{"id":306961,"date":"2023-06-12T01:29:07","date_gmt":"2023-06-12T01:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=306961"},"modified":"2023-06-12T01:58:37","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T01:58:37","slug":"gal-picks-three-bolters-if-injuries-drop-star-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=306961","title":{"rendered":"Gal picks three bolters if injuries drop star Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"

NRL great PAUL GALLEN will appear on Nine's 100% FOOTY every Monday night of the NRL season, debating rugby league's hottest topics alongside Phil Gould and James Bracey. Tune in tonight at 10.40pm (AEST) following a bumper round 15!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ideally you don't want to be making mass changes during a State of Origin<\/a> series, but New South Wales<\/a> \ufeffwill be forced to make at least some thanks to a number of injuries.<\/p>\n

Obviously the one everyone is talking about is at halfback, after Nathan Cleary<\/a>'s hamstring injury ruled him out for game two.<\/p>\n

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But the forward pack also has a number of clouds hanging over it with Liam Martin and Cameron Murray racing the clock to be fit.<\/p>\n

\"ADELAIDE,<\/p>\n

\ufeffWhile I hope both those guys do get up to play at Suncorp Stadium, the Blues do have a number of back-up options available if needed.<\/p>\n

LIKELY BLUES PACK<\/strong>: 8\ufeff. Payne Haas 9. Damien Cook 10. Junior Paulo 11. Cameron Murray 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Blayke Brailey 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Hudson Young\ufeff<\/p>\n

ALTERNATIVE BLUES PACK<\/strong>: 8\ufeff. Payne Haas 9. Damien Cook 10. Junior Paulo 11. Hudson Young 12. Haumole Olakau'atu 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Blayke Brailey 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Tevita Pangai Jr\ufeff<\/p>\n

If both Martin and Murray are ruled out I'd be starting Hudson Young on the left edge, and \ufeffHaumole Olakau'atu from Manly on the right.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2023 State of Origin series LIVE and exclusive on Channel 9 and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Olakau'atu or Keaon Koloamatangi from South Sydney are both gun right-edge players and either could come in to do a job for NSW.<\/p>\n

Tyson Frizell deserves to keep his spot in the team but I'd move him to the bench.\ufeff<\/p>\n

The guy I'd love to see brought into the side is Spencer Leniu from Penrith.<\/p>\n

He was in my ideal Blues team before game one, before a ruptured testicle at training robbed him of a chance at a call-up.<\/p>\n

Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Watching him go head to head with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on Saturday shows he is the kind of bloke who will never take a backward step, although I do think JWH got the better of that contest by the end.<\/p>\n

In today's game you can't throw punches so there's not much point trying to carry on with a scuffle once the ref steps in. You're better off walking away, which I think Leniu will learn.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Leniu will regret getting sin-binned. It wasn't a good look for the game or for him.<\/p>\n

But he is a terrific player, and I reckon he is a player who could shine in the Origin arena if given a chance.<\/p>\n

\ufeffThe other area the Blues need to fill is hooker, after Api Koroisau's injury.<\/p>\n

Damien Cook is an obvious replacement in the No.9 jersey, and I'm backing Sharks rake Blayke Brailey to earn a debut and play off the bench.<\/p>\n

The other guy in contention is Reece Robson from the Cowboys, who definitely deserves to be considered.<\/p>\n

Robson is more robust and tough and a bigger body, while Brailey is quick and crafty.<\/p>\n

If Robson debuts I reckon he has to start, and I'd bring Cook off the bench. If Brailey plays I'd have Cook starting and then bring Brailey on later to weave some magic around the ruck.<\/p>\n

Whichever way Freddy and his selectors decide to go, I'm confident the Blues can field a team capable of winning in Brisbane.\ufeff<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NRL great PAUL GALLEN will appear on Nine's 100% FOOTY every Monday night of the NRL season, debating rugby league's hottest topics alongside Phil Gould […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":306963,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306961"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=306961"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":306967,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306961\/revisions\/306967"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/306963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=306961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=306961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=306961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}