NSW coach Laurie Daley has addressed several major selection calls that he made for the State of Origin decider, including the huge decision to drop Brian To’o who is one try away from becoming the Blues’ greatest try-scorer.

The nuggety Panthers winger has scored 11 tries in 17 appearances for his state, with To’o a weapon coming out of the backfield with his yardage.

But he’s been dropped for the decider after making several errors in the series opener, while he struggled for Penrith over the weekend in their shock loss to the Cowboys.

Jack Bostock will replace him on the left wing where he’ll make his Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium, with the Dolphins outside back an aerial threat after To’o was outjumped by Jojo Fifita for a try in Origin II.

“It’s always difficult when you’re ringing players, in particular the ones that have been there for a long period of time. I think someone said (he played) 17 straight Origin games and he’s a Brad Fittler Medal winner,” Daley said.

“He brings so much energy and he brings a lot to the footy team, but we just feel like he’s down on confidence a touch.

“It was a tough decision, a tough phone call. They’re not the ones you want to make, but you have to make them because it’s about the team, it’s not about the individual.

“He was supportive of the team and obviously wants to see us do well, so he wished us all the best, and he’ll be in spirit with us on Wednesday night.”

Daley made six changes from the side that lost by 20 points at the MCG, with Stephen Crichton, Bradman Best, Haumole Olakau’atu, Liam Martin and Blayke Brailey all returning to the side, while Tolu Koula drops to the bench with Bostock to start.

The coach said he was confident that this was the right team to win the decider, with Martin a big inclusion on the right edge where he’ll provide plenty of aggression after working his way back for Penrith following a knee injury.

“I think we’ve just got to get the best out of Liam. If that’s 50 minutes, it’s 50 minutes; if it’s 80 minutes, it’s 80 minutes,” Daley said.

“It’s like anyone, whatever time they get on the field, they’ve just got to give it everything they’ve got. That’s the way we’re sort of looking at it, but we’ve got options there.

“I think we’ve got a good, balanced bench to be able to provide cover in all positions, so it’s a matter of us just being better than what we were in the second half in game two.”

One of those bench options is Olakau’atu, who is coming off two tries for Manly on the weekend, with the barnstorming back-rower to run at Queensland’s Cameron Munster if he comes on in his preferred spot on the right.

Olakau’atu has been the form edge forward this season but was sensationally dumped for game two after he was forced off with cramps in the series opener.

“I think those conversations are private,” Daley replied when asked why he dropped the star forward.

“I mean, if Haumole wants to tell you, he can tell you, but as a coach, I wouldn’t like to do that.

“He knew where we were and what we needed to see, and it’s been a good response from him because he handled himself really well in Melbourne as well.

“You wouldn’t have known that he was disappointed from being dropped, but the way he trained and prepared shows you what a quality human he is as well.”

Daley said Manly’s Tom Trbojevic was considered but other players were in front of him, while he backed Mitch Moses to fire after he had a horror game for the Eels last week.

Originally published as ‘Down on confidence’: Laurie Daley explains the brutal call to axe Brian To’o for the Origin decider