‘Blown away’: Matthew Johns can’t believe Josh Addo-Carr Origin II snub

NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler made seven changes to his squad and a host of other changes but couldn’t find a place for one of the state’s favourite sons.

Hard to believe Addo-Carr is fourth in line for NSW. Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images

NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has made a host of changes for State of Origin II but one star who still hasn’t got a look in is Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr.

Seven changes were made to the squad from Origin I with Matt Burton and Siosifa Talakai set to debut, Api Koroisau to play after being on the extended list in game one, Jake Trbojevic and Angus Crichton to come into the side and Jordan McLean, Clint Gutherson and Victor Radley coming into the squad.

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Before Origin I, the absence of Addo-Carr and Jake Trbojevic were the most glaring omissions, and while the Manly forward was brought in for game II, Addo-Carr was still nowhere to be seen.

It was believed that the reason for Addo-Carr to be overlooked was his height, as Queensland have 191cm Selwyn Cobbo, while the Cowboys’ 189cm winger Murray Taulagi will be brought in for the 194cm Xavier Coates.

Addo-Carr is a reported 183cm, compared to Daniel Tupou at 196cm.

The other winger and metre-eater Brian To’o stands at a reported 182cm tall.

While the bombing raid didn’t take place in game I, it’s an option that must be in the back of the mind for Fittler because Addo-Carr has put his best foot forward this season in a losing side.

Addo-Carr has 11 tries this year — equal fifth in the NRL — despite the Bulldogs’ dire season so far, as the club sits 13th on the NRL ladder and eight points out of the top eight.

He also sits equal third in tackle breaks with 77, behind only Blues captain James Tedesco (91) and the Titans’ Greg Marzhew (78), and alongside the Dragons’ Moses Suli and fourth in line breaks on 13.

Josh Addo-Carr was snubbed yet again. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

But there was no spot for the Bulldogs star despite the mass changes, which has surprised former Blues half Matthew Johns.

“I know people say you pick a side and see it out through the series,” Johns said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“But if there are obvious changes after Game I, then you’ve got to make them.

“I’m still blown away there’s no Josh Addo-Carr, that really surprised me given his form over the last few weeks and how he has responded to his non-selection.

“Combining that with what he’s done in the past (at Origin level), that really surprised me.”

But Johns added the selection of Talakai “was a good selection”, but that Fittler had gone away from what had won him three of his four series’ in charge.

“In previous successful series, Freddy just picked the best side and almost said, ‘Come out and stop us’.

“(Talakai’s selection) is aggressive, it’s that X-factor if you need something, bring him off the bench, get him to wind up and create a bit of space for Nathan (Cleary).

“He’s really good and winding up and creating space in the middle of the field.”

Matty Johns and Josh Addo-Carr. Photo by Phil Hillyard

But while the NRL world was once again perplexed by Addo-Carr’s snub, the man himself was not.

“I wasn’t too surprised to be honest,” he told Code Sports.

“Daniel Tupou and Bizza [To’o] had a really good first game of Origin and I thought they did as much as they could and played really well for the Blues in the first game so I wasn’t really expecting a call.

“It was mixed emotions to be honest. I know my team at the time were doing it tough, it’s just one of those things. I was always focused on what I had to do for the Bulldogs, so that’s footy.

“I was burning at the start but then I figured there’s nothing much I can do about it now, all I can do now is keep proving everyone wrong and play good footy for my teammates.

“I feel like I’ve been doing that for the last however many rounds. I’ve always prided myself on being a consistent footballer. This year is just not my year.”

Addo-Carr is happy for Matt Burton however. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Fittler admitted to making some mistakes heading into game one of the series in Sydney.

“When you get beaten, you need to reassess. We have no safety net at the moment,” he admitted.

“We went into the first game thinking a certain way about how the game would go and what we could do but it didn’t happen.”

Speaking before game I, Fittler said it was less a slight against Addo-Carr and more praise for how well Tupou was going.

“It was a tough one and I understand it’s caused a stir. It was more of a case of Tupou playing his way in and how safe he is,” Fittler told SEN breakfast with Vossy and Brandy on Monday morning.

“I feel like at the moment … I don’t think it’d be right on Foxx (Addo-Carr) or the team to go into Game I.

“We’ve communicated, and he’s committed to getting back in the team.

“My line to him was, he belongs here, that was a tough one.”