State of Origin 2016: Laurie Daley’s loyalty should be applauded

THE Blues have made just one change for Origin II but Laurie Daley’s loyalty should be applauded says Phil Rothfield.

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YOU’VE got to admire the unwavering loyalty of Blues State of Origin coach Laurie Daley.

With the series on the line at Suncorp Stadium, most coaches in his position would be looking for an injection of new blood. Especially after game one.

Maybe Tom Trbojevic for Blake Ferguson. Maybe Bryce Cartwright or Jack Bird for Dylan Walker. Or maybe even James Tedesco at fullback and Matt Moylan on the bench.

Matt Moylan has been retained for the Blues.

All of the above options could have provided more attack and more points.

But Daley likes to pick and stick. It’s the way Queensland have done it since 1980, ignoring club form.

His stance is understandable in one respect.

The Blues lacked cohesion and structure at Homebush two weeks ago.

They had more opportunities than the Maroons but couldn’t convert better field position into points.

It’s because we had so many changes and new faces. Halves playing together for the first time and a fullback on Origin debut.

Dylan Walker has been retained for Origin II.

The team had only four or five training sessions while their opponents had been together in training camps for years.

It will make the preparation for Brisbane so much smoother this time for NSW.

Wade Graham is the only debutant. And doesn’t he deserve his position as Boyd Cordner’s replacement for what he has produced on Cronulla’s left edge all year.

He is a far better attacking option than Beau Scott, who some critics incorrectly tipped would make the team.

Of all the players to miss out, Jack Bird is probably the unluckiest.

Jack Bird at Cronulla Sharks training. He’s been unlucky to miss out on Origin selection. Picture: Mark Evans

Only that Walker got the opportunity to play that brilliant first half against Penrith and that the team was named before Bird ran out for the Sharks against the Cowboys on Monday.

At least Bird and Cartwright were included in an extended squad as development players, rather than missing out altogether.

Still this Blues team announced on Monday night is not out of it.

If they can play a bit more adventurous, if they can give Andrew Fifita more game time and if they can catch the Maroons on an off night, we will level the series.

FULL BLUES SQUAD FOR GAME TWO:

1 Matt Moylan (1 Origins), 2 Blake Ferguson (2), 3 Michael Jennings (16), 4 Josh Morris (14), 5 Josh Mansour (1), 6 James Maloney (1), 7 Adam Reynolds (1), 8 Aaron Woods (9), 9 Robbie Farah (14), 10 Paul Gallen (20), 11 Wade Graham (0), 12 Josh Jackson (4), 13 Greg Bird (17). Reserves: 14 Dylan Walker (1), 15 James Tamou (12), 16 David Klemmer (4), 17 Andrew Fifita (5), 18 Jack Bird (0)*, 19 Bryce Cartwright (0)*.

*Development players