New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has made seven changes to his squad for Home State II, which he is due to win next Sunday in Perth.
Key points:
- The Blues were stunned by the Maroons in the first game, losing 16-10 to Sydney
- There is still no room for Bulldogs steering wheel Josh Addo-Carr
- The Blues travel to Perth on Monday before the second match on Sunday
Matt Burton, Angus Crichton, Clint Gutherson, Jordan McLean, Victor Radley, Siosifa Talakai and Jake Trbojevic join the 22-man squad.
Burton, McLean, Radley, Talakai, Joseph Suaalii and Nicho Hynes are all in line for possible debuts.
Fittler will not confirm his 17th until Monday morning, immediately after which the squad will travel to Perth.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Tariq Sims, Jacob Saifiti, Tyson Frizzell, Kotoni Staggs and Jack Wighton have been omitted.
Raiders star Wighton was forced to leave Game II due to COVID protocols, having been the highlight of the Blues in Game I.
The Canterbury Burton are vying to play in the center left instead of Staggs, but there is no room for teammate Bulldog Josh Addo-Carr, who has scored five attempts in all three games since being rejected by Origin I.
Bulldogs pair Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton have been impressive on a struggling team. (Getty Images: Matt King)
Api Koroisau is likely to step down from the bench to help Rabbitohs prostitute Damien Cook, who was strangely calm in the defeat of Game I after being a member of the non-player team of Game I.
Fittler resisted the impulse of a parachute on the return of South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell, who has yet to play in the NRL since suffering a hamstring tear in April and then tested positive for COVID.
The Blues are set to win their second game at Perth Stadium on June 26 to keep the series alive after losing the first game in Sydney 16-10.
Maroons coach Billy Slater will call his team Monday morning.
Blue team: James Tedesco (captain), Matt Burton, Nathan Cleary, Damien Cook, Angus Crichton, Stephen Crichton, Clint Gutherson, Payne Haas, Nicho Hynes, Apisai Koroisau, Jarome Luai, Liam Martin, Jordan McLean, Cameron Murray, Junior Paulo, Victor Radley, Joseph Suali, Siosifa Talakai, Brian To’o, Jake Trbojevic, Daniel Tupou, Isaiah Yeo.
Posted 1 hour ago 1 hour ago dig. June 19, 2022 at 9:39 am, updated 1 hour 1 hour ago dig. June 19, 2022 at 10:02 AM