Captain courageous Paul Gallen has been shifted into the front-row, with Beau Scott and Ben Creagh in the back-row and Greg Bird at lock.
While Gallen will do the job, it’s not ideal.
I’m sure Stuart would rather have another big man available while also relying on Gallen to turn in his usual shift.
It begs the question: where have all the big men gone?
In the past, the Blues have been blessed with hard heads like Paul Harragon, Mark Carroll, Steve Roach, David Gillespie and Glenn Lazarus.
The current crop are either not available for duty or just not good enough.
Jason King was dropped, Kade Snowden isn’t fit, Mick Weyman is short of match fitness, Luke Douglas and Aiden Tolman are injured while Tom Learoyd-Lahrs has been too inconsistent this season.
Even Mannah’s ribs were left a little sore and sorry following Parramatta’s dramatic draw with St George Illawarra on Friday night.
State of Origin has always been defined by one thing: toughness.
The Maroons big men have passed this down from generation to generation, and now Matt Scott is following in the foot-steps of Shane Webcke and Steve Price before him.
Stuart seems to have gone into the series with at least two separate game plans so far.
Game one was all about toughness. He picked a big pack and a sizable bench. It was all aimed at avoiding a slaughter at Suncorp.
To a large extent it worked. The Blues defended their line like a band of brothers and somehow found themselves in front with just over 10 minutes to go. One lapse in concentration saw them narrowly lose.
This time the Blues side is full of players with ball skills who are more mobile.
Jarryd Hayne, Will Hopoate, Luke Lewis, Kurt Gidley and Anthony Watmough come into the side.
Lewis and Watmough are still tough in every sense of the word, but they’re not limited to just putting their heads down and running.
It remains to be seen whether this is a masterstroke or just another chapter in the book titled “Things that didn’t work against Queensland.”
We’ll find out on Wednesday week.
matthewthorpe
Roar Pro
so i interpreted what you said to mean that nsw have a better list, and when i disagree you think that i'm interpreting it in my own way? strange theory scott
jameswm
Guest
exactly. If he was a Qlder, he'd be playing. Hayne too. Don't know what Ricky's trying to pull. Odd selections and bias to mates.
Stu
Guest
Chris, if you tried to buy an Origin ticket 9 days out from the game up here, people would laugh at you. Both games sold out within a few hours of going on sale months ago. Go to ninemsn, there are hundreds of tickets to Origin 2 to give away. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Chris
Guest
I am going to be very annoyed if I see a single empty seat in that stadium! Just tried to buy tickets but both Cat C, B and Blues supporter zones all sold out. Only seats available are in the Queensland supporter area. What a joke - NSW fans are being kept out of our home game because of a Queensland supporter area which isn't full anyway! Can you imagine the uproar north of the border if the opposite happened! At least I know to buy the day they are available next year!
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
oikee Read ther stats on Mini. Even suggesting that he be the NSW 1 in 2011 is crazy and someone with balls and some idea about the game should sack Stewart over this inept disission.
Johnno
Guest
yp give that corker centre a go, and no not jason croke rbut he would be a handy utility, he is like luke lewis he used to play anywhere
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Matthew Dont create your own interpretation what I said. Just because the list is better that does not mean it is a better team and that I wont to be on them. And now that Mini is the NSW fullback I take all that back as he is not in the top 16 fullbacks in the NRL in my opinion. Any dope understands the Maroons 1,6,7 and 9 but I said "over all list". If Dugan or Stewart had have been fullback I would have stood by that comment.
oikee
Guest
So according to your calculations, he is 320 degrees left right of centre. :)
Charles
Guest
In game 1 Ricky Stuart to credit for selecting a team that went very close to winning. In reality they were nowhere in sight and the score line was flattering for NSW. Irrespective of how game 2 ends Rick should not take credit as this team is dysfunctional in their positions. It will be individual perfomances that may get him through! He will be relying on the speed and agility of the back row but he could have strengthen the team in other areas much more to ensure a better chance of success.
sledgeross
Guest
Croker
Johnno
Guest
but does Hoppa junior play left winger, it is a lot different playing right centre as opposed to left centre, unless your ampsydetrix i cant even spell that word properly. so hoppa junior natural reflexes and biomechanics movements(getting all sports science here haha), are all guided to the left side not right side. But iris did come on as a replacement in the test and did okay but was that at right or left centre i don't no. and iDRIS IS NOT THAT GREAT YET, he is a defensive liability at times, and doesn't read the game of rugby league (defensive and attacking lines( yet as a more mature GI, mark gasnier, but he does have youth and is injury free currently so worh maybe a if he is ampydextris enough. Hoppa junior is classy player, reads the game well and is natural centre i think perhaps, maybe put hayne there i don't no, chris lawrence not being available is now starting to hurt the blues. What about that centre form canberra didn't he go on a roo tour the young goalkicking centre , you no the one who missed the kick aginst the west tigers at canberra stadium in the finals last year. Is he injured or a QSLANDER..
greg
Guest
Idris usually plays right centre, but played very well at left centre in the Test match, when Ingis came off after 18 minutes. I am a Queensland supporter, but I thought that Idris was NSW's best when he came on as a replacement in the first match last year. Queensland is a bit short of right centres at the moment - can we have him ?
Charles
Guest
jameswm smart move, pity Stuart does not have your intelligence. Jamal Idris plays right centre. Considering he has Will Hopoate in left centre position who is a fullback/winger why not take a chance. Personally I see a lot of potential in Jamal Idris but feel he is not an Origin player at this stage, needing more time to learn his positional play. However he should be given the chance as NSW is desperate for points and there are opportunities to do so as QLD is vulnerable on their right flank. Hayne at full back and Idris in left centre can combined to put Hopoate away. If this does not work they could put Ben Creagh or Beau Scott in place of Idris. Now is the time to test him out and see how he goes.
Pacman
Guest
In game one we either completely forgot there was a thing called offloading or were wrapped up in tackles easily by Queensland, whereas they were getting offloads off with ease. Hopefully the new team hints at more offloads from us.
jameswm
Guest
Can someone tell me which side Idriss usually plays on? Couldn't you have put him in for Jennings? If Dugan is out, surely Hayne goes back to fullback and I'd go Idriss centre and move Hopate to the wing.
matthewthorpe
Roar Pro
"the total NSW list for game 2 is superior to QLD?" really ScottWoodward.me? NSW might have an advantage in the backrow and maybe in the centres but i'd take qld's side any day. Slater, Lockyer, Thurston and Smith could be playing with the Gatton under 15s and the QLD side would still be better on paper.
matthewthorpe
Roar Pro
M1tch, cheers mate, altho id argue that steve simpson was a prop/second row whereas no one in the current nsw side fits that bill
Johnno
Guest
John Cartwright resigning I think is a big step for the future I think. i think both blues and QLD will start having full time assistants to. same with australia set up to with david Furner putting club ahead of country in fixing his club up, getting his house back in order. You cant at origin or test level having assistants pull out to put there club no 1. conflict of interest and clear you can focus on two jobs. whats next Tim Sheens australian head coach has to relinquish a game to put club ahead of country. ARL, and NSWRL have to get independent assistants who are not contracted to NRL clubs
Mango Jack
Guest
Agreed, sledge, the Count was a great FB in his day, but that time is well past. Definitely a backward move to bring him in. Hayne the logical replacement for Dugan.
oikee
Guest
:) Yes but he had a great game against the Warriors on the week-end, so Ricky will pick him maybe because he is a mate of a mate. Is it me or are NSW players getting injured left right and centre. To me it seems like these players dont want to get picked for nsw. Its a rebellion Scott i tell ya, a Rebellion. Maybe a silent protest. ?