New South Wales coach Laurie Daley has set a deadline for Mitchell Moses to prove his fitness after rolling the dice by naming the Parramatta playmaker in his Blues side for game two of the State of Origin series.
Daley unveiled his squad for Origin II in Melbourne on 17 June on Monday, calling up uncapped Dolphins rookie Isaiya Katoa and bringing Payne Haas and Api Koroisau back into the fold.
The Blues lead the series 1-0 and will relocate to camp on the NSW Central Coast on Tuesday evening before training for the first time on Wednesday.
Daley will hope to have Moses on deck at the MCG after he was ruled out of the 27 May series opener in Sydney less than 48 hours before kick-off with a minor hamstring strain.
“You don’t want to be taking guys in underdone, you’ve got to make sure that they get on to the paddock and add confidence in their own preparation,” Daley said.
“I think that’s the key – it’s more about them getting themselves ready to go … rather than getting to the weekend and not feeling great.”
Moses would likely partner halfback Nathan Cleary, with Canberra rookie Ethan Strange, who starred in the 22-20 game one victory, reverting to the bench.
Despite the Blues’ struggling through the series opener until Kalyn Ponga’s second-half send-off, Daley has resisted wholesale changes.
Broncos front-rower Haas will vie with Mitch Barnett and Addin Fonua-Blake for the two starting prop berths, with Newcastle’s Jacob Saifiti dropping out of Daley’s 21-man squad as a result of Haas’s return.
Wests Tigers’ Koroisau replaces injured Cronulla hooker Blayke Brailey and is in line for his first Origin appearance since 2023.
The other injury concern for Daley is Canterbury centre Stephen Crichton, who has battled an AC joint issue in his shoulder all season.
Queensland coach Billy Slater has recalled Reece Walsh to the Maroons squad for Game 2, but it remains to be seen exactly what role the Broncos star will play.
Whether Walsh, who was overlooked by selectors for Game 1 in Sydney, will play off the extended bench or in what position will decided by Slater over the course of a 10-day camp.
“We think it’s the best thing for the footy team [if he is] on the bench there,” Slater said. “We know what Reece is capable of … I have a great relationship with Reece, and he’s built a really good game, and if needed, he’ll perform.”
Slater kept the door open to Walsh playing in the halves off the bench.
“In short … yes. We have options there,” he said. “Reece is a part of the 19. He won’t be released [to play for the Broncos this weekend].”
Walsh will be joined by Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Murray Taulagi and Heilum Luki in the Maroons camp as they look to keep the series alive following a last-gasp defeat in the series opener in Sydney.
Finefeuiaki has been a standout player for the Dolphins this season, earning him the chance to represent Queensland with four other club teammates – Thomas Flegler, Max Plath, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo.
“He’s been jumping out of the screen all season, to be honest. When the opportunity arose, he’d been a standard of footy that’s acceptable for the Maroons,” Slater said. “He runs hard, he carries hard, and he’s consistent, but I’ve loved the improvement with his defence.”
New South Wales team
1. James Tedesco, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Stephen Crichton, 4. Kotoni Staggs, 5. Tolutau Koula, 6. Mitchell Moses, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Mitchell Barnett, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Haumole Olakau’atu, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Cameron Murray, 15. Victor Radley, 16. Addin Fonua-Blake, 17. Api Koroisau, 18. Ethan Strange, 19. Casey McLean, 20. Dylan Lucas, 21. Isaiya Katoa
Queensland team
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Selwyn Cobbo, 3. Robert Toia, 4, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5. Jojo Fifita, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Thomas Flegler, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Reuben Cotter, 14. Max Plath, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 17. Trent Loiero, 18. Reece Walsh, 19. Murray Taulagi, 20. Heilum Luki.
