The New South Wales Blues have confirmed their team for Game 3 of the 2019 State of Origin series, making no changes to the side who thumped the Maroons last time out.
There was plenty of talk about potential changes in the Blues side for the deciding match of the series, however, Brad Fittler has stuck to the team who won 38-6 in Perth.
The main concerns were over the fitness of Nathan Cleary and a potential suspension looming over the head of interchange second rower Tariq Sims.
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Maybe the biggest shock is the exclusion of David Klemmer. The enforcer made his return to NRL for the Newcastle Knights successfully on the weekend, however, has been overlooked for the Blues in favour of Daniel Saifiti, who will start up front after doing a solid job in Game 2.
There could still be a chance for Klemmer to join the side, with the suspension potentially ruling Sims out of the contest. His date at the judiciary is set for Tuesday evening.
Fittler confirmed that if Sims can’t get his charge downgraded, Klemmer will come into the side.
“I’m not sure what the charge is, but if he can’t get it downgraded, Klemmer will be the next man in,” said Fittler, speaking on Channel 9.
Nathan Cleary is also racing the clock to be fit. It would be a miraculous recovery on his ankle injury, however, Fittler has selected him to play at this stage.
Clint Gutherson has once again been named as the 18th man, and will be injury cover for Cleary.
The Blues unchanged team will mean all seven changes Fittler made for Game 2 survive, with none of the dropped players, whether forced or unforced, being recalled.
Game 3 of the series will be played at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday, July 10.
1 James Tedesco (vc) (Sydney Roosters)
2 Blake Ferguson (Parramatta Eels)
3 Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
4 Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders)
5 Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm)
6 James Maloney (Penrith Panthers)
7 Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
8 Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
9 Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
10 Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
11 Boyd Cordner (c) (Sydney Roosters)
12 Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)
13 Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
Interchange
14 Dale Finucane (Melbourne Storm)
15 Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons)
16 Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
17 Wade Graham (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
18 Clint Gutherson (Parramatta Eels)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah - I think talking strictly about 2019 form and consistency, they are probably a step below the 5 I mentioned.
matth
Roar Guru
Yep, I’d be tempted to say Lodge, Haas, and Joe O as well, but given how Brisbane is going, that more about potential than results
Kewl
Guest
Great news for Newy! Hope Sims gets off and Klemperer tears thru the Warriors
Scott Pryde
Expert
I've been thinking about this a lot recently - who the top props are... I reckon based on this year's form, it's Taukeiaho, followed by Taupau, then Klemmer, Fonua-Blake and Vaughan.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Blues better be on their "A" game as being a Maroon is like a kamikaze, because and when "Kevin Walters bottom lip started to quiver and his eyes began to water while speaking about his passion for everything associated with the Maroons on Monday it was as though he was channelling Queensland legend Chris "Choppy" Close" these guys are obsessed and think that when they lose its like 'The End of The World" lol
The Barry
Roar Guru
But then he played him 51 minutes straight until he was exhausted in G1...
steveng
Roar Rookie
Cleary is like Pearce was, irrespective and even on crutches he will get selected by Fittler! There is/was always a players like Cleary in the blues side and nothing has changed!
Adam
Roar Guru
Fittler's probably guessing what he is thinking too
Nat
Roar Guru
You do raise an interesting point. I wonder if Fittler believe Klem is only good for so many minutes? He doesn't trust him to have big minutes in him toward the end of periods and it messes up his rotation as we seen in G1 and previous games. He thinks he has to have Klemmer for his early work only then runs with the smaller blokes for his desired "leg speed".
BA Sports
Roar Guru
If it was Grand Final week and Nathan Brown had to choose between Saifiti and Klemmer who would he pick? It isn't close is it? I think if Cleary is out, Graham should be 5/8 (left foot kicker) and Klemmer comes in. Now you have a bigger bench and if there is a backline injury you shufle things around and shift Murray out.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I suspect Freddy knows that Sims is going down and he can then bring Klemmer in tonight. That way he has shown loyalty to Sims but he can still get Klemmer in the side because of that damn judiciary !
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think Klemmer is the best prop in the comp. Hes certainly streets ahead of any other NSW prop. He was by far NSW’s best forward in G1 and is a previous Brad Fittler medallist. He’s getting better as a player, not worse. There’s clearly something about his game that Fittler doesn’t like. He only scraped into the team last year and his minutes were low every game. After G2 Fittler has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt with team selections but this is an odd one. NSW has proved it can win with this 17 and may well win G3 but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be better with Klemmer in the team. Maybe Fittler is confident Sims won’t be cleared and this will fire Klemmer up.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
No Pearce, even with all the heavy handed NSW media pushing for him. Hooray, he looked ordinary under pressure on the weekend. Now expect said media to have a field day slagging off Fittler. Hopefully Qld will fall for Freddies distraction.
Chuznut
Roar Rookie
At the end of the day, I don’t see Sims getting off tomorrow night anyway, in which case Klemmer being dropped will be a non-issue. The thing that I’m a little unsure of is Gutherson being brought in as the 18th man for if Cleary pulls out. I’ve been pushing all year for Gutho to be considered as the utility, but I liked the idea of a 4 forward bench in game 2, with a makeshift utility, rather than a genuine utility back. I thought that we lacked that extra bit of firepower off the bench in game 1, so a 4th forward gives us extra something. Apart from last week’s game (which Graham did superbly in), how many times in the last 5 years have NSW actually needed a back on the bench? The only other time I can think of is in Game 1 2017, when Bird went on for Pearce after failing a head knock. Every other time, the utility was basically just brought on in the last 10 mins to try and chase points, and it never worked. Personally, if Cleary pulls out, I would push Wighton to 5/8, bring Josh Morris back in to play right centre (which is his preferred side), and leave Graham on the bench as a 4th forward/makeshift utility.
The Spectator
Roar Guru
We have been a prop short both games, we out enthused Q in game 2 but Saffiti proved an answer and add Klemmer minus a Sims NSW IMO look a much stronger outfit.
Col in paradise
Guest
Cleary should be out...under performing...
Col in paradise
Guest
Cleary has to go...the inner circle keeping under performing dud in the team...
Robert F
Guest
Out of all the props over the last several years Klemmer has been the main stay and most consistent prop playing for Australia including the recent world cup. Every time he has worn the blues Jersey he has done his job and bent the QLD line. As for the comment below about post contact metres and standing in the tackle.... he constantly attracts 3+ players in just about every tackle as it is so hard to get him down. You look at origin 1 and Klemmer was the only forward who constantly got over the advantage line. Name me a game where Klemmer has played bad for the blues.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Fred isn't listening to the herd again for game three and backing his own instincts. Saifiti looks pretty fast and was a shock inclusion for game two and a shock retention for game three. Good luck to him.
nrlfan
Roar Rookie
Another thing about Klemmer is that he usually stands while being tackled, he gets post contact metres but this slows down and impedes flow in attack.