Matters of State: Api replacement and other Blues selection calls

The loss of Api Koroisau has thrown the door open for Damien Cook's Origin recall but Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey may also be a contender for NSW selection.

Brailey was in camp with the Blues ahead of their 24-18 loss in the series opener at Adelaide Oval and his claims would be boosted if NSW coach Brad Fittler opts for Cronulla team-mate Nicho Hynes to replace Nathan Cleary at halfback   

The Blues need a new halfback and hooker after injuries to Cleary (hamstring) and Koroisau (broken jaw) but with the series on the line at Suncorp Stadium on June 21, Fittler was already considering what changes are needed.

For the Blues there are now no second chances and Fittler and his coaching staff would have been pondering whether they had got the selections right at Adelaide Oval, or how the team could be improved.

Fittler is now forced to revamp his spine and if he continues to favour combinations forged at club level, the former Rabbitohs pairing of Cook and Adam Reynolds could be re-united, possibly along with Cody Walker.

Walker will miss South Sydney's match against St George Illawarra due to a quad strain but Rabbitohs officials believe he should be fit for Origin if needed.

Whichever way Fittler leans is likely to have ramifications on other positions as NSW aim to create history by becoming the first Blues team to overcome defeat in the series opener by winning Game II in Brisbane and triumphing in the decider.   

Bulldogs prop Tevita Pangai Junior was replaced just nine minutes into the second stint of his Origin debut after conceding a penalty, turning over the ball with an attempted offload that led to Queensland’s second try.

Hynes, the 2022 Dally M Medallist, played just 12 minutes in the unfamiliar role of right centre after Tom Trbojevic was called from the field for a HIA and the Sharks halfback missed a tackle on Cameron Munster that led to Queensland’s third try.

If Trbojevic had been able to continue it is unclear whether Hynes would have got on at all, as Fittler was planning to use him to replace Koroisau for the final 20 minutes but felt the Wests Tigers hooker was playing too well

Latrell Mitchell was a late withdrawal for Origin I after suffering a calf injury in NSW’s last training session before travelling to Adelaide and while the Rabbitohs superstar is expected to be available for selection he won’t have played since May 19.

South Sydney team-mate Cameron Murray was forced from the field with a groin injury during last Saturday night’s match against the Titans and has not been named for this weekend’s clash with the Dragons.

Fullback

Penrith’s Dylan Edwards will get an opportunity to further his Origin claims when the back-to-back premiers take on Sydney Roosters on Saturday night but the only way James Tedesco won’t be the NSW No.1 is if he is injured or suspended.

Tedesco is the Australian, NSW and Roosters captain and while he hasn’t been at his best this season, his work ethic and commitment have never been questioned, and you sense he is close to a big performance.

Should Tedesco be unavailable for any reason the Blues also have the option of selecting Mitchell or Trbojevic at fullback, where they play week-in and week-out for South Sydney and Manly respectively.

Outside Backs

This is the area that would be causing Fittler as much of a headache as his choice of a new Blues halfback, with Mitchell likely to be available, Stephen Crichton having performed well after his late call-up and Trbojevic being cleared to play for the Sea Eagles against the Dolphins.

Brian To’o’s spot is secure on one wing, but Fittler could switch him to the right side where he plays for Penrith, as Josh Addo-Carr was also on the opposite wing to his left side he usually plays for Canterbury.

That could depend on the make-up of the NSW centres, as Fittler had initially chosen his backline to replicate the left edge of Mitchell and To’o and right edge of Trbojevic and Addo-Carr used in the winning 2021 series.

Other players in the selection mix are South Sydney’s Campbell Graham, Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs and Canterbury’s Matt Burton.

Graham was initially named as 18th man for Origin I but sent back to South Sydney due to concerns about his inability to train fully in the early in sessions and replaced by Crichton, before Burton was eventually called up for the role.

Graham can also play on the wing, where he starred for the Kangaroos during last year’s World Cup campaign in England, while Burton and Staggs played in the centres for NSW during last year’s Origin series.

Halves

The simplest choice for Fittler would be to promote Hynes to the starting side as halfback alongside Jarome Luai as he has been a member of the squad for three years and has earned his spot.

Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses is also an option and he partnered with Jack Wighton at the scrumbase for the Blues the last time Cleary was unavailable in the 2021 dead rubber at Cbus Super Stadium.

However, there is a strong push for Reynolds and with Koroisau also out there could be a domino effect, with calls to re-unite the Broncos veteran with former Rabbitohs team-mates Walker and Cook.

Hooker

Cook is an obvious choice, but Brailey was in camp with the Blues as a non-playing member of the squad for Origin I and Fittler may lean towards him if Hynes gets the nod at halfback.  

If Fittler selects Moses or Reynolds in the halves, Hynes is likely to retain his place on the bench.

North Queensland's Reece Robson is another hooker in contention and was in the extended squad during last year's series 

Middle Forwards

Pangai knows his place is in jeopardy and is hoping to convince Fittler to stick by him with another strong performance for the Bulldogs against the Eels on Monday, with Penrith prop Spencer Leniu the main contender to replace him.

Jake Trbojevic would have been a certain selection for Origin I if fit but he remains injured.

Junior Paulo was effective coming off the bench 10 minutes before halftime, while Liam Martin had a huge impact and was arguably NSW’s best player after replacing Pangai midway through the first half.

Payne Haas is considered the best prop in the game, while Paulo, lock Isaah Yeo, Martin and Murray are thought to be certain selections if available.

Backrowers

Tyson Frizell was among NSW’s best in Origin I and played the opening 72 minutes, while debutant Hudson Young performed well but didn’t see any more action after his opening 30 minutes stint.

Young was replaced by Murray, whose footwork and creativity, along with Paulo’s offloads and Martin’s aggression, helped swing momentum in favour of NSW, so Fittler would be unlikely to change much.

Interchange

The Blues got their first half bench rotation just about spot on with Martin, Murray and Paulo having an immediate impact on the game as NSW took control to lead 18-16 with just six minutes remaining.

However, the role of Hynes raises questions about whether the Blues should revert to the dual hooker model used last season with Koroisau and Cook.

Rabbitohs forward Keon Koloamatangi offers versatility as he can play as an edge backrower or in the middle, and even dummy half if needed – a role he played for Tonga at last year’s World Cup.