Opinion
The State of Origin series is underway and Game 2 is only days away. Both teams’ 17-man line-ups are locked in and there is much to discuss, including a Blues team that has been blown up.
NSW enforced seven changes to their 22-man squad after suffering a nailbiting six-point defeat on their home turf in Game 1. The additions include Api Koroisau, Jake Trbojevic, Victor Radley, Clint Gutherson and Jordan McLean. This match will also feature two debutants, Matt Burton and Siosifa Talakai.
The four players from that list who will be taking the field are Burton, Trbojevic, Talakai and, interestingly, Koroisau, who will replace Damien Cook as the starting hooker. The Penrith No. 9 will be intriguing to watch as he gets his opportunity to perform on the big stage. This will be Api’s second call-up of his career, as he was selected in the No. 14 jumper for Game 3 of last year’s series.
The choice of Koroisau is the right one because of his connection with fellow Penrith players on the team. Queensland’s Game 1 ruck domination has been a major talking point. The way that Api moves around the ruck is sensational, and this is a very important pick for NSW.
Damien Cook has been moved to the bench, and though I wouldn’t go as far as calling this move the passing of the torch, it may be a sign of what’s to come.
A large part of the debate has been about whether or not the Blues are copying their opposition by selecting two hookers. NSW have figured how well it worked for Queensland and how greatly it affected their authority in the ruck.
Jake Trbojevic should have been picked in Game 1, and it would’ve been a horrible decision if he were left out of the Perth match. Trbojevic may not be a flashy highlight-reel player, but the work he does in defence is incredible and perfect for Origin. His communication, passion and leadership are really strong, and I believe he will be one of the Blues’ most effective inclusions.
I don’t understand why the cockroaches have made all these changes after losing by just six points and likely being a single play-the-ball away from sending the match to extra time. For example, Ryan Matterson was dropped after a fairly average game off the bench. Liam Martin played 80 minutes, which is 44 fewer than Matterson. Martin ran the ball just seven times for 31 meters, compared to Matterson’s ten runs and 77 meters. It’s easy to decide which of these players had the better game.
I don’t understand the logic of removing Matterson but also not even considering dismissing Martin after Ryan clearly had a higher workload despite playing fewer minutes. This decision is sure to cause another slap on the forehead for Blues fans.
Josh Addo-Carr has once again not been selected, even after the high amount of demand from fans and experts. I thought Daniel Tupou had a wonderful Game 1 performance on the left wing, but the fox should’ve been there from the start of the series, and leaving him out of Game 2 is another mind-boggling decision from Brad Fittler.
I think many may disagree with me, but the Blues have pushed the panic button and there doesn’t seem to be any sort of reasoning for the mass changes. I think the Blues would have had a great chance of beating Queensland in Perth with their Game 1 side, but this current starting 17 has become worse.
Of course some of these changes were needed, such as Koroisau slotting into the No. 9 jersey or Trbojevic being jolted into the team. These decisions could turn into a catastrophic failure in Perth, and there’s nothing in particular that Queensland fans need to watch out for in Game 2.
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