NSW Origin legend predicts late Blues team axing

Blues coach Michael Maguire has been left totally exposed to an absurd situation with a NSW legend now calling for major change.

3 min read

May 28, 2024 - 2:05PM

Jarome Luai and Cam McInnes. Photo: Jeremy NG and Cameron Spencer, Getty.

NSW legend Laurie Daley predicts Blues coach Michael Maguire is preparing to pull a last-minute team shuffle ahead of the State of Origin series opener.

Maguire on Sunday surprised many with the 17-man side selected with former captain James Tedesco’s axing the biggest talking point.

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Attention has now turned to the Blues’ bench, which is made up of four forwards —

Isaah Yeo, Haumole Olakau’atu, Spencer Leniu and Hudson Young.

The gamble not to pick a utility player looks particularly risky compared to Queensland coach Billy Slater’s decision to select winger Selwyn Cobbo and hooker Harry Grant on the bench.

Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton appeared to be the best option to be able to cover for any injuries that NSW may suffer in the series opener at Accor Stadium in Sydney on June 5, but he was instead named 18th man.

The limited substitute options has left Daley speculating Maguire is planning a late switch to bring Burton into the 17-man team and will drop either Olakau’atu or Young.

The Blues would be left particularly exposed should an injury happen to halfback Nicho Hynes or five-eighth Jarome Luai.

Jarome Luai and Cam McInnes. Photo: Jeremy NG and Cameron Spencer, Getty.

Leading NRL reporter Danny Weidler said on Tuesday there are rumours swirling that Cronulla utility Cameron McInnes would be forced to move into the halves should Hynes or Luai go down with an injury.

With Hynes juggling a calf muscle issue that saw him forced off the field during the Sharks’ loss to the Panthers this weekend, Maguire is set to roll the dice.

“Let’s say Nicho comes up with a calf during the game or Jarome goes down, now I don’t want this to happen obviously, you know who’s our halfback back-up? Cam McInnes,” Weidler said on Sky Sports Radio.

“That’s who’s in line at the moment if someone gets hurt in the game. That’s the mail. He’s going to be suddenly the guy who is going to have a big say in running that side.”

That scenario clearly worried Daley.

“Surely, I think they may make a late switch,” the Raiders icon said.

“I think Matt Burton comes into the 17.”

Daley went on to say: “It’s a gamble going in without that utility player. I get where you’re coming from. If you look at the team, and I like the team, but you try to cover for every scenario that may happen and I would just feel more comfortable with one of those, either Olakau’atu or Hudson Young, being 18th man and Burton in the 17.”

Jarome Luai has a lot on his shoulders. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Daley said Burton was also capable of playing 10 minutes in the back row at the end of the game.

Maguire, however, appears supremely confident in Hynes’ ability to play the full 80 minutes and said on Monday night he expects Hynes to be able to “hit the ground running” from the team’s first training session together.

“The conversation I had with him yesterday, one being extremely excited about the fact he was in the team, which was a pretty special phone call in itself,” he said.

“He’s ready to go and I’ve spoken to a lot of players over the last couple of months and albeit you’re faced with many different scenarios of what the team may or may not be.

“I’m really super confident with how Nicho’s been and just listening to his conversations of what he’s actually faced over his career and what he’s learnt, I’m really looking forward to how he comes into camp and he’s a leader.”

NSW squad for Origin Game 1

1. Dylan Edwards (Panthers)

2. Brian To’o (Panthers)

3. Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)

4. Joseph Suaali’i (Roosters)

5. Zac Lomax (Dragons)

6. Jarome Luai (Panthers)

7. Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

8. Jake Trbojevic, captain (Sea Eagles)

9. Reece Robson (Cowboys)

10. Payne Haas (Broncos)

11. Liam Martin (Panthers)