Canberra star Terry Campese won the hotly-contested NSW five-eighth jersey as selectors named eight debutants to face Queensland in next Wednesday’s State of Origin series opener at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium.
Campese will partner Brisbane’s Peter Wallace in the halves in a fresh-looking side Blues side, which is out to stop the Maroons claiming an unprecedented fourth straight series win.
The Raiders captain was preferred at No.6 to Newcastle’s Jarrod Mullen and in-form Penrith utility Luke Lewis, who was named 18th man after also losing out on a bench spot to South Sydney’s Craig Wing.
Lewis will come into the side if backrower Glenn Stewart fails to beat a dangerous throw charge at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday.
Test forwards Anthony Laffranchi and Anthony Watmough, who played in Australia’s win over New Zealand this month, were also controversial omissions.
Newcastle star Kurt Gidley will captain the side at fullback as part of an exciting backline that includes Penrith flyer Michael Jennings and Newcastle winger James McManus.
Jennings will partner Manly’s Jamie Lyon in the centres, after Matt Cooper was overlooked, while in-form Parramatta star Jarryd Hayne was named on the wing.
Joining Campese, Jennings and McManus on Origin debut will be Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah, who edged out Michael Ennis for the No.9 jersey, as well as St George Illawarra forward trio Ben Creagh, Justin Poore, and Michael Weyman.
Stewart, who was named on the bench, could also make his NSW debut but only if he successfully contests his charge.
The Test forward faces a one-match ban after he was charged with a grade one dangerous throw for a sixth-minute tackle on Mat Rogers in the Titans’ controversial 18-17 win on Sunday.
Manly’s Brent Kite, Gold Coast’s Luke Bailey, North Queensland’s Luke O’Donnell and Cronulla captain Paul Gallen will give the Blues pack some representative experience.
Campese earned selection after he returned to form in leading Canberra to a 38-12 win over the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday.
Mullen was denied a final chance to impress selectors as he was playing in Newcastle’s match against North Queensland in Townsville on Monday night.
Queensland will name their squad on Tuesday.
NSW: Kurt Gidley (capt), Jarryd Hayne, Jamie Lyon, Michael Jennings, James McManus, Terry Campese, Peter Wallace, Brent Kite, Robbie Farah, Luke Bailey, Ben Creagh, Luke O’Donnell, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Craig Wing, Justin Poore, Glenn Stewart, Michael Weyman.
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