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.
Freddy defends Addo-Carr call
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.”
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Addo car is made for origin.. put him with gd halves and he scores 6 tries ( storm)… ridiculous to dump the speed demon
Ugh
Guest
Fittler! What were you thinking? Leaving the fastest winger (JAC) in the World Out of SOO Game 1! You got to be kidding me! JAC is a far better choice than the one you have selected to replace him. JAC is a Star! Always will be! Josh Addo Carr, is the reason I watch SOO. Games just won't be the same without him. I still can't believe he won't be playing...
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Is it 30k a game! Wow
Cat Brown
Guest
All class young man. Well done. And that's from a one eyed Queenslander
Hunters
Roar Rookie
Not sure the basis of your opinion on Tupou. There is no winger more consistent or tough returning kicks under pressure from the advancing forwards. His face is not that expressive but he speaks with his actions more than words. Does a lot of hard work without compliant or hesitancy. Will miss JAC but I expect Tupou to be tough on the opposition.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
No big loss late……
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Agree on Crichton not being in the squad ahead of Wighton. But to your point about defence, AJ plays wing for a team that has allowed 15 wingers to score 20 tries against them in 12 games (which includes 3 games against the 2 worst teams). And among players who have played 5 or more games on the wing in 2022, Alex Johnson ranks 36th out of 37 wingers for average runs per game. The only player behind him is Jason Saab. You don't make Origin with those stats. And as a slight correction he is tied with two other players for second most tries this season, not the top try scorer.
Poss
Roar Rookie
But in the mean time the Roosters have to go without him (Suaalli) while all the origin games are being played (depending if they want him in 1,2 & 3 Origin) When our draw is playing the better teams & we have four of our best players out due to Origin..And the Chooks have been struggling for most of this year.. :angry:
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Do you seriously think he was ever going to play, it’s following a pretty tried system of getting talented young guys in and around the squad, showing them the type of thing that they might expect and pumping up their tyres a bit because it benefits both party’s in the long term.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Suaalii Lolol……joke of a selection. It’s mind boggling why he’s been selected. What’s he done to deserve selection? This stinks of Fittler favouritism! Numerous other players deserve selection before him. He’s taken a few bombs, scored a few try’s & suddenly he’s an immortal in waiting. Has done absolutely zero in his 12 games to date to justify his selection & is so far behind Selwyn Cobbo in talent.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
You call Fittler a coach lololol……has done jack $hit as a coach! It’s not his coaching that has won NSW the origin shield! It’s the glamour players at his disposal. Without them he’s got zero as a coach. His selection of Saifiti, Suaalii, Frizzell & his omission of JAC & Jrbo shows he has zero as a coach……along with Johns who I’m sure had a lot to do with the selection of Saifiti & Frizell. QLD 3 zip for mine.
Muzz
Guest
Let's keep this thread rolling for all 3 games. It's awesome. Not!
Tony
Roar Guru
Exactly. I'd be running it at Holmes' side more often than not. Holmes has a long history of poor defensive reads and he's going to have an inexperienced winger outside him. Staggs could have a field day.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
You'd think Cleary would be grubbering behind the line to To'o and Luai taking advantage of Coates' wide turning circle.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The QLD wingers are good attacking players but both are ordinary readers in defence. Both play right wing , so one will have to go to the unfamiliar left side. If I was NSW coach I would be running with ball in hand at both of them, but especially to Coates' side ! Wouldn't worry about kicking bombs at them, but maybe put up the odd one around the posts.
Nat
Roar Guru
I think we are saying the same thing. Crichton will only get a start in case of injury. That’s why I thought Wighton would be a better #14, he too can play 1 - 7 & a loose middle if needed. Especially since RCG is the only middle on the bench. Dunno, i guess i just always think a game as tough as this should have 17 players with a specific plan and role.
theHunter
Guest
I don't know if JAC is taller than To'o but if Maroons are fielding Cobbo and either Coates or Oates on the other end, what is there to justify the selection of one and the non-selection of the other? To'o is going to be a target and the way the Maroons wingers have been playing they will give him a night to forget. While QLD will be kicking for both their wingers, Blues will just be kicking for Tupou since Mitchell and Turbo are no longer there for extra threat. This will be an easy read for the QLD back 3 to cover.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I reckon Hynes has been caught out a few times in defence in the front line at times at the Sharks. I can recall Wighton turning him inside out a couple of times in Canberra earlier this season and in a couple of more recent matches against the Broncos and Chooks. I reckon that might have influenced the selectors in opting for Wighton / Crichton as the 14 ?
The Barry
Roar Guru
That would make more sense for mine… If that’s the case, all things being equal, I’d probably prefer Hynes on the bench over Wighton, but the injury sub scenarios get pretty interesting. A lot of the NSW backline are one position specialists so it’s hard to cover
Albo
Roar Rookie
No. Crichton can actually cover any position in the backline. He can slot in at left or right centre , left or right wing, or at fullback. He's played all those positions . And if a 6 or 7 goes down, Wighton moves there, and Crichton to his centre spot. And he kicks goals if Cleary goes down. In saying all that, if the team announced is to stay as 1-17, I suspect he will get little time on the park without a backline injury or HAI issue.