The mixed and “confusing” messaging on Blues standout Ethan Strange from coach Laurie Daley has been called out, with suggestions he could be playing “mind games” ahead of Game 2.
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Daley has been insistent that Strange, who starred in his Origin debut in place of Mitchell Moses, will play some role off the bench for New South Wales in Melbourne.
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The question, however, is how Strange will get onto the field considering the Blues are stacked for options at lock forward with Isaah Yeo, Cameron Murray and Victor Radley while Hudson Young and Dylan Lucas are also capable of going the full 80 minutes in the second row.
Daley raised eyebrows during Tuesday’s press conference when he said Strange would come on in the back row, leaving NRL 360 host Braith Anasta to admit he hopes the Blues coach “has us all fooled”.
“They’ve got Murray and Radley on the bench, so what happens to the rotation on the bench if you’re going to bring Strange on in the back row?” he said on Tuesday night.
“You’ve got two back rowers in Young and Lucas, who I thought he picked because they could play 80 minutes. Olakau’atu, who’s been left out, has been arguably the best back rower in the competition. I’m confused.
“The only thing that gives me a bit of hope is (Blues assistant coach) Boyd (Cordner) said he could be used anywhere and he could be… he can cover many positions.”
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However, even if Strange was to get onto the field that likely means Addin Fonua-Blake would miss out, which could leave the Blues light on up front.
From last week when the Blues squad for Game 2 was first released, Daley has been firm in his message that Strange will get on the field in some capacity.
Whether that will end up being the case won’t be answered until Wednesday night, and it may be a product of Daley wanting to publicly back Strange given the criticism he copped for dropping him in favour of the talented but previously injured Mitchell Moses.
Either way, Code Sports reporter Michael Carayannis said the fact Daley has been so confident in guaranteeing Strange will play in Game 2 is, pardon the pun, “strange”.
“He didn’t say not if (but) when he comes onto the field. All things being equal we assume Ethan Strange is going to be one of the New South Wales bench players used and I find that very strange to guarantee he will come on and start in the back row because he was outstanding in game one,” Carayannis said on NRL 360.
“No one is discounting that. But just because he starred playing six in game one, for mine, doesn’t mean you have to find a role for him in game two.
“You’re going to move Murray and Radley from the middle of the field to the edge when you could have had Olakau’atu? None of it makes sense.”
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Cordner defends Daley against critics | 01:56
As foxsports.com.au columnist Paul Crawley went on to point out, Daley told NRL 360 last week that Strange would likely play in the middle before on Tuesday saying the Raiders halfback would come on in the back row.
“Which I assume means an edge,” he added.
“So was he telling the truth last week or was he telling the truth today or is he playing mind games?”
It is a question that will hang over the lead-up to Wednesday’s game until the second half, when Strange is most likely to be injected into the contest if he does in fact play.
Matt Burton had a similar role in the series opener and was only brought on late when the Blues were chasing points.