Despite growing calls for Blues coach Laurie Daley to hand Murray the starting role and shift skipper Isaah Yeo to either the bench or the starting front row, Cordner refused to reveal which way the coaching staff was leaning.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m going to have to keep that tight-lipped,\u201d Cordner said on NRL 360.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to give away too much there, but (they are) both world-class locks. It\u2019s a really tough decision that one, but that\u2019s all I\u2019ll say on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 17: Could Cameron Murray finally start at lock?Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The mind games from the Blues assistant coach have only fuelled speculation over the selection dilemma with former great Braith Anasta stating that it is a \u201cno-brainer\u201d that Murray should start.<\/p>\n
\u201cMurray will start, Murray will start, and I\u2019ll show you why. It\u2019s a no-brainer to me,\u201d the ten-time Blues representative and NRL 360 co-host said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHave a look at these carries from Isaah Yeo when Murray started at 13. Yeo was obviously directed here by Michael Maguire just to run the ball, don\u2019t look to pass, make your metres, find your elbows and knees.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at these carries when they won the series up at Suncorp, he was outstanding. He\u2019s not looking to pass, he\u2019s not worried about executing a game plan or getting the ball to Nathan Cleary. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just thinking he\u2019s going to run over as many Queenslanders as he can, play the ball as quick as he can, then the halves can play off the back of that and the service out of nine will be better.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Need to fight fire with fire!” | 00:57<\/p>\n
While much of the focus has been centred around the lock position, the Blues assistant also revealed that the state has a clear plan for their hooker rotation with Blayke Brailey set to play a key role after returning to the side for the series decider.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlayke Brailey’s coming back in gives us that other dimension in and around the ruck, playing footy, so the plan will be similar there,\u201d Cordner added.<\/p>\n
\u201cDepending on how the game goes with Robbo [Reece Robson], but definitely (the plan is to) get Brailey on and get him some action for sure. <\/p>\n
\u201cI really thought in Game I that he really offered us a lot through the middle there and freed up our halves <\/p>\n
The comments come after Apisai Koroisau wasn\u2019t used in Game II and the Blues instead decided to utilise Reece Robson for the entire 80 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of conversation about that, probably more so about the Api change,\u201d Cordner continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough that time we had a player sent to the bin so we had to fix our edges up first and Strangey [Ethan Strange] was still on the bench there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to put him out into the centres to defend there which cost Api his game time so there\u2019s been a lot of talk about that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut (we\u2019re) super clear on our game plan going up here in Game III and the interchange.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Daily Telegraph 27.5.2024 Westpac NSW Blues coach press conference coach Michael Maguire. Picture: Rohan KellySource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n