Stephen Crichton will reportedly retain his place in the NSW side for State of Origin 2, despite Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler both calling for him to be left out. And Blues coach Laurie Daley will reportedly resist making major changes despite getting out of jail in Game 1.
The Daily Telegraph and Channel 9 are reporting that Payne Haas will come in for Daniel Saifiti and start in the front-row, pushing one of Addin Fonua-Blake or Mitch Barnett back to the bench. Saifiti was unused in Game 1 and will make way for the return of Broncos prop Haas.
Andrew Johns (R) had called for Casey McLean to be picked over Stephen Crichton (L). Image: Getty
Dylan Lucas has reportedly won a call-up to the six-man bench after he was 20th man in Game 1, while Api Koroisau is no certainty to come in for the injured Blayke Brailey as the back-up hooker. Aside from that Daley will reportedly stick solid and resist making major changes.
Mitch Moses will start at five-eighth and move Ethan Strange back to the bench if he gets through a fitness test in camp, with Eels coach Jason Ryles already stating he’ll be right to play Origin 2.
Crichton and Kotoni Staggs will reportedly remain the centre pairing as long as Crichton gets through Monday’s game between the Bulldogs and Eels unscathed. Last week Andrew Johns called for Crichton to be left out and brother Matty said he’d axe Staggs.
Speaking last week, Andrew said Panthers whiz-kid Casey McLean “has to start” after his brilliant performance in Game 1 when he came off the bench. Fittler said Crichton could use a rest and called for him to be put on ice for a potential Game 3 decider.
“I just feel like he’s carrying an injury, he hurt that shoulder earlier (in the season) and I just feel like he hasn’t really recovered,” the former NSW coach said. “So I’d be giving him a little bit of a rest, even a rest (in preparation) for Game 3. Because if they do need to win I’d be taking Stephen Crichton over a kid up to Queensland.”
Stephen Crichton (R) hasn’t been in the best of form.
(Brendon Thorne via Getty Images)Casey McLean ‘fine’ despite injury scare
But McLean will reportedly remain on the bench with Tolu Koula also retaining his starting spot on the wing. Koula was concussed by the shoulder charge that saw Kalyn Ponga sent off in Game 1, but made a successful return in Manly’s win over Souths on Friday night.
McLean failed to finish Penrith’s win over the Wests Tigers on Sunday due to an ankle issue, but later said he’s “completely fine” and was kept off as a precaution during the 68-0 thrashing.
Likely NSW team for State of Origin 2:
1. James Tedesco 2. Brian To’o 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Tolu Koula 6. Mitch Moses 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Payne Haas 9. Reece Robson 10. Mitch Barnett 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Hudson Young 13. Isaah Yeo
14. Cameron Murray 15. Victor Radley 16. Addin Fonua-Blake 17. Api Koroisau/Dylan Lucas 18. Ethan Strange 19. Casey McLean