A pair of Origin greats believe Cody Walker’s chances of an Origin recall have been dashed.
NSW coach Brad Fittler has a huge decision to make regarding the make-up of his centre pairing with two stars under an injury cloud — and that is just the start of the drama.
An injury to Apisai Koroisau has presented Fittler with another headache when it comes to his bench make-up and then, of course, there is the question of who replaces Nathan Cleary.
WALKER’S OFF
Origin greats Cooper Cronk and Corey Parker believe Cody Walker’s hopes of a Blues recall have been dashed with his quad injury that’s ruled him out of Round 15.
Rabbitohs No. 6 Walker was in contention with Jarome Luai to play for NSW in their must-win Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday week.
But Walker been scratched for Souths clash against the Dragons on Saturday in what would have been his last opportunity to press his claim before the Blues’ squad announcement on Tuesday.
“You’d think this weekend is an audition for halves (Adam) Reynolds, Luai and (Nicho) Hynes, who are all playing this weekend,” Cronk said on Fox League.
“If you don’t throw your last performance in the ring with the chance to be selected then it has huge ramifications for potentially being selected.
“I thought (Walker) would have had to have played and played well to cement that spot too, so it’s a hell of a call, the injury must be pretty significant.”
Parker echoed the sentiment.
“For Cody Walker there was talk in and around the fact he may get back in the side if that’s the way they go but you’d think it might be a little bit difficult if he’s unable to play tomorrow,” Paker said.
“It’s a big round, last week we saw three players go down, Nathan Cleary the biggest name and then two from Queensland,” he said.
“Api went down last night and we’ve still got a few games to go so fingers and toes crossed.”
TALK MOSES IS IN ‘BOX SEAT’ TO REPLACE CLEARY
Adam Reynolds may have dealt a blow to his hopes of securing an Origin recall while there is talk Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses is in the “box seat” for a Blues jumper.
That is according to The Sydney Morning Herald’s chief rugby league reporter Andrew Webster, with Moses well and truly in the frame to play his second Origin game.
“There’s a lot of talk that he’s in the box seat,” replied Webster.
“He played under him [Fittler] when he was coach of Lebanon, playing good footy and he’s played Origin before. Moses, there’s a lot of talk, I’m not sure if that’s just talk. They are keeping their cards very close to their chest, New South Wales.”
Reynolds, meanwhile, could still be selected if he puts in a strong performance for Brisbane on the weekend against Newcastle.
The premiership-winning halfback has plenty of experience playing at Suncorp Stadium, something that will only bolster his hopes of earning a call-up from Brad Fittler.
However, with former teammate Cody Walker unavailable this week with a quad injury, it appears unlikely at this stage that Fittler would risk selecting the Rabbitohs playmaker.
That could in turn tip the scales in favour of either Moses or Nicho Hynes, even if Johns admitted there is a “very strong case” to select the Broncos halfback regardless.
“He’s the most composed half in the comp, along with Cleary with the best kicking game but certainly the best short kicking game and Suncorp is his home ground,” Johns said.
However, Johns has also consistently maintained that reigning Dally M medallist Hynes deserves his shot after coming off the bench during NSW’s game one defeat to Queensland.
“He’s been the best player in the competition, I think, for the last 18 months,” Johns said.
“I reckon he’s playing better footy than he was when he won the Dally M medal. Last week against the Broncos a couple of errors here and there but he was everywhere, he couldn’t have done anything more.
“He’s been groomed for this opportunity, for this moment over the last couple of years in Freddy’s pathways. If not now, never.”
MATTY JOHNS FLOATS ‘SMOKEY’ TO FIX BLUES’ BENCH PROBLEM
Meanwhile, the Blues have another unwanted selection headache after Apisai Koroisau suffered a broken jaw in the Tigers’ 28-12 loss to the Titans on Thursday night.
The logical replacement would be Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook, although the question is then who Fittler opts for as a utility off the bench.
Hynes was selected in the position for game one but really only was given minutes as a result of a Tom Trbojevic head knock.
Otherwise the reigning Dally M medallist looked set to spend the entire 80 minutes on the bench.
It is a mistake the Blues can’t repeat at Suncorp and Johns has suggested a “smokey” who he believes offers both versatility and the hard edge needed to succeed at the Origin level.
“They’ve said before that the double hooker didn’t work for them last time, but you’ve got to make it work,” Johns said.
“You can’t have a nine playing 80 minutes. In my opinion, you can’t put a guy in there that hasn’t played week-to-week, in the middle, played in that position and sort of hope for it to work. You’re really gambling.
“I look at [Reece] Robson. Robson’s got a build very similar to Reuben Cotter so he can play middle. The other guy I would seriously think about is Cam McInnes as a smokey.
“McInnes has played a lot of nine but he’s a bit of a hound dog in the way he carries the ball, again in a very similar way to Reuben Cotter. What you’ve got with Robson and McInnes is really tough, hardworking blokes who can hold their own under pressure.”
Johns also agreed that Panthers enforcer Spencer Leniu should come into the team in place of Bulldogs forward Tevita Pangai Junior, whose ill-discipline was costly at times in game one.
PARKER’S MAROONS REPLACEMENTS
Maroons legend Corey Parker has named his replacements for the injured Jai Arrow and Tom Gilbert as Queensland look to seal the series in Game II.
During the Maroons’ strong 26-18 victory in Adelaide, Gilbert suffered a dislocated shoulder which subsequently ruled him out for the season.
Meanwhile Arrow, who got through the series opener unscathed, suffered an ankle injury which required surgery.
Parker, who played 19 games for Queensland is backing Felise Kaufusi to slot straight in to the starting team after missing Game I due to suspension.
“Obviously no Tom Gilbert, which is a huge loss... I’d like to see Felise Kaufusi go straight back in to the team,” Parker said on Thursday night.
“He’s the ultra professional, 14 games for Queensland, he just knows how to get it done so I just expect him to go back in to the side.”
Meanwhile, several players have been floated as replacements for Arrow who came off the bench under Billy Slater.
Raiders gun Corey Horsburgh has been in form, while Storm veteran Christian Welch was 18th man in Adelaide.
However, Parker called for an Eels recruit, with only 23 NRL appearances under his belt, to earn a Maroons debut.
“There’s been plenty of talk about Corey Horsburgh and rightly so, but another player that I really like, and he’s got a bit of an appetite for hard work,” Parker said.
“J’maine Hopgood, I wouldn’t be surprised if those two players are to come in to the Queensland side.
“The fact that Kaufusi is up is a huge positive for Queensland.”
THE SMOKEY TO RETURN TO THE ORIGIN ARENA
Rugby league legend Cameron Smith and former Broncos winger Denan Kemp have called for Dale Finucane to earn a recall in to the NSW side.
With the Blues missing the leadership of Manly gun Jake Trbojevic and Rabbitohs star Cameron Murray under an injury cloud, Brad Fittler could be looking for reinforcements.
Kemp, who played 43 NRL games, believes Finucane could be a good option off the bench as the Blues head to Suncorp Stadium.
“A person that I do think should be in consideration, I understand his club footy hasn’t been top tier but a guy like Dale Finucane,” Kemp said on SEN 1170 The Captain’s Run.
“I think he can bring similar energy to Jake Trbojevic.”
Smith, who played alongside Finucane at the Storm, believes his “calmness” is his best trait.
“I played numerous games with Dale, and I think he just brought a calmness to the footy side,” Smith added.
“He does a fair bit of talking but what he does really well is when things aren’t going right for the team he just goes back to the game plan and what works for the footy side.
“They’re the type of players that are crucial in these big types of games, finals series, State of Origin matches in particular.”
Finucane could earn a spot on the bench for the Blues should Murray be ruled out with a groin injury suffered in Round 14.
WHO PLAYS FOR NSW IN THE CENTRES?
NSW coach Brad Fittler is facing a tough selection call regarding the make-up of his centres with two players under an injury cloud and another delivering in Game I.
Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell was a late scratching from the series opener with a calf injury and has been left out of South Sydney’s squad for their last two games.
Mitchell will have to prove his fitness ahead of Game II at Suncorp Stadium and was replaced by Panthers gun Stephen Crichton who was a solid performer for the Blues.
Meanwhile, Tom Trbojevic suffered a head knock in Game I but has been cleared of concussion and will take the field for the Sea Eagles in Round 15.
However, doubts still linger surrounding his fitness with many questioning if the former Dally M Medallist is at 100 per cent after battling with a hip injury earlier in the season.
That leaves Fittler with a confusing call, waiting on the fitness of two key players before deciding who partners in the centres.
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio believes Crichton deserves to retain his spot over Trbojevic if Mitchell is deemed fit to play.
“I would stick with Crichton, I thought he was on the top five players on the park for the Blues in Game I,” Riccio said on NRL360 on Tuesday night.
“Unfortunately for me, with great respect to Tom Trbojevic, he just hasn’t hit the heights that we expect him to this season.
“I’m not prepared to pick him on the back of one big game against Canberra… Crichton did more than Trbojevic in Game I.
“Personally, I just think Crichton offers (more), he’s just fit. He’s fit, there’s too much of this cloud over Turbo at the moment.”
The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley, however, explained he would be “shocked” if the Manly gun was dropped in a huge NSW shake-up.
“I’d be shocked if they dropped Tom Trbojevic for Game I, if Tom’s fit and he gets through the weekend game I’d be shocked if they dropped him,” Crawley said.
NRL360 host Braith Anasta echoed Riccio’s opinion and said Trbojevic’s inconsistency is proving costly.
“You are picking him to see his best and get his best, but you’re actually not sure at the moment when (he will deliver),” Anasta said.
“A few years ago when he is on that field you know what you get, at the moment you just really don’t and it is up to him to prove it to NSW.”
COOK’S BLUES RECALL
With Nicho Hynes looming as the likely replacement in the Blues’ No.7 jersey, a vacant spot on the bench as a utility has emerged.
That opens the door for axed hooker Damien Cook to earn an Origin recall and partner Apisai Koroisau as Fittler’s dummy-half duo.
Koroisau played 80 minutes in the series opener, and while he performed admirably, The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley believes he deserves a recall.
While Cook’s selection may hinge on Hynes selection at halfback — Crawley explained he should be selected regardless.
That leaves Hynes out of the side completely should Fittler swing the axe and name a new-look halves pairing.
“I don’t think it should depend on who is in the halves, I think we saw in Game I Cook should be in that team and so should Api,” Crawley said.
“I think if Nicho is starting as halfback or five-eighth, you make your decisions from there.”
“If Nicho is starting, he is coming in to the team as the No.14,” Anasta said.
“If they were to go with Reynolds and Walker, I’d start with Damien and I’d bring Api off the bench in a similar role than what Grant does for Queensland,” Crawley added.
QUEENSLAND’S BIZARRE ADVANTAGE
If the Blues didn’t already have a big enough task on their hands travelling to Suncorp Stadium, another hurdle has handed the hosts an advantage.
According to the SMH, Queensland will name their team on Monday morning, while the Blues have been forced to delay their announcement by 24 hours.
Monday’s clash between the Bulldogs and Eels serves as a final audition for six Blues players in the mix for selection.
Mitchell Moses is gunning for the vacant halfback role, while Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard are both in the frame.
Meanwhile for the Bulldogs, Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton and Tevita Pangai Junior were all a part of NSW’s side for the series opener.
For Queensland, only a single player is in the frame for selection from that clash — J’maine Hopgood.
While the former Panther has been excellent since joining the Eels, Slater will likely look elsewhere to fill the void left by both Tom Gilbert and Jai Arrow.
The Maroons’ early announcement will see them complete media and wrap up fan interactions a day early, meaning their first training session will be the day NSW converge on their Coogee base.
Fittler reportedly was able to name his squad on Monday but opted against it to make sure he knows who is fit for selection.
