Debutants on chopping block for Blues in Origin II

NSW coach Brad Fittler will reportedly swing the axe for the Blues’ game 2 team and will make some big calls over a trio of debutants.

Nicho Hynes, Hudson Young and Tevita Pangai Jr. are all on the chopping block. Photo: Getty Images

NSW coach Brad Fittler is set to make some big calls with game one debutants Tevita Pangai Jr. and Nicho Hynes expected to be dropped from the Blues’ team for the second State of Origin.

Raiders backrower Hudson Young is expected to hang onto a place in the team with selection on the bench.

The Blues team will be officially announced at 11am on Tuesday but leaks have already revealed a bombshell debut with North Queensland’s Reece Robson reported as the camp’s first big call.

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Robson is expected to be joined by Tigers forward Stefano Utoikamanu as debutants for the all important decider while Stephen Crichton drops to 18th man as cover for Latrell Mitchell, who is coming back from injury, and Souths’ Keaon Koloamatangi is 19th man.

It is believed that Robson would take the No. 14 jersey which Hynes wore in game one.

And after his side lost 54-10 to the Storm on Sunday, it’s believed Hynes may be the unlucky player to miss out.

But 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.

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

His only hope appears to be unseating incumbent five-eighth Jarome Luai, which would be a shock call in itself as both Luai and Eels half Mitchell Moses are favourites to line up in the halves for NSW.

It would be rough for Hynes. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

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.

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

News Corp also reported Pangai Jr. was going to be axed after one game with Panthers front-rower Spencer Leniu to earn his Origin debut.

However, as the evening continued, it was revealed Utoikamanu would join the bench with Junior Paulo moving into the starting side.

Utoikamanu 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.

Pangai Jr played 51 minutes on Monday, running 10 times for 98m, but his performance was called into question on NRL 360.

Gorden Tallis said the pressure of the jersey appeared to be too much for the prop.

“He wanted to come up with the big play on too many occasions,” Tallis said.

“Tevita’s got to ask himself ‘what does my team need me to do?’

“They didn’t need him to sprint out and put a shot on the No. 7. They needed him to stay in the line, make your tackles. But he’s got that play in him.

“He was trying to make a difference but you’ve got to pick your moments. The team has got to come first.

“He can be so damaging carrying the ball. He’d be so hard to tackle, getting between guys and playing the ball quickly, that would be his best play.”

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

Anasta added: “You said team, that’s the key with Tevita. When he gets it wrong, he’s not thinking about the team.”

Asked if they would have Pangai Jr. in the team, Ennis said he had some mail that Leniu would come into the team.

“We understand that Reece Robson has come in as that 17th player, it could be wrong, I don’t know definitively, but a bit of mail that Spencer Leniu from the Panthers may get an opportunity,” he said.

Tallis said Pangai just needs to keep it simple and make his tackles and make his hard runs.

“The playmakers come up with the plays — you’ve got to realise what position you’re playing,” Tallis said.

“He’s trying but he didn’t make the play.”

Rothfield added that Pangai Jr. was only picked because Leniu and Reagan Campbell-Gillard were unavailable.