for Origin II - Brian To’o, Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, nathan Cleary, Apisai Koroisau, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo.
On Monday Fittler revealed his Game I Blues side that is fighting to save the State of Origin series in Perth.
Fittler and his selection panel have added Jake Trbojevic and Api Koroisau to the starting side.
The Panthers hooker will replace Damien Cook who moves to the bench, while Trbojevic joins Payne Haas in the starting frontrow, relegating Junior Paulo to the pine.
Cook can count himself unlucky after being one of the NSW’s best attacking weapons in the opening game but it is clear Fittler is desperate to shore up his side’s ruck defence.
More to come....
Freddy slams selection criticism
Bulldogs star Matt Burton has been rushed into the NSW State of Origin side – proof that players who join lowly Canterbury can still play representative football.
That is declaration from Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton over suggestions that players’ rep careers can die when they move to Belmore.
Burton’s inclusion at centre for State of Origin II in Perth next Sunday was part of eight changes made by NSW coach Brad Fittler in a desperate bid to save the series.
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“We need to pick some players that are going to win,” Fittler said bluntly. “It’s all based around winning – that’s State of Origin. You pick players for impact.”
Burton – who played a key role in Canterbury’s 36-12 over Wests Tigers on Sunday - is deemed a ‘like-for-like’ replacement for centre Jack Wighton, who was unavailable through Covid.
“He’s going to be a huge loss. He was our best player, he was our toughest player. He played the game like it should be, really direct and physical. We are going to miss him. We need other players to be channeling Jack, play like he did,” Fittler said of Wighton.
When Canterbury winger Josh Addo-Carr was overlooked for Origin I, critics came forward claiming any player who joins the then struggling Bulldogs can abandon rep footy aspirations.
“There’s been plenty of talk in recent weeks about the Bulldogs and rep footy,” Warburton said.
“Matt knew that coming to the Bulldogs wouldn’t damage his chances of playing rep footy in the slightest.
“It obviously hasn’t worried Matt. He’s using the circumstances of a team pushing our way up the ladder as his platform to show how good a player he really is.
“He lifts any team he plays in. No one is more deserving than Matt Burton. Matt’s focus, skill, determination, and most importantly his maturity, is exactly what this Blues team needs.”
There could be late heartbreak though with Burton involved in an on-field drama which left Wests Tigers prop Alex Twal badly concussed – the incident to be scrutinised on Monday by the NRL match review committee.
Burton said Canterbury’s successive wins – over Wests Tigers and Parramatta - helped him win selection.
“We’re throwing the ball around a bit more and playing a bit of freestyle footy,” Burton said. “As a team we’re all gelling a bit more. To come away with two wins in the last two weeks, putting on some good scores, it’s pretty pleasing.”
The Daily Telegraph broke the story of Burton’s elevation online on Sunday morning with Fittler officially telling the star player of his selection – and shaking his hand - in Canterbury’s dressing sheds.
“It was unreal I couldn’t believe it. It’s always been a dream of mine to get that jersey on. I’m just so pumped that I get the opportunity to get to do it,” Burton said.
“There was obviously a bit of thought there (going into the game), getting a lot of messages and I (said), ‘Don’t know what’s going on here. I didn’t hear anything.’
“But after the game when Freddy told me, I was in shock and can’t believe it still. I can’t wait.”
Former Queensland firebrand Gorden Tallis expressed shock that Burton was named ahead of dumped centre Kotoni Staggs.
“If I got caught out on an edge and there’s Kotoni Staggs in front of me or Matt Burton, I would dread having Kotoni Staggs,” Tallis told Triple M.
Several fascinating selections included:
* Roosters hitman Victor Radley being named in an extended squad after cruelly missing selection several times in recent years through injury.
* Cronulla powerhouse Siosifa Talakai being chosen on the bench to make his NSW debut, reward for a series of barnstorming performances this season.
* Penrith’s Api Koroisau selected as a bench player but could start the game.
* Panthers’ star Stephen Crichton becoming a starting centre after coming off the bench in Origin I.
* Manly’s Jake Trbojevic being recalled to tighten up NSW through the middle with Roosters edge forward Angus Crichton winning a spot after being overlooked for Origin I.
* Eels co-captain Clint Gutherson and North Queensland’s Jordan McLean included as reserves.
Radley’s inclusion was a surprise given he missed Origin I with an ankle injury and hasn’t played since round ten in mid-May. He wasn’t due back until round 19.
Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Ryan Matterson were dropped along with the Dragons forward Tariq Sims.
Talakai said: “To get this opportunity means the world to me, it’s massive.”
Trbojevic claimed selection was a “privilege” while Radley claimed to be “stoked.”
“His (Jake Trbojevic) last four to six weeks have been fantastic. Everyone sees it in his face, in his actions with everything he does. He just works so hard for his team. (Jason) Taumalolo put a bit of a target on him and tried to get to him. For 70 minutes they were the dominant team and he has a lot to do with that. He takes a lot of hits for him in the middle, his defence is outstanding. It was another tireless effort by Jake,” Fittler said on the Sunday Footy Show.
After reviewing NSW’s team changes, Queensland great Steve Renouf cheekily posted on social media: “Is that what they call panic stations?’
Blues players started arriving in camp on Sunday night before flying to Perth on Monday. Seven Penrith players were chosen.
Dogs duo’s big audition to net Blues spots
Canterbury strike weapons Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr have 80 minutes to prove they are ready to help NSW save the State of Origin series.
The Canterbury duo are the focus of serious discussion by NSW selectors, who want to see the pair produce a standout performance against Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
NSW coach Brad Fittler will name his game two side on Sunday night ahead of a series-deciding Origin II clash against Queensland in seven days at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Burton has rocketed into contention to claim the Blues left-centre position due to the Covid unavailability of Jack Wighton, NSW’s best player in Origin I.
Burton, with his booming left-foot kick and critically, his ability to shift from centre into the halves, should either Nathan Cleary or Jarome Luai go down with injury, is a major factor in why the Dogs pivot is narrowly in front of Broncos and Blues game one centre Kotoni Staggs.
In other major NSW team news, News Corp can reveal:
* Blues selectors are weighing up recalling speedster Addo-Carr after he was controversially overlooked for Daniel Tupou for Origin I;
* Manly workhorse Jake Trbojevic will be rushed back into the side after missing game one;
* Cronulla wrecking-ball Siosifa Talakai, with his asset of being able to play centre, backrow or middle forward, is putting pressure on selectors to be chosen;
* Game one forwards Ryan Matterson and Regan Campbell-Gillard are facing the axe;
* Penrith’s Api Koroisau is being discussed as a bench option and extra point of attack;
* Lethal Panthers outside back Stephen Crichton will move from the bench in game one to start at right centre;
* Roosters forward Angus Crichton, Newcastle hardman Tyson Frizell and hard-running Dragon Tariq Sims are in a three-way battle to be selected.
Additionally, tireless Sharks forward Cameron McInnes has been discussed as a bolter, while South Sydney captain Cameron Murray will come into the starting back row after being benched in Origin I.
The Blues are faced with the tough call of dropping Staggs for Burton and likewise, Tupou for Addo-Carr.
However, there is a belief within the Blues camp that with the series on the line, Burton and Addo-Carr will give the team genuine X-factor to test a confident Maroons side.
Former NSW coach Phil Gould, who regularly talks to Fittler, called for Burton to be chosen ahead of Origin I.
“Don’t write Matt Burton off as an Origin prospect there for NSW to play in the centres,’’ Gould said. “He was the Dally M Centre of the Year last year, and Burton and Crichton have great combinations with the Penrith halves, in (Nathan) Cleary and (Jarome) Luai.’’
Searching for NSW players with genuine punch and the ability to change the game from the bench, Fittler confirmed Talakai was in his sights.
“Talakai, absolutely,’’ Fittler said on Nine, when asked if the Sharks wrecking-ball was a chance of being chosen.
“The beauty of Talakai is he’s a backrow playing centre and doing a great job of it.
“At the start of the season he was in the middle of the field, so we took that into consideration ahead of the first game.”
Talakai has made an impassioned plea to Fittler to hand him an Origin debut.
The Sharks utility had left Fittler with little doubt about his hopes of being picked in the NSW squad on Sunday night.
He has already been selected to play for Tonga but Talakai is craving a NSW jersey.
“I am going to call Freddy (Fittler) out,” Talakai said. “You know my number. Give me a call.
Before I’m Tongan I am Australian. I was born and bred here. To put on a Blues jersey it would mean the world.”
Just 12 months ago Talakai and Cameron McInnes were fighting for their respective careers. Now they are battling for a NSW Origin jersey.
McInness was sidelined because of a knee reconstruction, which put an end to his 2021 campaign, while Talakai was a bit-part bench player still trying to cement himself as an NRL player. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon and the pair will face an anxious wait to see if they can play their first Origin match.
The pair are locked in a battle alongside Penrith hooker Api Koroisau for the NSW utility spot. The Sharks duo offer their own versatility.
Talakai, at his best, is a wrecking ball who can change the game. His ability to play centre, backrow or in the middle is an added advantage.
McInnes can provide cover for hooker Damien Cook while also slotting into the middle or edge in the forward pack.
McInnes’ grit and toughness has had him on the cusp of Origin in recent years – first as 18th man in 2019 and part of the extended squad a year later.
Both players had limited first-half chances against the Titans on Saturday. McInnes played the opening 32 minutes before being replaced. He returned to play the final 18 minutes. Talakai failed to produce his trademark bursts with the ball but still ran for more than 150 metres.
Fittler has confirmed Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell, hampered by hamstring, knee and Covid-related setbacks, won’t be considered.
“Latrell is unavailable,” the Blues coach said. “Speaking to South Sydney earlier in the week, given he’d just come back from America and when he got back to Australia he had COVID-19 as well, so I believe he was pretty knocked around.
“He’s only had one proper session, so Latrell won’t be available.”
The Blues are short on genuine big men to select compared to a huge Queensland pack.
It will lead NSW towards picking either Crichton, Frizell or Sims to play as a middle forward, as opposed to their regular position, as an edge backrower.
NSW captain James Tedesco said he was confident that the Blues wouldn’t need mass changes to save the series.
“Freddy (Fittler) asks me for advice here and there (on team selection),’’ Tedesco said.
“After a loss people are keen to make changes but I don’t know if that’s what will fix it.
“I feel like we had a strong team in game one.
“Queensland nailed their moments and we didn’t.
“I feel like we didn’t play our best footy and we were close.
“The ruck speed was a factor and that’s why people questioned our halves but we didn’t have the time and space Queensland did.
“I’m very confident we can get the job done.’’
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Originally published as State of Origin 2022, Game II: NSW Blues team confirmed, Damien Cook benched
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