Matty Johns believes there is a couple of big omissions who will be missed in the NSW set-up but not everyone agrees.

Meanwhile, a Queensland great has revealed why he believes Harry Grant could be the difference in Game 1.

GRANT TO BE ‘POINT OF DIFFERENCE’ FOR QUEENSLAND

Queensland great Corey Parker believes the injection of Harry Grant off the bench could be the difference in Game 1.

Speaking on Fox League’s ‘NRL Tonight’ on Friday evening, Parker said Grant will be a “point of difference” that could swing the result in Queensland’s favour.

“I love Ben Hunt in the starting side and Harry Grant, who has the opportunity to come off the bench and really change the game,” Parker said.

“Ben Hunt is a terrific player at seven, we’ve seen what he is able to do in the nine for Queensland but when Harry Grant comes on he could be the real X-factor and point of difference.”

Grant has declared he is fully fit to go next Wednesday despite concerns over an illness and groin injury the Storm star was carrying into Origin camp.

“Yeah, fit as,” Grant said earlier in the week.

“I was probably a bit disappointed a the start when Billy said hang out of camp for a couple of days and come in on Wednesday.

“It felt like those two days were two weeks, but I think looking back on it now, it was a pretty good decision. Billy’s been there a thousand times, so he knows not to bring the flu into camp.”

HASLER’S ‘SURPRISE’ AS TRBOJEVIC SNUB LEAVES EX-BLUES DIVIDED

New South Wales may have taken home the Origin shield last series but that did not stop Brad Fittler from making two big calls, leaving Josh Addo-Carr and Jake Trbojevic out of the team for Game 1.

Manly coach Des Hasler admitted to being surprised that Trbojevic missed out, telling reporters the lock forward has “that real typical Origin animal you require”.

While the decision to leave Addo-Carr out has come under particular scrutiny, not everyone agrees that Fittler was wrong to dump Trbojevic from the line-up.

Speaking on Triple Mon Saturday afternoon, ex-Blue Ryan Girdler argued that Trbojevic simply does not have the leg speed and impact off the bench to warrant selection.

“I think at that level now, you need to look at leg speed, you need to look at coming out of your own end,” Girdler said.

“I think Jake defensively is brilliant but New South Wales have brilliant defenders. Isaah Yeo can play 70 to 80 minutes. You need guys that are going to come off the bench and put a dent in the opposition, you need guys that are going to generate ruck speed and give Cook an opportunity to get out.

“Unfortunately, I think at this stage of Jake’s career, we just don’t see enough footy from him at Manly. He can dig into the line and play out the back but NSW don’t need that, they’ve got guys who fill that role already.”

Girdler also applauded Billy Slater for rewarding a few Queensland young guns with their debuts, something that he said should not be blocked by the urge to stay loyal to past incumbents.

“I just think Jake has been going OK for Manly,” he said.

“But there are young guys knocking on the door and if you don’t give them an opportunity when they’re confident and in great form because there are other guys who have done a job in the past, sometimes it is unfair to the new guys trying to push their way in.

“It’s an absolute balancing act.”

There were plenty of experts who did not feel like Fittler made the right call though, including Matty Johns.

“I do think [it was a] tough call leaving Josh Addo-Carr and Jake Trbojevic out of the Blues side,” Johns said on The Late Show.

“Even just leaving them out of that 22-man extended squad, I thought was really tough. And I think both players are going to be missed.”

Addo-Carr missed out after Brad Fittler decided to go with the towering Daniel Tupou, while there’ll be no Trbojevic in Origin I with Jake dropped and Tom injured.

“What you miss about Jake, you’re going to miss his emotion and his leadership, his ability to lift the players around him," Johns said. “He’s that sort of bloke. He can elevate himself.

“He wasn’t in peak form, but he’s a guy you can just rely upon. And he’s been a mainstay of these successful sides, so I think it’s a tough call.”

“Josh Addo-Carr, it goes without saying, you miss his speed, his ability to score tries, save tries. But you miss his personality, I reckon.

“For a successful series, it isn’t all about what happens on the field, it’s the delicate balance of a side. And he’s just that up-tempo guy who gets everyone together. They’ll miss his excitement and personality around the camp.”

Kotoni Staggs sent a scare through Blues camp on Thursday, suffering a dislocated finger. which isn’t expected to keep him out of Origin I.

Staggs copped the injury during a defensive drill, and tried to pop the finger back in himself, before team doctor Nathan Gibbs got the job done.

Gibbs confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald that there was no tendon damage or fracture, however there is concern the joint could stiffen.

Still, Staggs was back out with the team after getting some strapping.

“It’s pretty sore when it pops out,” Staggs told The Herald. “I tried popping it in myself, but I had to go and see the doc.

“He got it in after a couple of tries. It will probably swell up a bit.”