Blues State of Origin team for game 3: Campbell Graham ruled out, Payne Haas in doubt
NSW coach Brad Fittler is expected to make big changes for State of Origin 3 – many of them forced as injuries and poor form bite the Blues.
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Injury concerns and poor form are threatening to derail Brad Fittler’s attempts to avoid a series whitewash with the NSW coach sweating on Payne Haas, while losing a star centre on the eve of team announcements.
The Blues’ backline was in disarray on Sunday night with South Sydney’s Campbell Graham ruled out of consideration for State of Origin III.
NSW were looking at Canterbury’s Matt Burton after Graham’s withdrawal but the Bulldog’s 66-0 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle would have left selectors second guessing the decision.
An 11th hour backflip on Burton could see Sharks powerhouse Siosifa Talakai called into the side instead.
Graham has been deemed ineligible for NSW due to ongoing issues related to a sternum injury. He missed the Rabbitohs win over the Warriors on Friday night.
The Rabbitohs centre was considered a certainty to replace Tom Trbojevic (pec) for the dead-rubber in Sydney on July 12.
“He’s ruled out. I don’t think he’ll be playing for a couple of weeks for the Bunnies. So Campbell won’t be considered,” coach Brad Fittler said on Channel Nine.
Stephen Crichton will hold down the other centre position.
The bad news didn’t stop there, Brisbane prop Haas is struggling with an ankle injury ahead of game three in Sydney at Accor Stadium
Early reports suggested Haas had suffered a hamstring injury on the weekend but Fittler was quick to quash that rumour.
Fittler revealed Haas had been playing with an ankle injury that he first suffered in Origin game one at Adelaide Oval.
“There will be a couple of changes, obviously Tom Trbojevic is out. There are rumours going around about Payne Haas and a hamstring injury and they are false. He’s got an ankle injury which he hurt during game one in Origin, so it will be interesting how he pulls up,” Fittler said.
Haas, a fixture in the Blues side, was certain to be named in the NSW team on Monday but his availability will now be determined after discussions with Broncos medical staff.
Penrith prop Spencer Leniu is close to earning an Origin debut while Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard will also come into contention. Behind them is Newcastle front rower Daniel Saifiti who also comes back into calculations.
Skipper James Tedesco, who had been under pressure to keep his No.1 jersey ahead of Penrith’s Dylan Edwards, will retain his place at the back on the back of a 235-metre performance, including one try and seven tackle busts, against Manly on Sunday night.
Fittler had wanted to see Tedesco regain the confidence that had abandoned the champion custodian in recent weeks.
Manly veteran Jake Trbojevic did his chances of a call-up no harm after getting through his first 80 minutes back from a calf injury unscathed. Trbojevic’s try-saving efforts on the goal line in the dying seconds of Sunday night’s clash against the Roosters were vital to his side’s victory.
Halfback Mitchell Moses is expected to keep his spot in the halves alongside Jarome Luai, who again is expected to beat Nicho Hynes and Cody Walker at five-eighth.
Cowboys hooker Reece Robson is set to keep his jumper after getting through 80 minutes on debut in Origin II.
The Blues will go into the dead rubber without halfback Nathan Cleary (hamstring), Latrell Mitchell (calf) and Tom Trbojevic (pec), who are all on the sidelines.
The NSWRL board will meet first thing on Monday morning to sign off on what could be Brad Fittler’s final team sheet as Blues coach.
Players are not expected to join the camp in Coogee until Tuesday morning.
NSW BLUES ORIGIN SAFETY RATINGS
- Michael Carayannis and David Riccio
NSW skipper James Tedesco is facing the biggest 80 minutes of his career with mounting pressure to retain his State of Origin jersey.
The Blues and Roosters captain arrives at Brookvale Oval to tackle Manly on Sunday afternoon under intense scrutiny and pressure to stave off Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards for the Blues no.1 position.
At this stage, he has the loyalty of NSW coach Brad Fittler to survive the axe.
However, another sub-par performance for the Roosters could lead to serious consideration that Tedesco be overlooked for game three in Sydney on July 12.
The Tedesco debate is a major talking point ahead of the Blues side being chosen on Monday.
Former NSW point-scoring machine Ryan Girdler says it’s time for Fittler to make the biggest call of his Origin coaching career due to the Blues repeated failure to make the most of their attacking opportunities in games one and two.
“We need to be rewarding people who deserve it,’’ Girdler told Triple M on Saturday.
“I’ve got Edwards at the back. I’d give him the opportunity, he’s been knocking down the door.
“21 Origins (for Tedesco), unbelievable career, he might come back next year, but for this game I believe that we need to see Dylan Edwards rewarded for the last couple of years.
“We’ve lost four of the last five games, so if not now, when?
“On the back of the opportunities that have been created, we haven’t been able to convert those opportunities, so if we don’t change things and we go in with the same game plan and same players, why are we going to expect a different result?
“I’d give someone else a crack in those key positions.’’
If Tedesco is picked he will go past ex-NSW skipper Danny Buderus’ record of 21 consecutive Origin appearances.
Despite Edward’s irresistible form the Blues hierarchy will only consider him for the fullback role - and won’t entertain picking him on the wing.
Tedesco’s club coach Trent Robinson said the decision was clear cut.
“There shouldn’t be a debate about the No.1 jersey for me,” Robinson said.
“I feel like he’s captain for a reason.
“You stick solid at the best of times and at the worst of times. That loyalty is a really key factor in being a team. That’s really important.
“And like Teddy’s talked about, we all want to be better at what we’re doing. We know there’s improvement in us and we want to do that really quickly.”
As the Blues attempt to avoid their first series whitewash in 13 years, The Sunday Telegraph can also reveal other major selections include South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi and Campbell Graham headline potential debutants alongside Penrith firebrand Spencer Leniu and a third Rabbitoh in prop Tevita Tatola.
Graham, who was rested on Friday night due to a sternum injury, is expected to be chosen to replace injured centre Tom Trbojevic.
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou confirmed Graham would be ready for the Blues if selected.
“There‘s nothing stopping him from playing if selected and that will be up to the selectors if they pick him,’’ Demetriou said.
Meanwhile, the Blues are torn on whether to name a third different halves pairing in as many games.
Mitchell Moses will retain the no.7 jersey however Jarome Luai is locked in a three-way battle with Cody Walker and Nicho Hynes.
Luai, who escaped with a fine after being charged by the match review committee on Saturday morning, is considered slightly ahead.
Selectors are also eager to assess the performance of Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr on Sunday before guaranteeing his spot.
Eels prop Junior Paulo is facing the axe with Jake Trbojevic expected to start.
Paulo, Addo-Carr, Luai, Hudson Young, Tyson Frizell and Stefano Utoikamanu are those under pressure to keep their spots.
NSW are toying with the idea of picking one hooker which would be Reece Robson provided he comes through unscathed on Saturday night.
That places Damien Cook’s spot in doubt. It would enable the Blues to select another middle forward with Leniu, Tatola and Reagan Campbell-Gillard to push for selection.
There is a push for Liam Martin and Cameron Murray to start in the backrow, while there is also a consideration that Isaah Yeo could even start at prop to accommodate Murray.
Frizell was outstanding in Origin I but had a quieter game two and is now under the microscope for selection in the final game.
He has his eye on selection ahead of Newcastle’s game against the Bulldogs on Sunday.
“I would love to be back in that arena,” Frizell said.
“I love Origin footy. It’s what I love to do. Forefront of my mind is (Sunday) afternoon (for the Knights).
“If I’m playing well enough and Freddy (Fittler) is keen to have me around I’ll put my hand up.”
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Originally published as Blues State of Origin team for game 3: Campbell Graham ruled out, Payne Haas in doubt
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