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The NSW Blues team for Game 1 of the 2016 State of Origin series has been officially confirmed by coach Laurie Daley, with the notable feature being a bench of giants featuring James Tamou, David Klemmer and Andrew Fifita.
New South Wales Blues team for State of Origin Game 1
1. Matt Moylan, 2. Blake Ferguson, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Josh Dugan, 5. Josh Mansour, 6. James Maloney, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. Paul Gallen, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Josh Jackson, 13. Greg BirdInterchange: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. James Tamou, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Andrew Fifita
These three make the NSW bench a significantly larger-sized outfit than their Queensland counterparts, and larger than the Blues benches of recent memory.
THE LATEST STATE OF ORIGIN NEWS
“Three big boys on the bench will be a help for us. We have three big boys on our bench so it will be a tough one. We have to get everyone on the field at some time,” said Aaron Woods regarding the selection.
Dylan Walker has also been named on the bench for the Blues, playing the utility role. Walker is one of four debutants included in Daley’s finalised team, with the other three being Matt Moylan at fullback, Josh Mansour at wing, and Adam Reynolds at halfback.
Paul Gallen, named at prop, will once again skipper the side, though it will be his last series in that role.
“He talked to us on Monday when we got into camp. He told us it was his last camp but we have a job to do for the state,” said Woods.
Woods himself is emerging as the man most likely to take over from Gallen as the NSW skipper in 2017 and beyond.
“Obviously one day you want to do that, but I haven’t looked that far forward, we have three games to worry about first before we look to next year,” Woods said.
Josh Morris and Tyson Frizell were sent back to their clubs from the Blues’ training camp earlier in the week.
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