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Daniel Tupou has offered a classy message to ditched winger Josh Addo-Carr, telling him that he is ‘just warming his position’ while the Bulldog refinds his form.
Tupou last played for NSW in 2020 and had expected to be focussing on Tonga’s clash with New Zealand at the end of June rather than suiting up for Game 1 on Wednesday night.
“I thought my time was up,” he said to The Sydney Morning Herald. “Knowing that there’s a lot of young talent out there, to be able to put on this jersey I’m so grateful for the opportunity I just want to utilise it.
“I definitely feel for Foxxy [Addo-Carr] but I’m sure he understands. I’m just here warming his position until he gets back in the side. I honestly don’t know what to say with that situation but I’m sure he understands and I know he’ll back here for sure soon.”
Meanwhile, Brian To’o has revealed his plan for stopping the expected aerial assault from Queensland, with the unusual statement that he will ‘squeeze your glutes and hope for the best’.
The Penrith winger, who is charitably listed at 182cm by the NRL, joked that he has dealt with tall opposing wingers for his whole career and had a plan.
“For me, for a short guy, I just have this thing called, ‘Squeeze your glutes and hope for the best’,” he said.
“That’s pretty much my saying for just trying to compete. I’ll just do my best. Even if you’re taller than me I’ll still try and do my best [in the air]. All these wingers are taller than me. I love looking up to the challenge.
Daniel Tupou was picked ahead of Josh Addo-Carr because of his height advantage, thought to be vital given that Queensland have opted for Selwyn Cobbo and Xavier Coates, both north of 190cm. Despite the height disadvantage, To’o strength in yardage was a key factor in his inclusion in the squad.
Brad Fittler defended his call to replace Addo-Carr with Tupou in the NSW Blues squad, but revealed that his controversial decision caused ‘quite a stir’ among his players.
“[The decision] has been quite a stir with the players,” he told SEN‘s breakfast show with Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander.
“[Addo-Carr] is so unique, the way he is around camp. But I really feel that it was more of a case of Daniel Tupou playing his way in – what he’s done at the Roosters, how safe he is, the way he’s finishing, the way he brings the ball back out of trouble.
“I feel like at the moment, I don’t think it’d be right on Foxx or the team to go into game one. So we’ve communicated and he’s committed to getting back into the team and my line to him was, well, he belongs here. So that was a tough one.”
Alexander backed his former Penrith teammate’s decision, describing the Bulldogs winger – who allowed two tries to be scored past him yesterday against the Dragons – as ‘out of form’.
Brandy explained he thought the taller man, Tupou, would be better to counteract Queensland.
“Plenty of players have been picked when they’ve been in bad form or not great form,” said Alexander. “But they’ve done the job before.
“With in mind what Queensland will be picking, we just decided that we’d go with Daniel Tupou on the wing instead of Josh Addo-Carr.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“Daniel Tupou has been in great form as well. He’s also been [in Origin] before – he did a great job for us in 2020. I thought he was one of our better players in 2020.
“He’s a great carry out of his own end, he’s tall, he’s a target for our kicks, but he can also defend kicks.”
Earlier, Fittler had doubled down on his decision in his first interview on the Blues team announcement, with the coach saying that the only thing that he thought unusual about his choice was the reaction to it.
“I’m surprised that people would be surprised,” said the coach on Nine News. “He’s been pretty much the best winger for a number of years.
“I’ve coached Toups in the City team and in State of Origin previous and always loved him being part of my teams.”
On the selection of new centres Kotoni Staggs and Stephen Crichton, Fittler said that their abilities on the defensive side of the ball were the main factors in decision making.
“It’s a pretty tricky position and defensively it’s crucial,” he said. “Our centres will have a big job and will have to come up with some big decisions, but at the end of the day, it’s about the team and I don’t think one position will cost you.
“We’re very confident in the team we have and look forward to catching up with all the lads.”
Earlier, the Bulldogs captain and coach, Josh Jackson and Mick Potter, had backed their man Addo-Carr for the Blues gig.
“He’s an incumbent and he’s a very good Origin player,” said Potter. “I would be surprised if he’s not in the team. I’d be disappointed for Josh, I hope that’s not the case.
Jackson added: “He’s been really good in that Origin side, he’s been part of it for a few years now and he’s put in some great performances.
“The energy he brings around a place too, it’s pretty infectious so I’d imagine that’s something that Brad Fittler would want to have in his camp throughout the week.”