Seven days until he names his squad for Game 2, coach Laurie Daley will be forced into at least one change with Brailey suffering a broken arm over the weekend against the Manly Sea Eagles.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779017096_680_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Although Johns backed Apisai Koroisau to replace Brailey, the Immortal floated the idea of Sydney Roosters enforcer Victor Radley being used as a back-up hooker.<\/p>\n
While Radley was used in the middle for the Blues during the season-opener, he has spent limited time in the past in the dummy-half role during his time with the Tricolours.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you said to me now, \u2018Who would Laurie pick?\u2019, I would say if Api Koroisau comes back and plays well, I think it\u2019s Api Koroisau,\u201d Johns said Nine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other option I suppose would be to have a player like Victor Radley who could play dummy-half.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen him do that at the Roosters. But I think Laurie would more like Victor to play in the middle as a middle forward.\u201c<\/p>\n
McLean stars again after Origin debut | 06:59<\/p>\n
The surprising idea from Johns comes days after he urged the Blues to make several changes to their side, including axing Canterbury Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last 23 minutes, it was a false economy, because you\u2019re playing against 12 men and players out of position,\u201d Johns said on The Immortal Behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the first 57 minutes is what you\u2019ve got to judge your selections. It\u2019s intriguing.\u201d<\/p>\n
While he originally stated that Latrell Mitchell (who has now been confirmed to miss Game 2<\/a>) should enter the line-up, Casey McLean and Tolutau Koula can both play in the centres.<\/p>\n This could likely see Koula retain his spot on the wing and McLean move from the six-man bench to the centres after a remarkable performance on Sunday evening<\/a> against the second-place New Zealand Warriors.<\/p>\n Kalyn Ponga’s horror ear injury (digitally blurred) and NSW enforcer Victor Radley.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n PONGA REVEALS GRUESOME INJURY<\/p>\n He may have been sent off for a tackle on Tolu Koula in the series-opener, but Kalyn Ponga has revealed that he suffered a gruesome injury during his clash with the Sea Eagles outside back.<\/p>\n The fullback posted on social media that he sustained a deep cut to his left ear in the incident and was bleeding immediately after the clash of heads.<\/p>\n Despite the injury, he suited up for the Newcastle Knights on Saturday afternoon and played a starring role in their victory over the Eels.<\/p>\n Finishing with 141 running metres, three tackle busts and a line-break assist, he is now preparing for Game 2 of the State of Origin series.<\/p>\n While the decision to send him from the field in Game 1 was controversial, the NRL\u2019s GM of Football, Graham Annesley, backed Ashley Klein\u2019s ruling.<\/p>\n