State of Origin 2022: Why Brian To’o thought he would be axed from Blues team
Reeling from Josh Addo-Carr’s shock Blues snub, winger Brian To’o reveals he thought he was set for the same fate.
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NSW winger Brian To’o feared being bounced out of the NSW side due his size – before inventing a simple yet sure-fire method to counter his giant Queensland opponents.
The diminutive To’o joined his new wing partner, 196cm Daniel Tupou, in NSW camp on Monday, the pair discussing how to nullify Queensland’s jumbo wingers, Selwyn Cobbo (191cm) and Xavier Coates (194cm).
Officially, Penrith state To’o stands 182cm but his teammates reckon he is closer to 172cm - the NRL’s smallest winger.
When together, To’o and Tupou look like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in the 1988 movie, Twins.
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Asked how he would cancel-out either Coates or Cobbo, To’o said: “I will just try and tighten the glutes and get up there. That’s the way to do it, squeeze the glutes and hope for the best.”
Tupou added: “It will be an awesome challenge for both us. I’m sure they have some (decent) sized wingers too so it will be a great competition.
“I have a lot of confidence in Brian. He will do whatever he can to stop the ball from getting across the try line. Brian is a really gifted player.”
To’o reclaimed his wing spot despite fellow NSW winger Josh Addo-Carr being dropped for being too tiny, albeit he stands one centimetre taller than To’o, who says his size is often discussed.
“I get that a lot, not being tall for a winger,” To’o said. “You’ve got to be tall to be a winger and be good up in the air. I wasn’t sure who Freddie was going to choose or whether I was going to be in the squad or not.
“‘Tupes’ is someone who really inspires me as a winger and being my size, I try to do my best and be like him by going for those high balls. I just try and compete.
“Daniel is probably my favourite Tongan player. When I was coming up through the ranks, he was probably the winger I looked up to. When I played my first game against him, he is so tall and he picked me up like a little baby.
“If I was chosen, then I was chosen, but, if not, it is what it is. It is another year of being grateful and playing for the Blues once again. It’s pretty special.”
Tupou didn’t seem overly concerned when asked about being terrorised under the high ball from Queensland kickers Cam Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans.
“I haven’t really thought about it (Queensland going aerial) but come Wednesday, I will do whatever I have to do. I’m sure they have some (decent) sized wingers too so it will be a great competition. I have my own traits,” Tupou said.
“I was surprised (about selection) but obviously grateful for the opportunity and just happy to be amongst the great crew here. Obviously Freddie (Brad Fittler) sees something in me and I will utilise this opportunity.
“I’m inspired by the way Brian plays and it will be a great opportunity to play alongside him for the first time.”
To’o said he felt disappointed by Addo-Carr’s demise.
“Given how well Fox had done for the Blues team, it’s obviously unlucky,” To’o said. “Whatever Freddie chooses, I’m pretty sure Fox is happy with that, I guess.”
Just last week, former Blues champion Ryan Girdler said: “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.”
Meet the future of the NSW Blues
Here they are - Generation-Next for the NSW Blues.
While three of this exciting young group won’t play Origin I on Wednesday week, Blues coach Brad Fittler has clearly shown who he thinks will lead NSW into the next era.
On Sunday night, Fittler named a 22-man squad which included six players yet to play State of Origin – Joseph Suaalii, Ryan Matterson, Stephen Crichton, Kotoni Staggs, Jacob Saifiti and Nicho Hynes.
By Monday afternoon, Suaalii and Saifiti were told they wouldn’t be included in the final squad – they will remain in camp for the remainder of this week – with Hynes the 18th man.
Matterson, Staggs and Crichton will all debut. Staggs has nailed down a starting centre spot with Crichton and Matterson to come off the bench.
Parramatta’s Matterson was thrilled to be in camp and is now ready to confront Queensland.
“It’s funny – I feel very chilled, grounded and blessed to be here,” Matterson said.
“Just looking around at the boys, and the quality of players that I’ve got around me at the moment, it’s pretty surreal.
“I will just enjoy the week and hopefully when I get that chance I will be ready to rock ‘n roll.”
Suaalii was pumped to enter camp at Coogee.
“I’ve been blessed enough for the opportunity to come into camp and train with the Origin boys,” Suaalii said.
“You’ve got the best players in the game here so, for me, it’s about learning off all the players and picking up what they do. It will be an amazing experience.
“Ever since I was a kid, you always wanted to be in one of these camps, and hopefully one day I can pull that Origin jersey on.
“You watch these players on TV every week.
“I see this as an opportunity to learn from all these players. Everyone has been nice here, it’s so good.”
Saifiti looked around the team room on Sunday when he entered camp and was left gobsmacked.
“It’s so surreal, I’m so surprised, I’m more surprised than anyone. I wandered into the room last night and looked around – I was across from ‘Teddy’ (James Tedesco) and Nathan Cleary,” he said.
“It’s just a shock, really. They (the NSW coaching staff) obviously see something in me that I haven’t seen this year. I haven’t been playing the best footy. It gives me confidence that they see something in me.
“It hasn’t been the best start to the year (with Newcastle) so being picked in this makes it a little bit sweeter.”
Blues reveal State of Origin I squad
- Dean Ritchie, Phil Rothfield and Peter Badel
In a State of Origin bombshell, Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has been dumped from the NSW team – because he is too short.
Fearing an aerial raid via Queensland’s jumbo wingers Selwyn Cobbo and Xavier Coates, the Blues coaching staff made the stunning decision to overlook Addo-Carr by naming rangy Roosters winger Daniel Tupou.
NSW coach Brad Fittler announced on Sunday night his extended 22-man squad to play Queensland on Wednesday week at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park.
The Daily Telegraph revealed NSW’s concerns over the height of Queensland two giant-sized wingers – Cobbo (191cm) and Coates (194cm) – just last week. NSW’s coaching staff felt their side couldn’t carry two small wingers given Penrith’s Brian To’o stands just 182cm.
Given his power and run metres were irresistible, To’o was included with Addo-Carr omitted, despite being a staple of the NSW team for the past four years.
Addo-Carr’s quest for another Origin cap wasn’t helped by the poor form of his club side, Canterbury, who lost a 10th game this year with defeat against St George Illawarra at Belmore on Sunday afternoon.
Tupou, known colloquially as the Giraffe, stands a whopping 196cms with NSW hoping he can counter Coates or Cobbo. The Fox has been dumped for a Giraffe.
In a day of selection drama, NSW:
* Named Newcastle prop Jacob Saifiti yet left out Manly forward Jake Trbojevic and Sydney Roosters edge forward Angus Crichton.
* Gave starting debuts to new centre pairing Stephen Crichton and Kotoni Staggs.
* Included 18-year-old Roosters sensation Joseph Suaalii in their extended squad.
* Gave the Panthers a seven-player representation – To’o, Crichton, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Nathan Cleary, Api Koroisau and Jarome Luai.
* Is expected to name Canberra’s Jack Wighton as 14th man with Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes the 18th man.
* Chose Parramatta forwards Ryan Matterson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
* Named three debutants in the top 17 – Crichton, Staggs and Matterson. In all, there are six debutants in the 22-man squad with Hynes, Suaalii and Saifiti also named but expected to be reserves.
The exclusion of Addo-Carr is a shock given his lofty standing in the game. A surprised Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton said: “Fox has been a standout for us this year, on and off the field.”
Just last week, Addo-Carr pleaded with Fittler to be selected, saying: “Hopefully I get the call-up, I feel like I’ve been consistent at the Bulldogs and that’s what I pride myself on.”
Tupou has enjoyed a stellar season, scoring eight tries in his 11 club games and running for an average of 155 metres a match. He has also made 11 line breaks and is averaging 3.5 tackle busts per game.
“I’m surprised people would be surprised. He (Tupou) has pretty much been the best winger for a number of years,” NSW coach Brad Fittler told 9. “He is always on my radar.”
Trbojevic can consider himself unlucky while Saifiti can be classified as the Blues’ ‘bolter’. While Suaalii is unlikely to play Origin I, NSW wanted to give the gun youngster invaluable experience in such an elite environment.
Veteran Blues forwards Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims also claimed selection in the top 17. Fullback James Tedesco will again captain NSW, who will start $1.52 favourites with Queensland the $2.55 outsiders, according to TAB.
NSW players started entering camp at the Crowne Plaza, Coogee, on Sunday evening.
“It’s exciting,” Cleary said.
The extra NSW players are expected to return to their clubs later this week.
Blues players will break from camp on Friday before returning on Sunday at the Novotel, Sydney Olympic Park, to begin finals preparations. Queensland will formally name its squad on Monday morning.
STAGGS CLINCHES BLUES DEBUT
— Peter Badel
Kotoni Staggs’ two years of Origin heartache is over with the Broncos’ strike weapon finally clinching his maiden NSW jumper for the series opener on Wednesday week.
Injuries to NSW’s incumbent centre pairing Latrell Mitchell (hamstring) and Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) has opened the door for Staggs to partner Penrith ace Stephen Crichton in Origin I at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
Staggs’ call-up for his sky-blue debut is the icing on a fine comeback from the powerhouse centre, who has produced some destructive moments this season amid the Broncos’ charge into finals contention.
The Wellington-born Staggs was touted as NSW’s next big thing at centre in 2020, only to suffer an ACL tear which forced him to undergo a knee reconstruction, wiping him out of contention for the 2021 series.
But the 23-year-old has overcome his nine-month rehabilitation ordeal to hit back this season, with Staggs rocketing into the NSW selection frame when he dominated Sharks rival Siosifa Talakai in Brisbane’s 16-7 upset last month.
NSW coach Brad Fittler was already on the lookout for one centre after Mitchell went down and when Trbojevic suffered a season-ending breakdown last week, Staggs was tantalisingly within reach of a sky-blue jumper.
NSW BLUES SELECTOR: PICK YOUR TEAM
Now the Broncos’ ace Origin dream is complete, with Staggs to join forces with Crichton in what shapes as a formidable Plan B centre alliance for the Blues.
After a slow opening month, Staggs has recaptured his peak attacking form. He has three tries from 12 games this year with seven line breaks, two try assists and a whopping 57 tackle busts, including 22 in back-to-back games against the Roosters and Penrith.
A fortnight ago, Staggs told News Corp he would appreciate a NSW debut more given the trauma of his knee reconstruction and the battle to regain his confidence.
“I was pretty close to Origin before I did my knee,” he said.
“I didn’t plan on getting injured, I could have been there in a Blues jumper last year, but I took a step back and I learnt a lot about myself after the injury.
“I am in a better headspace and I feel I’m ready now for State of Origin. ‘Freddie’ (Fittler) has been good for me. I spoke to him earlier this year and he told me to go out and play in the way that got me to love the sport.
“I’m going out there having fun with my mates at the Broncos and backing myself.”
Staggs will be joined in Blues camp by Broncos teammate Payne Haas, who will be NSW’s front-row spearhead following the loss of Daniel Saifiti through injury.
Broncos halfback Reynolds played two games for the Blues in 2016 and is adamant the explosive Staggs is tailor made for the intensity of Origin football.
“It’s just his X-factor and the confidence he is playing with,” Reynolds said.
“As a player out there beside him you feel his presence. He just does the little things that make great players stand out.
“He is a powerful ball runner and defensively he is outstanding. Kotoni ticks all the boxes, he would be great in Origin.”
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