NSW Blues team selection to be named ahead of State of Origin Game 3
NSW coach Brad Fittler mercilessly swung the axe with multiple stars being let go as the Blues look to avoid Origin humiliation.
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Brad Fittler is going all out ahead of the third and final State of Origin contest with the NSW Blues coach swinging major changes.
Down 0-2 in the series, Fittler swung the axe in ruthless fashion as five players were sent packing from the Blues squad.
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After losing Game 2, and the series, Fittler dropped Jarome Luai, Junior Paulo, Tyson Frizell, Hudson Young and Stefano Utoikamanu. Tom Trbojevic and Payne Haas will also miss Game 3 through injury.
The Blues recalled Cody Walker, Clint Gutherson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Jacob Saifiti, while Bradman Best and Keaon Koloamatangi will make their Origin debuts. Jake Trbojevic will also return after overcoming a calf injury.
12pm — Blues make it official
Brad Fittler has named his squad for the final game of the 2023 Origin series with mass changes being made.
The Blues are going all out in the hopes of claiming a win the dead-rubber to avoid the first series whitewash in 13 years.
The full 19-man Blues squad, along with the QLD Maroons squad, can be found at the bottom of this article.
11.40am — Maroons making changes for Game 3
Gold Coast Titans star AJ Brimson and Canberra Raiders enforcer Corey Horsburgh have made their way into the Maroons squad for Game 3.
10.40am - Eels star into the squad
Parramatta Eels star Clint Gutherson has made his way into the Blues squad according to The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio.
Bradman Best’s Newcastle Knights heroics have got him across the line after scoring a hat-trick of tries on Sunday.
Best will make his Origin debut with his Knights teammate Tyson Frizell cut from the Blues squad, The Daily Telegraph reported.
10.20am — Jarome Luai officially dropped
Penrith Panthers star Jarome Luai’s time in NSW Blues colours has come to an end with Brad Fittler axing him for Game 3.
Cody Walker’s shock recall to the team comes at the expense of Luai who stirred up controversy following a lacklustre outing during Game 2.
ORIGIN NEWS: Jarome Luai OUT of Origin III. Wasn’t sure if Cody Walker’s return was as a No. 6 or No. 14 — now we know
— christian nicolussi (@mrchrisnico) July 3, 2023
Big Spencer Leniu on extended bench for now
Damien Cook also stays IN
Luai faced endless calls to be removed from the Blues’ squad following game two, but was expected to retain his spot alongside Mitchell Moses.
He came under fire and quickly became public enemy No. 1 in Queensland when he stood over Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
But it was the 26-year-old’s social media activity that saw him pour fuel on the fire as the five-eighth hit back.
9.25am — Freddy swings the axe
Wests Tigers young gun Stefano Utoikamanu has been axed from the squad following his team’s nightmare outing on the weekend.
Utoikamanu only played 12 minutes during his Origin debut in Game 2.
Hudson Young became the big casualty to face the axe from the Blues coach after playing in the opening two games.
Young was among the Blues’ best in Game 2 but hasn’t been retained for the dead rubber.
9.15am — Fittler names shock Origin inclusion
South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker is set to earn a recall into the squad for the first time since 2020.
The Daily Telegraph reported the staggering news with Walker reportedly set to join teammate Keaon Koloamatangi in the squad for his Origin debut.
NSW Blues team:
1. James Tedesco (c)
2. Brian To’o
3. Stephen Crichton
4. Bradman Best
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cody Walker
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Jake Trbojevic
9. Damien Cook
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11. Liam Martin
12. Keaon Koloamatangi
13. Cameron Murray
14. Isaah Yeo
15. Jacob Saifiti
16. Reece Robson
17. Clint Gutherson
18. Scott Drinkwater
19. Spencer Leniu
QLD Maroons team:
1. AJ Brimson
2. Xavier Coates
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5. Murray Taulagi
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans (C)
8. Reuben Cotter
9. Harry Grant
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. David Fifita
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. Ben Hunt
15. Lindsay Collins
16. Moeaki Fotuaika
17. Corey Horsburgh
18. Tom Dearden
19. J’maine Hopgood
Originally published as NSW Blues team selection to be named ahead of State of Origin Game 3
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