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Opinion

The debutants in my NSW Blues Game 1 squad

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25th May, 2021
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With the State of Origin series coming up and the teams being named next week, I have decided to come up with my Origin side for the NSW Blues.

There will be a few choices that people might disagree with but I will stick strong with my player choices.

The first Origin game is being played on June 9 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and to start off, my first pick is pretty obvious – and it’s James Tedesco at fullback.

My wingers are Josh Addo-Carr and on debut for the Blues is Brian To’o, who has been playing out of this world every single week for the Penrith Panthers.

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My centres are Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic, who are two big centres. Mitchell is big and powerful and he can find his way to the line and Trbojevic is tall and quick. Just watch what he did in Game 2 in 2019.

Cody Walker played alright for the NSW Blues but it’s time for the Blues to think of their long-term future and my halves pairing is Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary. Their combination and chemistry is the reason Penrith are currently 11-0.

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Jarome Luai of the Panthers passes the ball

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

My two starting props are Payne Haas and Daniel Saifiti with my dummy-half being Damien Cook. I know Cook has not been playing his best but he will find his form in the Origin arena.

My second rowers are Tyson Frizell and Isaah Yeo with my lock forward being Jake Trbojevic.

Now it’s time to name my bench and one name will divide a lot of people. My bench utility is Jack Wighton but if Ryan Papnehuyzen is fit and healthy, I will have him over Wighton.

My three bench forwards are Tevita Pangai Junior, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and my first choice would be Cameron Murray as my third forward. But if he isn’t healthy for Game 1, then Nathan Brown would be my final forward on the bench.

Now to discuss a few of the choices I have made in this NSW Blues squad.

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I will start with Brian To’o from the Panthers. Not only has he played every game for the Panthers this season and scored six tries, but he takes the hard, gritty runs when his side is deep in their own half and that is something the Blues have been screaming for.

Probably the most controversial of them all is my bench forward Tevita Pangai Junior, who will be in the mix for Brad Fittler. But the reason I picked Pangai Junior is because of his second-phase play.

He can play second row, lock and prop but he will still manage to find an offload, which can unleash players like Tedesco, Luai, Cook and Cleary. Brown off the bench can also create forward momentum with his strong carries.

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