State of Origin 2021: Team selector, expert teams and people’s choice
The NSW selectors will reveal the team for Origin 1 on Sunday. Dean Ritchie reveals which players have the edge. Pick your team here.
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NSW is expected to switch champion Josh Addo-Carr back to his preferred left wing for this year’s State of Origin series with Penrith’s Brian To’o a slight favourite ahead of Parramatta’s Blake Ferguson to secure the right wing position.
The Blues picked two left wingers last year with the Sydney Roosters’ Daniel Tupou claiming the spot with Addo-Carr offering to swap to the right.
This series however, NSW looks certain to pick the superstar Addo-Carr on his preferred left side.
Pick your starting teams for SOO Game 1 in our interactive below!
That decision may result in the consistent Tupou missing out on selection but he remains in contention for a side that will be formally announced at 7pm on Sunday.
NSW, defeated 2-1 in last year’s series, has two candidates for the vacant right wing position – Ferguson and To’o.
Ferguson, a proven performer at Origin level, is a genuine right winger and To’o played right wing at Penrith last year, although he is on the left this season.
To’o, who has posted some amazing stats this season, is equally comfortable playing either left or right and is just ahead of Ferguson.
With his frontrunning Panthers playing last-placed Canterbury Saturday afternoon, To’o could just about nail down a spot with a powerful performance against the lowly Bulldogs, who are paying $21 to win the match with the TAB.
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With Roosters pair Victor Radley and Angus Crichton unavailable through suspension, NSW finds itself searching for edge forwards. Those candidates include Isaah Yeo, Tevita Pangai Jnr, Liam Martin, Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims.
Yeo appears certain of selection with Sims an outsider.
Canberra’s Jack Wighton remains ever so slightly ahead of Penrith’s Jarome Luai in the five-eighth battle.
Wighton’s form has been solid in a struggling Raiders side although NSW coach Brad Fittler must be tempted to partner Panthers stars Luai and Nathan Cleary in the NSW halves.
In the middle, the Blues will look to Daniel Saifiti, Jake Trbojevic Junior Paulo and maybe Yeo. Payne Hass appeared to be a certain selection but his injury on Thursday night opens the door for Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard to be considered.
South Sydney’s Cam Murray is expected to return for Saturday’s match against Souths should be selected, provided he comes through unscathed.
Manly’s Tom Trbojevic now looks set to be selected at centre, not on the wing, as had been suggested. Trbojevic was brilliant at centre in NSW’s 2019 series-winning side.
South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell appears set to make his return to State of Origin at centre with Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson unlikely to claim selection.
Roosters champion James Tedesco will be named as fullback and NSW skipper.
State or Origin I is still set down for the MCG on June 9 although the NRL is closely monitoring Melbourne’s Covid outbreak.
Pick your starting teams for SOO Game 1 and hit the “expert” tab to see who our team has selected.
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