NSW Blues under fire as captain Jake Trbojevic plays just 29 minutes

Michael Maguire’s tactics, and Jake Trbojevic’s role as captain, have been brought into question after the NSW skipper spent just 29 minutes on the park in Game One.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 05: Jake Trbojevic of the Blues looks on from the bench during game one of the 2024 Men's State of Origin Series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons at Accor Stadium on June 05, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Michael Maguire’s tactics, and the decision to appoint Jake Trbojevic as captain, have been called into question after the NSW skipper spent just 29 minutes on the park in Wednesday’s night’s Game One loss to Queensland.

Trbojevic was a surprise selection as captain of a squad that initially did not include incumbent skipper James Tedesco, with the Manly veteran favoured over current Penrith Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo.

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However Trbojevic’s usage in the 38-10 loss — playing the first 25 minutes and only four minutes at the end of the match — raised eyebrows as Yeo played 47 minutes off the bench and spent most of the match as stand-in captain.

Former Queensland prop and long-time commentator Darryl Brohman said Maguire had “a bit to answer for” with his use of Trbojevic.

The skipper was barely sighted in the opener. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“He’s the captain, he’s the leader, he’s the one ... when you’re in dire straits like they were, he’s the one you look up to. He takes him off after 25 minutes and puts him on with four minutes to go? What’s going on there?,” Brohman said on 2GB’s Continuous Call team post-match show.

“The question now is whether he can possibly even be in the team next time, or whether he’s captain. If he’s going to be captain, give him some time on the field.

“... I like Madge, but Jake Trbojevic should not be captain if he’s going to play 29 minutes of a game.”

Maguire suggested in the post-match press conference Trbojevic fell victim to Joseph Suaalii’s early send-off as the Blues’ plans changed quickly.

What was Madge thinking giving Trbojevic only 25 mins?! He's the captain. #origin
No utility on the bench backfired too.

— Garrick Knight (@GarrickRKnight) June 5, 2024

“Through circumstance, Jakey did some great things at the start, but the rotation of what we had just didn’t allow us to get (him) back on. We had to cover the backrowers and plug the edges,” Maguire said.

Brohman was also critical of Maguire asking halfback Nicho Hynes to defend at right centre after the Cronulla star was exposed doing the same thing in last year’s series.

“I love Nicho and I feel sorry for him but he was out of his depth defending on the right side. It’s exactly what happened last year in Adelaide,” Brohman said.

“The coach has got a bit to answer for in my opinion on how the Blues went tonight. I really mean that.”

Originally published as NSW Blues under fire as captain Jake Trbojevic plays just 29 minutes