Just one game into his State of Origin coaching career and NSW coach Michael Maguire is already under immense pressure to nail his selections.
The only forced change is in the centres, with Joseph Suaalii suspended for his high shot on Queensland fullback Reece Walsh that earned him a four-game ban.
But several stars who were unavailable for the series opener are returning from injury this weekend and will leave Maguire with some big decisions.
There are five key calls Maguire must make for Game II as he desperately tries to send the series to a decider.
Those are who plays fullback, halfback, left centre and the formation of his bench in Melbourne.
Here foxsports.com.au breaks down the contenders for each position, who will get picked and why ahead of Sunday’s team announcement.
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FULLBACK
Incumbent: James Tedesco
Contenders: Dylan Edwards and James Tedesco
This is a tough one.
On one hand Dylan Edwards was picked ahead of James Tedesco for Game 1 before injuring his quad during camp and the former Blues skipper was recalled.
Edwards absolutely deserved his chance in the series opener after years of consistency in the Panthers’ No.1 jersey and he returns against the Knights on Sunday.
But do you risk picking up a player, a debutant at that, just one game back from injury?
Tedesco on the other hand has played every game this season and is the most experienced player at Maguire’s disposal, with 23 Origins to his name.
The 31-year-old has been in great form for the Roosters this season and was by no means the reason the Blues lost in Game I.
Verdict: Dylan Edwards
Maguire has said from the day he got the job that he would be picking the most deserving players.
Given he picked Edwards over Tedesco in his initial squad it’s hard to see him going away from that, but pressure does funny things to coaches.
HALFBACK
Incumbent: Nicho Hynes
Contenders: Mitchell Moses and Nicho Hynes
Going down to 12 men just eight minutes into the contest certainly didn’t help his cause, but Nicho Hynes looked lost in attack in the series opener.
Unfortunately, Hynes is starting to develop a reputation for going missing in big games after losing all three of his finals for Sharks and both his Origin appearances have been forgettable affairs.
The 27-year-old had an opportunity against the Dolphins on Thursday night to prove his clutchness with a sideline conversion after the siren to send the game into golden point, but it sailed right.
Enter Mitchell Moses. The Eels halfback was expected to be picked for Game I but couldn’t recover in time from a fractured foot.
Moses returned against the Sharks two weeks ago and Parramatta immediately looked a significantly better side as the halfback orchestrated an upset over the then ladder leaders.
Verdict: Mitchell Moses
It’s a tough call to make on one of the nicest guys in the game, but for the second year in a row Nicho Hynes is staring down the barrel of a Game I axing.
Moses is two years older than Hynes but has played 130 more NRL games and has proven he can deliver in must-win games.
CENTRE
Incumbent: Joseph Suaalii
Contenders: Latrell Mitchell, Matt Burton and Bradman Best
Joseph Suaalii’s selection at right centre was a bit of a head scratcher given he’s mostly played on the other side of the field for the Roosters this season.
It took less than eight minutes for Suaalii to make a major miscalculation in defence when he was sent off for a high shot in a game-changing moment that has him currently serving a four-game suspension.
There’s three contenders to replace him in former Dally M Centre of the Year Matt Burton, polarising superstar Latrell Mitchell and last year’s Game III hero Bradman Best.
NSW great Willie Mason this week declared Mitchell “the best left centre in the world” and Burton has been the Blues’ 18th Man in three of their past four games, while Best scored two tries on debut last year.
Honourable mention: Jesse Ramien and Kotoni Staggs
Verdict: Latrell Mitchell
They’re all great footballers but the reality is only one of these men instil fear in the hearts of Queenslanders and his name is Mitchell.
Best returns for the Knights this weekend from a hamstring and his lack of match fitness will likely cost him a recall.
Burton is still a chance to feature on the Blues’ bench but will more likely once again fill the 18th Man role for an agonising fourth time in two years.
LOCK
Incumbent: Cameron McInnes
Contenders: Cameron Murray, Isaah Yeo, Cameron McInnes
Another puzzling call from Maguire in Game I was to pick Cameron McInnes ahead of Isaah Yeo as his starting lock.
Now Kangaroos and Blues stalwart Cameron Murray is returning from the hip injury that kept him out of Game 1 and Maguire has a tough call on his hands.
McInnes was solid in his Origin debut but he’s not a ball-playing backrower like Yeo and Murray, which the Blues desperately needed in attack.
Verdict: Isaah Yeo
Yeo was the calming presence NSW needed out in the middle when Joseph Suaalii was sent off at the start of the, but instead he was sitting on the bench.
The Panthers skipper has proved his big-game experience time and again, playing in the past four grand finals, and the Blues will need him on the field from the get-go for this must-win clash.
Murray is simply too good a player to leave out of the side but that fact he’ll have only played 80 minutes in seven weeks ahead of will only have 80 minutes in almost two months means he’ll most likely play off the bench alongside McInnes.
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BENCH
Incumbents: Isaah Yeo, Haumole Olakau’atu, Spencer Leniu, Hudson Young
Contenders: Cameron McInnes, Spencer Leniu, Cameron Murray, Connor Watson, Matt Burton, Api Koroisau, Isaah Yeo, Haumole Olakau’atu, Hudson Young, Mitch Barnett
The incumbents certain to keep their spots in the 17 are Isaah Yeo and Spencer Leniu, who were two of NSW best in Game I.
Haumole Olakau’atu and Hudson Young on the other hand should be nervous. Cameron Murray will take one of their spots.
Yeo will likely swap jerseys with Cameron McInnes and start, which leaves four genuine contenders for the final spot: Connor Watson, Matt Burton, Api Koroisau and Mitch Barnett.
The mail leading into Game 1 was that Watson was going to bolt into the 17, but he was struck down with a throat injury.
The edge Watson has over Burton is that he can cover more positions, most importantly dummyhalf.
The other option is trying to replicate Queensland’s hugely successful two hooker approach and picking Api Koroisau on the bench.
If Maguire opts for four forwards on the bench again then no-nonsense frontrower Mitch Barnett will provide plenty of punch off the pine.
Verdict: Cameron McInnes, Spencer Leniu, Cameron Murray, Connor Watson
Maguire simply must have an option on his bench this time if one of his backs has to leave the game.
Yeo starts, McInnes holds his spot in the side but moves to the bench to sit alongside enforcer Spencer Leniu and the most versatile player in the NRL in Connor Watson.
Eamonn Tiernan’s predicted Blues team for Game II:
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Brian To’o
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Stephen Crichton
5. Zac Lomax
6. Jarome Luai
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Jake Trbojevic
9. Reece Robson
10. Payne Haas
11. Liam Martin
12. Angus Crichton
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Cameron McInnes
15. Spencer Leniu
16. Cameron Murray
17. Connor Watson
18. Matt Burton
Source Agencies
