{"id":400316,"date":"2024-06-06T00:50:46","date_gmt":"2024-06-06T00:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=400316"},"modified":"2024-06-06T01:04:32","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T01:04:32","slug":"nine-axed-skipper-gone-in-shake-up-blues-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=400316","title":{"rendered":"Nine axed, skipper gone in shake-up Blues need"},"content":{"rendered":"

Attack, attack, attack.<\/p>\n

That's the only way New South Wales<\/a> can save the State of Origin<\/a> series after last night's disastrous start in Sydney.<\/p>\n

Everyone is pointing to the dismissal of Joseph Suaalii as the reason the Blues lost<\/a>, but make no mistake, Queensland<\/a> were already well on top before Suaalii almost took Reece Walsh's head off.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> 'I just felt it': Inside Slater's unexpected sideline move<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Latrell's cryptic Insta post as Blues implode<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\ufeff<\/strong> 'Got me flush': Walsh, Suaalii break silence on ugly hit<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

They had split the Blues defence open several times, had already scored the opening try and were actually mounting another long raid into Blues territory when Suaalii snapped.<\/p>\n

\"Joseph<\/p>\n

Blues coach Michael Maguire went into the game with a plan to blunt Queensland's brilliant attack with tackling dynamos like Cam McInnes and Reece Robson.<\/p>\n

But that was never going to work once the Blues were reduced to 12 men and now major surgery is required to square the series in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

I'd bring in eight new players \u2013 fullback Dylan Edwards, Souths' Latrell Mitchell, boom Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange, Eels half Mitchell Moses, Warriors duo Mitch Barnett and Wayde Egan, Souths forward Cam Murray and Tigers hooker Api Koroisau.<\/p>\n

All are attacking specialists who have the speed and daring to give the pacey Maroons a run for their money.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2024 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.\ufeff<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Jake<\/p>\n

So, who should go?<\/p>\n

Sadly, I can't find a place for skipper Jake Trbojevic given the bizarre way he was used last night<\/a>. If a captain is going to play less than half an hour and make a mere 37 metres from five runs, there's just no point having him there.<\/p>\n

Jake is Origin through and through, but if that's the way the Blues are going to use him he needs to go.<\/p>\n

NSW will get more value out of Barnett, a player capable of big minutes with the ability to bend the defensive line.<\/p>\n

James Tedesco did a fine job as a late call-up but if Dylan Edwards is fit, he deserves his chance.<\/p>\n

\"James<\/p>\n

Suaalii wasn't up to the big occasion \u2013 and will probably be out suspended anyway \u2013 but Latrell is the man to come in and fill his shoes. Latrell has struggled at fullback at times but in the centres, he has the size and speed to worry Queensland.<\/p>\n

I called for Strange to be given a chance in game one, even though I knew he would not get picked. And he won't get a go in the return bout either, even though he's the form five-eighth of the Blues-eligible players.<\/p>\n

The teenager has played only a handful of NRL games but is fearless and already looks a 100-game veteran.<\/p>\n

I'd pick him for Jarome Luai, who tried hard to spark the Blues but missed nine tackles, several of which led to tries. The Maroons clearly like playing against Luai and have had great success in recent years targeting him in defence.<\/p>\n

\"Nicho<\/p>\n

Moses is a no-brainer \u2013 I would have added him to the squad after his brilliant display in his comeback from injury last weekend. He will replace Nicho Hynes, who still hasn't quite mastered this level of football.<\/p>\n

Playing two speedy hookers out of dummyhalf \u2013 Harry Grant and Ben Hunt \u2013 works great for the Maroons, and NSW need to do the same.<\/p>\n

Egan has been the secret ingredient in the Warrors' successes over the past 18 months and Koroisau is superb around the ruck with his pace and ball skills.<\/p>\n

Murray should be fit again and will bring more to the team than McInnes, who tried his heart out, but lacked the attacking strike power to worry Queensland.<\/p>\n

The Mole's Blues team for State of Origin II \ufeff<\/h3>\n

1.<\/strong> Dylan Edwards 2.<\/strong> Brian To'o 3.<\/strong> Stephen Crichton 4.<\/strong> Latrell Mitchell 5.<\/strong> Zac Lomax 6.<\/strong> Ethan Strange 7.<\/strong> Mitchell Moses 8.<\/strong> Mitchell Barnett 9.<\/strong> Apisai Koroisau 10.<\/strong> Payne Haas 11.<\/strong> Liam Martin 12.<\/strong> Angus Crichton 13.<\/strong> Cameron Murray 14.<\/strong> Matt Burton 15.<\/strong> Haumole Olakau'atu 16.<\/strong> Spencer Leniu 17.<\/strong> Wayde Egan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Attack, attack, attack. That's the only way New South Wales can save the State of Origin series after last night's disastrous start in Sydney. Everyone […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":400318,"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\/400316"}],"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=400316"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":400323,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400316\/revisions\/400323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/400318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=400316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=400316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=400316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}