Penrith hooker Apisai Koroisau has been touted to unseat Cook by legendary NSW coach Phil Gould<\/a>, yet Finch urged the Blues to stick tight.<\/p>\n "I think Damien Cook stays there, he's the Australian hooker and someone who's played really well at Origin," Finch told Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n "While their last couple of weeks have been a bit rough against Melbourne and Penrith, South Sydney, they're in the top four and they won seven straight there at one stage.<\/p>\n "I think Cooky stays there, Api's only been back a few weeks, so to unseat the Australian hooker would be a pretty big call. I'd stay with Cooky, I'd have the Penrith boys at six and seven and then have Tedesco at fullback."<\/p>\n Finch played three Origins, the victim of what he branded a "f–king ridiculous" churn in the NSW halves during Queensland's dynasty.<\/p>\n He said that Koroisau, who has played just five NRL games this season due to injury, had not done enough to justify unseating a player of Cook's standing. Cook has played nine games for the Blues, won two series and built a strong combination with Tedesco.<\/p>\n "I don't think Api's killed it. Api's played well but it's not like he's set the house on fire. He's only just been back," Finch said.<\/p>\n "By the end of the year it might be different for the Australian team, obviously there's Harry Grant who'll push for selection as well. <\/p>\n "I think Cook deserves it, he's been very good for NSW. Sometimes it's harder to get out of these teams than get in.<\/p>\n "He's done the job for Freddy (NSW coach Brad Fittler) before, he's the Australian hooker. At the moment, he's the No.1 hooker in Australia, so I think you've got to stick with him.<\/p>\n "While they've had a tough couple of weeks, I think his form so far this year's been pretty good."<\/p>\n Finch said that Luai deserved an Origin debut in the halves, given his excellent play for the unbeaten Panthers.<\/p>\n "I'd go with the Penrith boys, their form's just been too good," he said.<\/p>\n "I don't think you could go wrong with Jack Wighton either. We saw him come in a couple of years ago and play centre for game two and do a great job.<\/p>\n "Jack Wighton would do a good job [at five-eighth] but I just think the form of Luai and Cleary deserves to be there, they've been superb now for 18 months. This year, they seem to get better and better every week.<\/p>\n "Picking on form, the Penrith boys have been by far and away the best."<\/p>\n Fittler is reportedly leaning towards naming Wighton at five-eighth<\/a>, which would leave Luai waiting for his debut.<\/p>\n Wighton is more versatile, meaning there's some chance he could play in the centres, at edge back-row or as a bench utility if Fittler opted for Luai at No.6.<\/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>\u00a0clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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