State of Origin news 2023: Why NSW Blues star Reece Robson could spark NSW redemption

There was very little to smile about for NSW fans on Wednesday night. But all is not lost for the Blues. And this is why.

Reece Robson held his own in his State of Origin debut. Picture: Getty

Reece Robson offered the Blues a glimmer of hope that all is not lost despite NSW losing successive Origin series.

Robson announced himself as a long-term Origin player after getting through 80 minutes in his NSW debut on Wednesday night.

His performance could be a sign to the future too for game three as the Blues officials ponder blowing up the NSW squad and ushering a new era in the dead-rubber clash.

The likes of Damien Cook, Tyson Frizell and Junior Paulo are among those who face an uncertain future.

The Blues have long wanted to give Cameron McInnes a shot at Origin and his time may come while his Cronulla teammate Blayke Brailey has also been on the cusp of a NSW debut. Either of the pair could share the dummy half duties with Robson.

What is clear though is that barring injury or suspension Robson will start at hooker for NSW next month.

Reece Robson proved that he can handle the presure of Origin football, and barring injury or suspension, will get anotehr call up for the Game III dead rubber. Picture: Getty Images.

Robson drew praise from Fittler who made it known the 25-year-old had all the hallmarks of a long-term Origin player.

“To hear that from someone like Freddy is unreal,” Robson said. “To have the support of a guy like that who you looked up to your whole life is pretty unreal.

“You just want it more and more. You want it more than anything when you go into it but it’s not until you have a loss when you’re in that arena that it makes you hungrier to take it back to NSW.”

Robson went the distance on Wednesday night as the Blues were forced to re-jig their bench rotation following Tom Trbojevic’s injury. Cook was shifted to centre with Robson carving out 80 minutes. He finished the game with 45 tackles.

Robson was forced to play the full 80-minutes in his Origin debut, after the early injury to Tom Trbojevic sparked a re-shuffle. Picture: Adam Yip.

“The message didn’t come out but I had a fair idea that we were going to be down on troops with Tommy out,” Robson said. “Cookie did a great job. I thought I might have to go the full length. Eventually the message at halftime was that I’d have to go the whole way but I was prepared for that to happen. I knocked out 40 and knew I was going to go again.

“Everyone talks about how fast it is. You prepare yourself for a fast game and then you don’t realise until you get out there. You look up at the clock and you’re just 10 minutes in and you’re out of breath already and you think ‘I’ve got to go another 70 here’. It’s a tough pill to swallow. I had the boys working around me so hard and talking to me which helped so much.

“About the 10 minute mark the lungs were burning. That’s what Origin is about. You have to embrace that feeling because you only get it in games like this. It’s what makes it the type of games they are. You have to learn to love that feeling.”

While fellow debutant Stefano Utoikamanu played just 14 minutes he too should keep his spot for Origin III.

COOK DIDN’T SERVE UP THIS ORIGIN DISASTER

By David Riccio

NSW greatest-ever coach Phil Gould has led a chorus of Blues supporter backlash over Brad Fittler’s staggering call to play Damien Cook at centre last night – a position he’s never played in a career spanning 186 NRL games.

In one of the most extraordinary decisions ever made by a NSW coach, Fittler’s gamble backfired horribly as Cook became a lamb to the slaughter of the triumphant Maroons.

Four of Queensland’s six tries were scored down Cook’s left side.

Yet few Blues fans could blame the 2018 Dally M hooker of the year.

Never in his first grade career and in addition to 22 reserve grade games, dating back to 2015, had Cook played one minute of centre.

On the biggest stage rugby league has to offer, the South Sydney hooker found himself being asked to cover the left centre position after just three minutes.

Jeremiah Nanai scored after Damien Cook spilt this ball. Picture: Adam Head

A crushing pectoral injury to Manly’s Tom Trbojevic forced the Blues into a game-defining backline makeover.

Andrew Johns, a member of the NSW coaching staff, was the first to suggest that it be lock-forward Isaah Yeo, who shift to the centres – a position he made his NRL debut at in 2014.

It was then former NSW captain Paul Gallen who questioned during Nine’s coverage as to why Blues forward Cameron Murray, who has played in the centres previously for Souths and is being courted by the Wallabies as an inside centre, wasn’t chosen to fill the void of Trbojevic.

Yet it was Gould’s critique of the decision that spoke volumes in the eyes of many NSW fans.

“I don’t know if that was the option if an outside back was to go down,’’ Gould said on Nine.

“You’re really looking for a backrower who can handle it out there.

This is completely unfair to Damien Cook.

— David Riccio (@DaveRic1) June 21, 2023

Gosh I feel for Damien Cook playing out in the centres.

— LadiesWhoLeague (@LadiesWhoLeague) June 21, 2023

Damien Cook has been an amazing servant for Souths, NSW and Australia.

It’s rotten to see him put in this position.

I don’t blame him at all!

Brad Fittler can see what we are seeing. He won’t make a change!

Why? #RugbyLeague#NRL

— League Freak (@LeagueFreak) June 21, 2023

It's the morning after Game 2 and Freddy still hasn't moved Damien Cook out of the centres.

— Jason Oliver (@JasonNRL) June 21, 2023

“In the old days it was a Steve Menzies or Angus Crichton, you’ve got Hudson (Young), you’ve got (Isaah) Yeo or (Cameron) Murray.

“I would’ve thought with Damien Cook, one of their (NSW) big attacking players coming off the bench, which is why they started with Reece Robson, to get Damien Cook onto the field and start playing through the middle.

“Well, that’s now gone.

“Damien Cook has been out there tackling centres.’’

Much of the dilemma stems from the Blues going into the must-win match without any outside back cover on their bench.

NSW were also unable to use 18th man Matt Burton – the Dogs star needing an act of foul play against NSW to enter the contest.

The Blues decision to go without an outside back was made as a result of the wasted exercise of carrying Sharks star halfback Nicho Hynes on the bench in Origin I.

Blues coach Brad Fittler is copping plenty of criticism over his selection policy. Picture: Getty Images

Yet few could have ever predicted Cook’s shock move from the bench to left-centre.

It took just six-minutes for the Maroons to go after the 178cm Cook.

Blues fans could only watch in agony as Cook was targeted by the Maroons in attack, while with the ball, the champion dummy-half was bullied into error.

The Maroons first try of the night in the ninth minute through Valentine Holmes came courtesy of an aerial raid directed straight towards Cook’s left centre position.

Former Maroons captain Cameron Smith explained the massive gulf in variables between hooker and centre.

“You’re much more isolated (at centre) with multiple attackers coming at you,’’ Smith said on Nine.

“But when you defend in the middle, you’ve got big men all around, the spaces are much smaller.’’

The serious injury to Trbojevic means that the Blues must pick a proven centre for Origin III if they are any chance to avoid a Queensland 3-0 nil clean-sweep.

Burton and South Sydney’s Campbell Graham should be considered frontrunners for the position.

Originally published as State of Origin news 2023: Why NSW Blues star Reece Robson could spark NSW redemption