Former Blues star Braith Anasta has once again urged NSW Laurie Daley to promote Cam Murray to the starting line up to help arrest the team’s shocking first half record.
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Dating back to the start of last series when Daley took over, the Blues have been outscored 68-26 in first halves (four games).
Anasta was strong in his position to start Murray at lock ahead of the first game of the series. In the end, Daley kept the 1-19 as named, with Murray off the pine in jersey No. 14.
The Blues would quickly fall behind 20-0, no match for a fast-starting Maroons side, continuing their dreadful first half run.
“He has to start Cam Murray and Isaah Yeo either has to go to the front row or to the bench,” Anasta opined.
“I don’t have a problem with them picking the same team and backing the same group of guys that got the job done but the start needs to be a hell of a lot better and they need to change it.
“If he doesn’t do that, I have grave fears.
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“I don’t want to discredit the job Radley and Murray do off the bench but with an extra player on the field, of course the players coming on at the back end were effective.
“If we’re going to pick the same team, let’s focus on what we got wrong and let’s fix that.”
Anasta believes Murray’s energy and quick play the ball will prove to be a huge asset for the Blues early in the contest.