State of Origin 2016: NSW’s James Tamou has 80 minutes to show desire for Blues jersey

PENRITH’S $3 million recruit James Tamou has 80-minutes to show NSW coach Laurie Daley how much the Blues jersey means to him.

PENRITH’S $3 million recruit James Tamou has 80-minutes to show NSW coach Laurie Daley how much the Blues jersey means to him.

After a fortnight of vigorous debate, opinion and sweeping comment, Daley will select his NSW Origin side for game three at 11.40am on Monday, which he believes can avoid the first Queensland clean-sweep since 2010.

The Sunday Telegraph has learned Daley is settled, or very close to finalising, a number of issues including:

* Relegating either Tamou, experienced NSW and Gold Coast forward Greg Bird or Cronulla metre-eater Andrew Fifita for Origin III on July 13 at ANZ Stadium.

* Picking Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco on the wing for NSW incumbent Blake Ferguson

* Both hooker Robbie Farah and NSW captain Paul Gallen will be chosen, should they avoid injury or suspension this weekend.

* Manly’s Dylan Walker is at risk of being usurped by St George Illawarra rival Josh Dugan.

James Tamou knows his Blues jersey is under threat.

Outstanding on debut in the Blues heartbreaking series-sealing loss in Brisbane, Dragons forward Tyson Frizell is also a certain selection.

Cronulla forward Wade Graham is also in the mix to make his long-awaited Origin debut following his ill-timed suspension from game two.

Despite a heavy media push, the defensive deficiencies of Penrith rising star Bryce Cartwright remains a major concern for Blues officials.

However, it’s understood Daley is working hard on his team dynamics and bench rotation in a bid to fit Cartwright into the final 17.

After agreeing to leave North Queensland for Penrith on a four-year deal from next season in the lead-up to Origin II, Tamou managed just four runs for 34-metres in the Blues gut-wrenching defeat.

Bryce Cartwright’s defensive frailties remain a concern for NSW.

He has Sunday’s Cowboys clash with South Sydney in Cairns to prove his strength and power is still up to the standards of Origin level.

Suggestions that the final Origin series encounter in Sydney means little doesn’t sit well with Daley, who is attempting to avoid becoming the first NSW coach since Craig Bellamy to lose an Origin series 3-0 nil.

“There’s a lot of good young guys out there and some of them will get an opportunity,’’ Daley told Triple M on Saturday. “For us, it’s about seeing what they’ve got.

“There’s certainly no such thing as a dead-rubber. There’s plenty to play for, we certainly don’t want to be beaten 3-0 nil.

“We’ve been very competitive in games one and two and quite possibly could’ve won one of those games. But unfortunately while the series is over we’ve still got plenty to play for and we’ll be preparing the team exactly that way.

“Hopefully we can produce a victory for our supporters.

Originally published as State of Origin 2016: NSW’s James Tamou has 80 minutes to show desire for Blues jersey