Michael Maguire has named his Game II NSW team, and there’s been five big moves made as the Blues attempt to take the 2024 series to a decider.
Nicho Hynes and Cameron McInnes have been dropped, while Latrell Mitchell has been called on to fill the hole left by Joseph Suaalii’s suspension.
Mitchell Moses wins the halfback spot after being injured for the series opener, while a new bench utility will make his Origin debut.
The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Meanwhile, Hudson Young has dropped off the bench and James Tedesco has been replaced at fullback.
NSW have a big job on their hands and will have to secure a win on neutral soil in Melbourne, before an even bigger task faces then in the Suncorp Stadium furnace.
Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down the winners and losers from NSW’s Game II squad announcement.
NSW TEAM CONFIRMED: Maguire makes FIVE changes as Blues swing the axe
WINNERS
CONNOR WATSON
Michael Maguire made it clear he was going to be selecting on form once he took over as NSW head coach.
Connor Watson, in every position he’s been forced to play in, has been on fire for the Roosters and is the definition of a utility player.
The former Knights gun missed out on the series opener due to a throat injury, but reports suggested he would have made his debut in Game I if fit.
The 28-year-old has now been picked on the bench, leapfrogging 18th man Matt Burton to a spot on the pine.
So far in 2024, Watson has played off the bench, at five-eighth, at lock and in the No.9 jersey, playing a starring role in his side’s Round 15 win over the Eels at hooker.
Speaking after that game, Roosters coach Trent Robinson heaped praise on Watson, who endured an injury-riddled 2023 campaign before returning as a key cog in the Tricolours machine.
“I was about to put him out at centre tonight, he can play hooker, he can play No.13, he can play centre, he can play No.6. But his biggest asset is his energy,” Robinson said.
“He makes other guys feel really good about how they play, his communication skills are high, he’s an incredible teammate. So I think he will put his hand up.”
DYLAN EDWARDS
It was a nightmare scenario for Dylan Edwards ahead of the series opener.
With all of his focus on making his Origin debut, whilst doing extra training the Panthers gun suffered a quad injury that ruled him out.
James Tedesco filled his place and performed admirably, but Maguire knew who his first choice fullback was and Edwards only needed to get through Penrith’s clash with the Knights unscathed to return to the No.1 jersey.
Now, despite a set back, Edwards finally gets to fulfil his dream of wearing the sky blue jersey and represent his state.
The Panthers star is all effort, and his support game is second to none, likely a big factor in Maguire’s decision.
When votes went behind closed doors, Edwards was also the outright leader for this year’s Dally M voting, leading Nicho Hynes with 31 votes.
It’s hard to argue Edwards isn’t deserving of taking back his No.1 jersey, even after Tedesco scored and was impressive in the series opener.
Huge amount raised to fight Brain Cancer | 01:29
LATRELL MITCHELL
“I’m ready to go to Melbourne and give it to some Queenslanders.”
That was Latrell Mitchell’s attitude ahead of his Game II recall, telling the SMH he was ready to return to the Origin arena.
Following Joseph Suaalii’s suspension for an ugly tackle on Reece Walsh in the series opener, Maguire was forced to plug a hole in the centres.
Mitchell, who has arguably been the NRL’s most in-form player over the last three weeks, put himself in the shopfront once again in Round 15.
He played a crucial role in his team’s victory over the Broncos, scoring a try, setting up another and breaking six tackles.
Mitchell is one of rugby league’s most damaging players, having previously played seven games for the Blues.
Mitchell missed the whole 2023 Origin campaign, having suffered a calf injury only days before the season opener.
He then was named for Game II but failed to recover in time for that clash and was also ruled out of Game III.
Mitchell also missed the first two games of the 2022 series due to a hamstring injury before he withdrew from Game III to focus on club footy.
So fans of the sky blue state will be desperate to see Mitchell light up the Origin arena when he returns for the Blues.
THE BULLDOGS
Matt Burton will be free to play for the Bulldogs after he was relinquished of 18th man duties for Game II.
They will now welcome their star player into their team with open arms in Round 16 when they face the Roosters in a crucial clash in the race for a top eight spot.
Cameron Ciraldo’s outfit sit one spot below the Tricolours in sixth, with seven wins coming in their 13 appearances to go with a pair of byes.
Every win will be crucial for the Bulldogs, and prior to the Origin series opener, Ciraldo made his opinions of Burton’s selection for the series opener clear.
“We know he’s going to be a better player for being around those type of places, but we just wish he would be able to play and then go and be 18th man,” Ciraldo said.
“We want to get as many people with Origin experience as we can. But frustrated is probably [the word]. You know, Burto’s been 18th man three times in the last 12 months.”
The question still remains that replacement players should be from a club who have the bye during the Origin-affected rounds.
The former Panther and premiership winner can play in the halves, centres, and middle forwards at a push and his versatility initially earnt him that spot.
But now the Bulldogs have got their wish, and Burton has been left out of the squad altogether.
Luai stars as Panthers withstand Knights | 02:02
MITCHELL MOSES
Parramatta halfback Mitch Moses was more than likely the NSW No.7 for Game I of the 2024 series, only for a fractured foot to rob him of that chance.
Instead, 2022 Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes got the jump on him and had an indifferent outing as the Blues main man.
Hynes’ performance left the door ajar for Moses to return to the Origin arena, should he come back from a fractured foot that’s plagued his 2024 season and perform to the level everyone knows he can.
Moses has done just that, becoming Parramatta’s focal point in the last three weeks as the Eels’ form has improved.
While the Eels have won just once since Moses’ return, in Round 13 against Hynes’ Sharks, Moses’ long-kicking game has proven vital and he’s consistently been one of the best on the park.
Given Hynes’ start to the 2024 season, Moses could’ve been forgiven for thinking his time to shine in Origin wouldn’t have been this year.
Yet since returning he’s performed to a point there can be no doubt about his place in the NSW side that travels to Melbourne next Wednesday.
LOSERS
NICHO HYNES
Nicho Hynes has suffered yet another Origin heartbreak, being dropped after one appearance in a series for the second time.
He was handed the No.7 jersey ahead of the series opener, with likely halfback Mitchell Moses failing to be fit due to a foot injury.
The Sharks gun failed to fire, and as such, found himself under pressure to hold his position under Maguire, who is desperate to take the 2024 series to a decider.
It was only 12 months ago that Hynes was exiled for a short stint in the centres in his debut, missing a crucial tackle that led to a Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow try.
That moment spurred him on for the remainder of the season, telling foxsports.com.au “it hurt a lot”.
However, now that familiar feeling will be back with the 2022 Dally M Medallist, who has been strong for Cronulla this season.
Maguire reportedly called Hynes on Sunday to inform him he won’t be required for the Blues in Game II.
Hynes also may not be the first cab off the rank of either Luai or Moses goes down, with Cody Walker impressing in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Fox league’s James Hooper revealed on Triple M on Sunday that Nathan Cleary is a chance of being fit for a potential series decider.
‘This was a proud afternoon for our club | 05:12
CAMERON MCINNES
Cameron McInnes realised his Origin dream in the series opener, but he’s now been omitted from the squad due to the return of a key man.
Cameron Murray returned to the field in Round 15, and as such Maguire opted to pick Isaah Yeo at lock and Murray on the bench.
It’s a tough break for McInnes who has been ever-present for the Sharks in the middle of the park, leading the way for Craig Fitzgibbon’s side.
He played 47 minutes and ran for 73 metres to go with three tackle breaks and 33 tackles, with zero misses.
McInnes remains in the extended squad and did nothing wrong on debut, with his omission coming as a shock to many after winning the starting No.13 jersey.
But with a series to save, Maguire has opted to move in a different direction.
After only playing 41 minutes against the Dolphins, with the Sharks losing to Wayne Bennett’s side and his performance could have contributed to Maguire’s decision.
JAMES TEDESCO
James Tedesco was given yet another taste of Origin football in the series opener after he feared his days wearing the sky blue jersey were over.
With Dylan Edwards becoming the Blues’ first-choice No.1, Tedesco’s time as NSW skipper and fullback looked dashed.
Now, after being overlooked for Game II, that fate looks to be sealed and the champion No.1 may never represent his state again.
Tedesco has been one of NSW’s most loyal servants, and has captained his state with pride and integrity during his tenure.
He’s played 23 games for the team south of the border between 2016 and 2024.
The 31-year-old’s contract with the Roosters expires at the end of the 2025 season and it remains to be seen whether he will play on past that deal.
Should Edwards suffer an injury or have an indifferent debut, Tedesco’s slim hopes of once again playing for NSW could become a reality.
But as it stands, the Panthers gun will be doing everything he can to take the field and then take his opportunity.
Flanagan reflects on game that got away | 03:04
HUDSON YOUNG
You’ve got to feel for Raiders back rower Hudson Young, who didn’t do much wrong in the opening game of the series but finds himself axed for the Series’ second game.
Selected on Maguire’s bench for Game I, Young was billed in the week leading up the series opener as both the Blues’ emergency half and back up centre.
Once Joseph Suaalii’s seventh minute send off was set in stone any bench rotation Maguire and his coaching staff had pre-planned was tossed out the window, leaving Young in the Origin wilderness until deep in the second half.
Injected late in the piece, Young had 22 minutes to showcase his talents and imprint himself on the contest.
Through no fault of his own, he failed to do so, running for just 11 metres and making eight tackles, with three misses.
Playing out of position, this performance can be forgiven, especially in an undermanned and heavily beaten Blues side.
In an alternate universe, Suaalii stays on the field and Young is used as the Blues, and himself, envisioned.
But that wasn’t the case. Instead Young was shoehorned into the backline and replaced on the Blues bench for Game II by Connor Watson.
Source Agencies
