Analysis: Selection moves that can save NSW Blues’ State of Origin future

With another State of Origin series gone, it’s time for the Blues to swing the selection axe in order to set up the future writes FATIMA KDOUH.

James Tedesco looks . Picture: Adam Head

Form over reputation, the future over recent history.

With the series gone for NSW, it’s time for coach Brad Fittler to go down swinging selection axe and all.

The reputation, and man of the match performances of the past, will earn skipper James Tedesco another call-up for game three in Sydney.

But if the Blues suffer a series clean sweep at the hands of Queensland, Fittler, or whoever the NSW’s coach might be next year, will be forced to re-examine Tedesco’s hold on the No.1 jumper.

The saying is “you can’t keep a champion down.”

And Tedesco is that champion.

The 30-year old could well discover, and sustain, his world beating form over the next 12 months.

But Penrith’s Dylan Edwards, who now has back-to-back premierships to his name, is also a champion — one that is being kept down.

Edwards has delivered at the same level as Tedesco at club land, and can no longer be ignored.

Could James Tedesco’s hold on the Blues No.1 jersey be coming to an end? Picture: Adam Head

The pectoral injury of Manly’s Tom Trbojevic will long be recovered by the time the next series rolls around but NSW selectors already have a number of career centres available for selection that should be part of the equation, both for game three and into the future.

The move to bring Campbell Graham, or even Kotoni Staggs, into the side should be an easy one for game three given Trbojevic’s injury.

But of course it won’t be, because South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell will be back if he has overcome a calf injury that has robbed him from games one and two of the series.

Centre Stephen Crichton, who was called in to replace Mitchell on both occasions, has done a commendable job and deserves to keep his place in the side.

In a well-beaten outfit, halfback Mitchell Moses was one of the best for the Blues at Suncorp Stadium.

There are few jobs in the game more cutthroat than that of a NSW Blues halfback.

So, naturally, there will be calls to axe Moses or even his halves partner Jarome Luai.

Moses looked dangerous, particularly, in the first half when running the ball and tried hard all game.

Jarome Luai faces an uncertain Blues future. Picture: Getty Images

Options for Fittler at No.6 include Canterbury’s Matt Burton, who was 18th man, and Dally M medallist Nicho Hynes.

Even if Hynes doesn’t start in the halves, the injury to Trbojevic, which forced hooker Damien Cook to play at centre for 77 minutes, is a solid case for the versatile Sharks playmaker to earn a recall for game three.

For the second consecutive game, Fittler has had Cameron Murray, one of his best energy, and tenacious, players warming the bench again.

The Rabbitohs lock must start in game three.

So too Liam Martin. The Penrith backrower packs a punch and in the opening exchanges that energy injection would be a shot in the arm for the Blues.

South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi has been viewed as a future mainstay in the Blues pack.

The future is now for the big, aggressive forward that like Payne Haas, has a huge motor and can punch out big minutes in the middle, as well as the edge.