Brad Fittler selects five debutants - and the odd couple he hopes to deliver State of Origin glory

NSW coach Brad Fittler has unveiled his side for the 2019 State of Origin opener, featuring five debutants and an odd pairing he hopes can deliver a series win. CHECK OUT THE FULL TEAM

Brad Fittler during the NSW Emerging Blues training session at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence at Homebush. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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The hopes of a state rest with an under-pressure 21-year-old and a 29-year-old debutant who hadn’t even broken into the NRL four years ago.

NSW coach Brad Fittler last night named his highly anticipated 17-man squad that will face Queensland in State of Origin I on June 5 looking to become the first Blues team since 2005 to win back-to-back series.

Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary and South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker will form the unlikely halves combination charged with leading the Blues, with Fittler admitting anything but a series victory would be considered a “failure”.

Brad Fittler’s NSW team features five debutants.

Cleary, 21, was selected despite having a modest season in an underperforming Panthers side. Walker, 29, was rushed in after Sydney Roosters five-eight Luke Keary was heavily concussed against Newcastle on Friday night and ruled out.

The NSW team will include:

●FIVE debutants in Walker, Canberra duo Nick Cotric and Jack Wighton, Brisbane’s Payne Haas and South Sydney’s Cameron Murray;
●CRONULLA’S Josh Morris claiming the right centre spot at age 32;

●COTRIC being named on the wing ahead of Blake Ferguson and Daniel Tupou;

●ADAM Reynolds being cleared of a fractured fibula only to be overlooked as halfback for Cleary, while Newcastle’s Mitchell Pearce is injured; and

●ST George Illawarra forward Tyson Frizell being named despite being concussed after a sickening head clash with Cronulla’s Josh Dugan yesterday in Wollongong.

Nathan Cleary retains his spot in the side. Picture: Cameron Spencer

Walker, on debut, and Cleary, in his second year of Origin, have just 10 days to build their combination before facing a ferocious Suncorp Stadium crowd in Brisbane.

Fittler could have played it safe by choosing Cleary with Penrith teammate James Maloney, or gone with Walker alongside Souths halves partner Adam Reynolds.

Instead, Fittler has taken a gamble, insisting “Anything other than a win would be a failure”.

Asked how he would solidify the Cleary-Walker combination so quickly, Fittler said: “They’re going to have to. Naturally one player (Cleary) defends on the right, Cody defends on the left, that helps.

“Other than that, they are both really good footballers and you can tell they are really passionate about football. They love the game.

Nick Cotric will make his Origin debut for the Blues. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“I definitely wanted to pick Nathan. I wanted to pick all the team from last year but that doesn’t seem to be the case. It was hard not to look at the Souths combination and how well they have been playing.

“I spoke to Nathan last week and we spoke about what he is playing under at the moment. I spoke to his Dad (Panthers coach Ivan), I’m good friends with his dad, obviously. Any chance I get to pick him in a footy team, I’m glad.

“What Nathan did on Thursday night (against Parramatta) was awesome considering what Penrith are going through. The cards fell the way they did and Nathan got the shot. Nathan’s game is all based on effort — he tries so hard.”

Pressed on Walker, Fittler said: “We have been speaking about Cody for a long time. You’d be blind if you didn’t see the sort of form he is in and what he can do at the moment. We have a couple of days to work out how we’re going to play. That will be a fun part of the camp.

Cody Walker is one of five NSW debutants. Picture: AAP

“I have some good friends at South Sydney, I spoke to some blokes here. They all give Cody compliments and say he is one of the leaders at the club. He is someone they go to for advice.

“He looks pretty calm on the field. I also like that he’s aggressive — he doesn’t mind mixing it up. That is something he is going to need up at Suncorp Stadium.”

The Blues will field five debutants — Walker, Canberra winger Nick Cotric, while young Brisbane forward Payne Haas, Raiders utility Jack Wighton and Rabbitohs lock Cameron Murray were named on the bench.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Tom Trbojevic, Tyrone Peachey, Tariq Sims, Jack de Belin, James Roberts and Maloney were either dropped, suspended or unavailable through injury from the NSW side that contested game three last year.

Brad Fittler opted for changes as a result of a big chunk of last year’s squad either being unavailable or out of form. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The starting pack is identical to that which finished last year’s series.

Fittler opted for Walker, whose form this season in the table-topping Rabbitohs has been irresistible.

“The injury to Luke Keary threw things sideways for a little bit,” admitted NSW adviser, Greg Alexander. “(But) Cody Walker has been the hottest player in the comp this year.”

Morris last played for NSW back in 2016 — and retired from rep footy in 2017 — but was called up through a dearth of available right centres. Wests Tigers utility Ryan Matterson was considered but overlooked, as was Maloney.

At 19, Haas weighs 119kg and stands 194cm. He has played just ten NRL games and is poised to set Origin I alight with his power, presence and potential.

“He has been incredible this year,” Fittler said.

Cotric is the other NSW winger despite having played the past two games at centre with Canberra having to cover the loss of injured Joey Leilua. Raiders teammate Jack Wighton has utility value and toughness.

The Blues entered camp in Bondi last night. and will front the media at 9.15am today, with Queensland to announce their side this morning.

NSW TEAM FOR STATE OF ORIGIN GAME ONE

1. James Tedesco (Roosters)

2. Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)

3. Latrell Mitchell (Roosters)

4. Josh Morris (Sharks)

5. Nick Cotric (Raiders)

6. Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

7. Nathan Cleary (Penrith)

8. Dave Klemmer (Knights)

9. Damien Cook (Rabbitohs)

10. Paul Vaughan (Dragons)

11. Boyd Cordner (Roosters)

12. Tyson Frizell (Dragons)

13. Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)

Interchange

14. Cameron Murray (Raiders)

15. Jack Wighton (Raiders)

16. Payne Haas (Broncos)

17. Angus Crichton (Roosters)

* State of Origin Game One will be played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, June 5

Originally published as Brad Fittler selects five debutants - and the odd couple he hopes to deliver State of Origin glory