Next week’s State of Origin will see four debutants, with Max King joining the Blues and Queensland’s Rob Toia, Trent Loiero, and Beau Fermor taking the field at Suncorp Stadium. Coaches Laurie Daley and Billy Slater have announced their teams, but questions persist regarding their selections.
One of the most notable choices from Daley is the decision to field two dominant halfbacks, Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses, in the Blues lineup. This pairing surprised many, as Jarome Luai was expected to retain his five-eighth position. Daley, however, believes both players can work well together across the field, emphasizing that they are versatile and not bound to one side.
A significant inclusion in the Maroons squad is rookie Robert Toia, a 20-year-old who has played only ten NRL games. His selection appears to be a strategic move, primarily due to his defensive skills, particularly as he will face the formidable Latrell Mitchell in the NSW lineup. Slater has praised Toia not just for his defence but also for his attacking potential.
Another talking point is the exclusion of Terrell May, who has been among the top-performing props in the league this season. Despite his impressive stats and performance on the Dally M leaderboard, he was overlooked in favour of Max King and Stefano Utoikamanu. Speculation suggests this decision may stem from issues beyond performance alone.
For Queensland, there is uncertainty about whether Harry Grant will be pushed to play the full 80 minutes, especially following Ben Hunt’s injury. While Grant excels at playing extended minutes, Origin presents different challenges, and it will be interesting to see how Slater manages his time on the field.
Meanwhile, Tom Trbojevic, often considered one of the league’s brightest stars, finds himself sidelined as he struggles to regain form at Manly. Daley acknowledged the difficulty in omitting Trbojevic, suggesting that his return will depend on consistent performances.
As both teams prepare for this highly anticipated clash, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how these selections will impact the outcomes for New South Wales and Queensland in this iconic rivalry.