NSW team for State of Origin Game 2 revealed: Gould’s ‘mail’ on dumped star

NSW has announced its team for State of Origin Game 2 and Phil Gould has revealed a sad dressing room scene is behind the Blues’ biggest call.

4 min read

June 13, 2023 - 10:41AM

Nicho Hynes, Brad Fittler and Mitchell Moses.

Phil Gould says Nicho Hynes is not ready to handle the No. 7 NSW jumper.

The Blues on Tuesday morning announced their side for State of Origin Game 2 — a team list that has shocked some commentators.

The most debated move is Fittler’s decision to bring Mitchell Moses in to replace the injured Nathan Cleary.

That comes despite Hynes being awarded his Origin debut in the series opener in Adelaide, coming off the bench for a late cameo.

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Despite that selection appearing to make him the obvious candidate to replace Cleary — Hynes has been dumped out of the squad altogether as a result of a Fittler selection shake-up.

Fittler has made several dramatic selection changes, including:

— Moses returning in the No. 7.

— Reece Robson being handed a debut off the bench in the utility role.

— Damien Cook returning in the No. 9 jumper as a result of Api Koroisau’s injury.

— Tevita Pangai being dropped for Tigers forward Stefano Utoikamanu.

— Latrell Mitchell returning to the centres at the expense of Stephen Crichton.

— Raiders back-rower Hudson Young hanging onto his spot despite a rough debut.

You can read the full team at the bottom of this story.

Nicho Hynes, Brad Fittler and Mitchell Moses.

Hynes has emerged as the biggest loser of the selection changes.

Gould said on Monday night he has continued to push the case for Moses because he believes the Eels star has the big game experience to be able to handle the frenzied atmosphere of Origin at Suncorp Stadium.

He also said there is “mail” around the NSW camp that Hynes was particularly “fragile” after the Game 1 loss in Adelaide. That has been compounded by Hynes’ struggles in recent weeks since that Origin debut, including his toothless performance during the Sharks’ thrashing at the hands of the Storm on Sunday.

It was reported that Hynes was particularly devastated in the NSW sheds after the loss in Adelaide, while many of his NSW teammates also took the defeat hard.

Hynes was only injected late in the game and was thrown into the centres and missed a tackle on Cameron Munster that led to Queensland’s match-winning try.

Gould said on Channel 9’s 100% Footy: “My mail was that after the Origin in Adelaide he was a bit fragile after that game.

“He was upset that he was thrown in there late. He missed a tackle. And maybe that would have cost them the game. He kind of came across that he was lacking a bit of confidence. So it’s not just this week’s performance but last week’s as well and how he responded to that.”

Gould said he would still like to see Hynes selected to play off the bench - but believes the No. 7 jumper is too much for him right now.

Tevita Pangai Jr. is feeling the pinch. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Utoikamanu is expected to debut for NSW. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“Nicho is a long way off running a team by himself at this level at the moment,” he said.

“He hasn’t taken the Sharks to finals (Cronulla was bounced out in straight sets during the 2022 NRL Finals series). He needs a lot more big game experience before he’s ready to wear the No. 7 in Origin.

“I though he was perfect off the bench. I like him off the bench. He can cover a number of positions. Late in the game he could get on there and just bring his own flare. But to start the game and withstand the early barrage and the pressure of the atmosphere and to actually steer his team around on the field and take responsibility for that, I just think it’s a little too early for him.”

Cronulla teammate Wade Graham said on the program Hynes was “vulnerable” because he wears his heart on his sleeve, but was adamant Hynes deserved the jumper.

Fittler has been forced to turn to Cowboys hooker Reece Robson as his bench utility because there are concerns Damien Cook will not be able to play a full 80 minutes at dummy half, according to former NSW captain Paul Gallen.

On NRL 360, Michael Ennis said he doesn’t believe Hynes should be judged on his worst performance.

“(Hynes) has been one of the best players in the competition for the last 18 months,” Ennis said.

“He only got four or five minutes in game one playing centre so he hardly got to showcase what he’s capable of at that top level.

Reece Robson is expected to play No. 14 for NSW. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“I would have gone with Reynolds and Hynes in the halves.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said Hynes missing out would be a “major shock”.

“He was No. 14, they threw him on out of position in Adelaide and he did play poor yesterday, so Nicho has gone from record breaking Dally M Player of the Year, one bad game for Cronulla last night against Melbourne to abandoned,” he said on NRL 360.

Braith Anasta, who said that he himself failed in the Origin arena, said the loss in Adelaide would have hurt Hynes psychologically, as evidenced by his last two games.

“To throw him into the biggest game of his career, and NSW and Freddy and Brandy’s career, it wouldn’t be right,” Anasta said.

Utoikamanu, meanwhile, beat the likes of Leniu, Newcastle’s Daniel Saifiti and Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard for the role.

Pangai Jr had a shocker for the Bulldogs against the Eels, with defensive errors leading to tries in the King’s Birthday clash.

Official NSW team for Origin II

1 James Tedesco - Roosters

2 Brian To’o - Panthers

3 Latrell Mitchell - Rabbitohs

4 Tom Trbojevic - Sea Eagles

5 Josh Addo-Carr - Bulldogs

6 Jarome Luai - Panthers

7 Mitchell Moses - Eels

8 Junior Paulo - Eels