Brad Fittler takes Origin ‘gamble’ with Hudson Young and Tevita Pangai Junior

If one photo summed up the feeble NSW effort in last year’s State of Origin, it’s this one. But now two changes have been made to fix it.

Tevita Pangai Junior and Hudson Young will debut for the Blues. Pic: Getty

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Desperate to instil stability, Brad Fittler plans to finesse past the Maroons using two firebrands who’ve spent more time in the bin than a gossip reporter.

Tevita Pangai Junior and Hudson Young will debut for the Blues in next week’s opener at Adelaide, with the two ballistic missiles grandstanded at Monday’s team announcement like a Chinese military parade.

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Following the embarrassing rough-housing of Matt Burton in last year’s decider, and his Blues teammate’s ensuing decision to not do much about it, Fittler’s decision to unleash two such weapons shows the vengeful Blues will arrive in town ready to kindle strife.

In addition to Jarome Luai, Liam Martin and Latrell Mitchell, New South Wales will unleash a team of pantomime villains that will need to be restrained with high levels of controlled aggression and/or tear gas.

Matt Burton was roughed up by the Maroons last year with the Blues showing very little energy to defend him. Picture NRL Photos

The selection of the two wild beefcakes in Pangai Junior and Young is reward for years of performance and promise, proving the old rugby league adage that good things come to those who lift weights.

Young is an aggressive backrower who knows his way to the tryline, while Pangai Junior is a wrecking ball who has strung together one eye-catching stint for the Bulldogs last week against the Titans.

Known for his love of a bad idea – not only did he breach Covid rules by getting a haircut, he also supports Queensland - Fittler has chosen Pangai to receive a $30,000 match fee to deliver two tackles, one of which will be reportable.

In a world of HIA’s, sin bin abuse and moral panic, picking a team of nutters and reflexologists is so mad even Fittler had no qualms admitting it was a “gamble.”

NSW Blues debutants Tevita Pangai Jr, Nicho Hynes and Hudson Young. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

On the other hand, actual football hasn’t worked for his side in the recent past, so why not try and get the points with some micro-needling?

After years of uselessly scratching at gyprock with talent and class, it’s clear the Blues have often failed to grasp the behavioural science of Origin.

That’s why it’s refreshing for once to see the coach picking names that should throw more jumper-punches than cupcakes.

In fact, when considering Pangai replaced the ultra-pure Jake Trbojevic and Young only marginally edged-out Jack de Belin, it’s obvious just how much of an open prison Fittler was seeking to create.

Blues coach Brad Fittleris hoping his fiery debutants can make the difference. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

And with Nico Hynes openly hissing at the enemy with his “I hate Queensland” broadside and depth players like Spencer Leniu running-off a busted knacker, it may indicate this state isn’t as neutered as we thought it was.

It’s no coincidence our NAPLAN results have been on a downward trend since Paul Gallen triggered a ban on punching. I also don’t recall any online bullying when Tommy Raudonikis’s Blues went Cattledogging in Melbourne in 1997.

By rolling the dice with a team of wildmen and degenerates, we might finally outlast the Maroons- if we can finish the 80 minutes without half the side in the showers.

Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad.

He’s never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Originally published as Brad Fittler takes Origin ‘gamble’ with Hudson Young and Tevita Pangai Junior