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\u2019o who is one try away from becoming the Blues\u2019 greatest try-scorer.<\/p>\n
The nuggety Panthers winger has scored 11 tries in 17 appearances for his state, with To\u2019o a weapon coming out of the backfield with his yardage. <\/p>\n
But he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Jack Bostock will replace him on the left wing where he\u2019ll make his Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium, with the Dolphins outside back an aerial threat after To\u2019o was outjumped by Jojo Fifita for a try in Origin II.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always difficult when you\u2019re 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\u2019s a Brad Fittler Medal winner,\u201d Daley said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe brings so much energy and he brings a lot to the footy team, but we just feel like he\u2019s down on confidence a touch. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a tough decision, a tough phone call. They\u2019re not the ones you want to make, but you have to make them because it\u2019s about the team, it\u2019s not about the individual. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was supportive of the team and obviously wants to see us do well, so he wished us all the best, and he\u2019ll be in spirit with us on Wednesday night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daley made six changes from the side that lost by 20 points at the MCG, with Stephen Crichton, Bradman Best, Haumole Olakau\u2019atu, Liam Martin and Blayke Brailey all returning to the side, while Tolu Koula drops to the bench with Bostock to start. <\/p>\n
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\u2019ll provide plenty of aggression after working his way back for Penrith following a knee injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve just got to get the best out of Liam. If that\u2019s 50 minutes, it\u2019s 50 minutes; if it\u2019s 80 minutes, it\u2019s 80 minutes,\u201d Daley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like anyone, whatever time they get on the field, they\u2019ve just got to give it everything they\u2019ve got. That\u2019s the way we\u2019re sort of looking at it, but we\u2019ve got options there. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve got a good, balanced bench to be able to provide cover in all positions, so it\u2019s a matter of us just being better than what we were in the second half in game two.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of those bench options is Olakau\u2019atu, who is coming off two tries for Manly on the weekend, with the barnstorming back-rower to run at Queensland\u2019s Cameron Munster if he comes on in his preferred spot on the right.<\/p>\n
Olakau\u2019atu 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think those conversations are private,\u201d Daley replied when asked why he dropped the star forward. <\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, if Haumole wants to tell you, he can tell you, but as a coach, I wouldn\u2019t like to do that. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe knew where we were and what we needed to see, and it\u2019s been a good response from him because he handled himself really well in Melbourne as well. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daley said Manly\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n