Both New South Wales and Queensland have made changes to their line-ups for the pivotal second game of the 2020 State of Origin series.
Luke Keary is the biggest loser from NSW’s shock Game 1 loss, sensationally being dumped from the 17 altogether after a ho-hum performance in Adelaide on Wednesday night. Blues legend Andrew Johns had called for the Roosters five-eighth to be axed and coach Brad Fittler has obliged, relegating Keary to the reserves and promoting Cody Walker to the starting no.6 spot.
That’s one of three changes for the Blues’ starting side heading into Wednesday night’s must-win clash. Boyd Cordner, as reported, will miss the rest of the series after suffering a head knock in the Game 1 loss, with Angus Crichton taking his spot in the second row. Payne Haas swapping with Junior Paulo at prop is the other change.
There are more changes on the bench too, with Dale Finucane, Nathan Brown and Isaah Yeo joining Paulo on the pine, with Cameron Murray (hamstring) missing out.
The Maroons have made three changes to their run-on 13 too, with Valentine Holmes making his Origin return in place of the injured AJ Brimson, who’ll miss the rest of the series. The Cowboys back hasn’t played Origin since trying his hand at an NFL career in 2019, but returns from suspension to take the place of the Titans fullback.
The other changes are Dunamis Lui starting at prop in place of the injured Christian Welch (head knock) and Jaydn Su’A replacing Coen Hess in the second row. Moeaki Fotuaika takes Su’A’s spot on the bench.
Game 2 is on Wedneday, November 11, and will be played at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
1. James Tedesco (c)
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Clint Gutherson
4. Jack Wighton
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cody Walker
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Daniel Saifiti
9. Damien Cook
10. Payne Haas
11. Angus Crichton
12. Tyson Frizell
13. Jake Trbojevic
Bench
14. Dale Finucane
15. Junior Paulo
16. Nathan Brown
17. Isaah Yeo
Reserves: 18. Luke Keary, 19. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 20. Cameron McInnes, 21. Stephen Crichton
1. Valentine Holmes
2. Xavier Coates
3. Kurt Capewell
4. Dane Gagai
5. Phillip Sami
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Dunamis Lui
9. Jake Friend
10. Josh Papalii
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Jaydn Su’A
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Bench
14. Ben Hunt
15. Lindsay Collins
16. Jai Arrow
17. Moeaki Fotuaika
Reserves: 18. Brenko Lee, 19. Corey Allan, 20. Josh Kerr, 21. Edrick Lee
Rob
Guest
Slater enjoyed a truly wonderful career. He was behind Bowen for accelerating off the mark and brilliance carrying the football. The sliding doors of sport saw Slater get his big chance in 2008-2010 at fullback when the Storm were having a lot of success and Bowen’s knee problems came along? Queensland had just started to dominate with an amazing group of quality players. Teddy is equally a very good player lucky enough to be in a good club side and stronger NSW team. Sometimes in sport opportunity and luck needs to go your way for you to go from hero to zero.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Depends on what perspective you take, game 1 this year we missed turbo, so if I've got my old blue eyes on then they're pretty comparable
Brisguy51
Roar Rookie
Interesting.Fittler has made Nathan Cleary vice captain.He said he hopes making him vice captain will bring the best out of him.
sheek
Roar Guru
MrJSquishy, In 40 years of watching origin, there have been precious few late selection changes based on tactical manoeuvring. Usually it’s because of injury or illness. I’m getting old, & maybe my memory is less reliable. But I seriously doubt your hypothesis. If a coach makes a late switch, it yells out to me: “lack of confidence”!
sheek
Roar Guru
Hopeless Knights - Yes, Cody has earned the 5/8, if that's the right word.
Big Daddy
Guest
It is good to see Sutton get SOO 2 on the back of a glowing report from Annesely.
JGK
Roar Guru
They put the wrong guy at 6. Surely the Dally M player of the year is better than at best the No 3 five eighth for his state. And Gutho is fullback or nothing I think. That said, NSW will win in Sydney.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Should be Wighton to 6. Wighton's defence was off as was Gutherson's. Different defence at fullback and five eight. Wighton to 6, Gutherson to the bench and bring in two recogniswed centres.
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
I think Moe is good and should’ve been on the bench anyway. Holmes hasn’t been in as good a form as Brimson. Glad Hess is out as I didn’t think he should’ve been in the team to begin with
sheek
Roar Guru
Gun Dog, The expression ‘man for man’ in my day, means on ‘majority balance’, not EVERY position. Say 10-7 to NSW, or 11-6, or even a tight 9-8, you know. I’m sure we both have much more important things to worry about than try to win cheap points against each other…..
sheek
Roar Guru
Yes you do, if you pick players out of position. I'm speaking out of balance. Like you, I'm a Queenslander, & as happy as pie.
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
Tedesco is a class player.but is no where near Slater yet..Billy Slater was one of the best full backs to ever play league.his pace off the mark was unreal..
Rob
Guest
Okay Friend has been stuck behind Smith for years, 6-4 record over Cook head to head, Premiership captain x2. I’d back Kaufusi against anyone in the Blue backrow at present. His been a mainstay 80min in the Storm backrow for a while. Come on admit it, the Blues would love to have Kaufusi in their team. I know NSW have quickly made Teddy (11 games) the equal of Slater (31 games) but I don’t know how different in ability Holmes is to Teddy at the same age. Certainly Holmes has probably achieved more at the same age.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I forgot Crichton. That’s three people around whom Keary could have worked as well as Walker with Cook, but nobody with Cleary. And Fittler is on record as saying club combinations are important but he’s busted up the best combinations he had. I know Keary didn’t kick for Tupou last game, but it seemed to me it wasn’t really the game plan and the kicking role was given to Cleary who isn’t used to kicking for Tupou. The more I look at it the more I’m convinced Fittler has made a bad call. We’ll see. And he still is keeping his makeshift centres.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Not only Tupou and Teddy but Crighton comes in for Boyd on that edge. I guess Walker has a combo with Cook so maybe thats the thinking. They need to kick for Tupou as well which Keary didnt do in O1.
B
Guest
In 2017 QLD were missing JT and Slater in Game 1. Mal then dropped old underperformers like Myles and Thaiday for new blood. And of course Munster's memorable debut in Game 3. Not really comparable to 2017, but last year definitely showed QLD must not take NSW lightly or they'll be carved up in Game 2.
andrew
Roar Rookie
I rate DCE and Munster superior to the NSW halves. Cleary seems to run across the field too much, as Rex Mossop would say, he runs like a soldier crab. Can't wait to see the mighty Maroons run out at Suncorp.
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
Agree with all points above but Val doesn’t strike me as a ball playing fullback which QLD may need to beat NSW. The more ball Capewell and Gagai get may be the difference. I hope I’m wrong because I’m a QLD supporter. Val is an exceptional talent but he is no where near the form he was in before he left to head to the States.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Welsh wins the effort areas for mine. Line speed, kick pressure and top anticipation. I'm glad Mo is getting his go as well.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
This to me is looking a bit 2017, good team lost game one and were written off for the series, said it before im pretty confident for game 2 and 3