Magic Round performances will determine half a dozen contentious NSW selections, with coach Laurie Daley conceding Latrell Mitchell’s back injury remains an “unknown” ahead of the final State of Origin audition.
The Blues will pick their team after the final match of the round in Brisbane, Sunday night’s Panthers-Dragons NRL clash. NSW’s 19-man squad will be announced on Monday morning. Some of the most contentious positions are fullback, right wing, several pack spots and the composition of Origin’s first six-man bench.
There are also up to nine players being considered for a debut for the May 27 series opener in Sydney, with Daley revealing: “It won’t be coming down to incumbency, it’ll come down to who we think is playing well enough and someone that can fit into the way we want to play.”
The most intriguing calls will be whether Dylan Edwards or James Tedesco gets the fullback jersey, whether Mitchell is fit enough to warrant a starting or bench position, and whether Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton has done enough to hold his centre spot as NSW attempt to win back the series against Queensland.
Mitchell has been named for South Sydney’s clash against the Dolphins after sitting out last week due to a bulging disc in his back. However, Daley conceded there were no guarantees given the nature of the injury.
“I think we’re just gonna see where he’s at,” Daley said.
“We don’t know what he can do, so you’d like to see him play this weekend and like to see him get through injury free. The issue obviously with backs is just you’re unsure. Ideally, you’ll want everyone to be training too.”
Daley said there were several “line-ball” calls to be made and conceded up to half a dozen players weren’t locked in as yet.
“Last impressions are certainly good, put it that way,” he said.
Crichton is normally one of the first players picked, but a combination of injury and the Bulldogs’ poor form could conspire against him. Other centre options include Mitchell, Kotoni Staggs, Bradman Best, Tolutau Koula and Casey McLean.
Asked about Crichton’s prospects, Daley said: “I think you weigh up everything.
“You weigh up leadership, the aura that someone has in your group.
“Without talking about Critter in particular, I think some of those intangibles are what you’re looking for, because you know on that stage they will deliver because they’ve done it in the past.
“And that’s the thing about incumbency. Nothing’s guaranteed, but that carries a lot of weight with someone that’s performed at that level. There’s a lot of things [to consider].”
Daley declared “there will be debutants”, with several form players pushing for their first Blues jersey. They include Jackson Ford, Blayke Brailey, Addin Fonua-Blake, Ethan Strange, Koula, McLean, Preston Campbell, Dylan Lucas and Jack Bostock. Not all of them will get selected, but Daley confirmed they are all under consideration.
“They’ve all been discussed,” he said. “There will be guys that will be making their debut for NSW.”
One of the toughest decisions will be omitting either Tedesco or Edwards, who have both been in sublime touch this season.
“At the end of the day, I think it’s just a matter of how we want to play and they’re both capable of doing that,” Daley said.
“That’s what has clouded the decision, but whatever way we go, we can’t lose.
“Some days you’re sitting there thinking ‘which way will we go?’ We’ve had a lot of conversations, we’ll see what happens on the weekend.”
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