Contenders to replace David Klemmer in NSW for State of Origin II
The Blues have lost their most important middle forward ahead of the game they have to win to keep the Origin series alive. Here’s who could be in line to replace David Klemmer for Origin II.
LATE MAIL: Who backs up from Origin I?
David Klemmer’s wrist injury is a serious blow for NSW, who have lost their most-intimidating yardage man and their most experienced forward in one ill-timed swoop.
With the Blues already coming under fire for their lack of forward grunt once Klemmer left the field in Wednesday’s defeat to Queensland. landing on the right replacement is essential for Brad Fittler and his brains trust.
Here’s some of the contenders to come into the Blues side for Origin II as the reigning Origin champs attempt to salvage their title.
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Jordan McLean
The incumbent Australian front-rower has played eight Tests but is yet to pull on the sky blue jersey. Experienced at the game’s highest levels, McLean has played in two grand finals with Melbourne and appeared in Australia’s successful World Cup campaign in 2017.
After an injury-riddled first year with the Cowboys in 2018, which likely robbed him of an Origin debut, McLean has been in fine touch this season, posting career best numbers in terms of average minutes (56), runs (14) and metres gained (133) per game while also offloading more and breaking more tackles.
He’s equal third in the league among props for metres gained, level with Sio Suia Taukeiaho and behind just Klemmer and Taupau, fourth for total runs and sixth in total tackles made. McLean should have come into calculations regardless of Klemmer’s injury after the Blues were monstered in the middle at stages of Origin I — now he must be close to a certainty.
Matt Lodge
The Broncos prop would be a controversial choice due to his off-field history but his form since returning to rugby league has been strong. Lodge isn’t a metre-eater in the Klemmer mould but he’s smart with the ball and has a fine work rate.
Given he’s been a part of Fittler’s Emerging Blues camps in the past it seems as though he’s well and truly in the frame and he’s currently in good form, averaging a career high 143 metres per game for Brisbane.
Junior Paulo
The forgotten man in many Origin discussions, Paulo can replicate Klemmer’s physicality and aggression as well as provide the Blues with spark up the middle via his quality offload game. Parramatta’s big man is churning out 106 metres per game from 11.6 carries and his 25 offloads are good for fourth in the league.
There’s a perception Paulo can’t play long minutes — even though he averages more than 50 per game for Parramatta — but given Fittler likes using his bench forwards for such long stints Paulo could be the perfect shock troop.
Dale Finucane
Too often forgotten in Origin calculations, Finucane’s rugged, hard-nosed style seems well suited to the interstate arena. An excellent defender, Finucane is not known as a massive yardage man, although he can hold his own in that regard, topping 100 metres in eight of his 11 games this season.
Finucane was Melbourne’s best player in last year’s grand final and boasts plenty of big game experience. Be it at lock (with Jake Trbojevic moving to prop) or upfront himself he wouldn’t let anyone down.
Matt Prior
After bolting from nowhere to make a brief cameo in Origin II last year Prior may now be in the frame to add to his single cap. He was used in unusual fashion by Fittler last year, playing the opening 20 minutes of Origin II and not returning and is more known for his strong defence than anything he does with the ball.
Prior has only passed 100 metres gained in three of his 11 games this season and would struggle to replicate Klemmer’s attacking impact. No doubt he’ll be considered but there are stronger candidates.
James Tamou
Did you know James Tamou played 14 Origin matches? Fourteen! That’s a lot! That’s more than Ben Kennedy, more than Peter Sterling, more than Brad Clyde, more than Dean Pay, more than Steve Mortimer, more than Greg Alexander. The last of those matches came in 2016, when he came off the bench in the Blues’ dead-rubber victory and Tamou has never really entered discussions since.
But the Penrith skipper is playing his best football in years, averaging 116 metres per game (his best mark since he was a Cowboy) while his 32.1 average tackles and 53 average minutes are both career highs and he’s held his place in the starting side while Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who seems unlikely to enter contention, has slipped down the pecking order. Given Fittler’s focus on youth a Tamou recall is unlikely but if the Blues want an experienced option he’s available.
WHAT WILL FREDDY DO?
Much of Fittler’s decision will be informed by the rest of the changes he wishes to make and he even has the option to shift things internally. Could Jake Trbojevic push to prop with Cam Murray starting at lock?
Or perhaps Trbojevic moves up front, Tyson Frizell to lock and Angus Crichton starts, assuming the Roosters man survives the axe himself?
Or maybe Fittler throws caution right into the wind and starts Payne Haas, opening a spot on the bench for one of the above contenders?
Who can say. There is still a long way to go until Origin II in Perth but as it stands McLean is the best option as a like-for-like replacement for Klemmer given his excellent recent form and his big-match experience.
Lodge should be current front-runner for a bench spot but Paulo should not be far behind.
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