State of Origin: Moses, Cook in as Freddy’s Blues brace for must-win Origin clash

New South Wales has turned to past Blues stars Mitchell Moses and Damien Cook to play vital roles in the state’s starting thirteen in a do-or-die second State of Origin game at Suncorp next week after first-choice players Nathan Cleary and Api Koroisau were struck down by injuries.

Cleary (hamstring) and Koroisau (jaw) were both cruelled by injury after returning to clubland following a 26–18 capitulation to the Maroons in Adelaide in the opening bout of the 2023 series.

Moses, who guided the Parramatta Eels to a grand final last season, has played for the Blues once before—a two-point loss to Queensland on the Gold Coast in a dead rubber contest. NSW had already wrapped the series up two weeks earlier in Brisbane 26–0 after crushing the Maroons by 44 points in game one. Cook boasts a few more games under his belt than Moses, having played 15 consecutive Origin matches between 2018 and 2022 before being left out of 2023’s first clash.

Coach Brad Fittler has stuck with his star-powered centres combo of Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic despite both suffering injury scares in recent weeks. Mitchell has missed Rabbitohs games while Trbojevic was pulled from Origin I late with a HIA concern.

Nicho Hynes (Sharks) has been left out of the team. He played just 12 minutes off the bench and was considered grossly misused by Fittler and the Blues coaching staff in his utility role.

Tevita Pangai Junior has also lost his spot after a mixed Origin I and a woeful run-out against the Eels on the King’s Birthday yesterday.

Panthers centre Stephen Crichton drops to 18th Man.

Rounding out the squad is Keaon Koloamatangi as 19th Man. Should he play, it would mark the Tongan’s internationals first appearance in the Origin arena.

New South Wales Blues squad for Origin II

1. James Tedesco (Roosters)
2. Brian To’o (Panthers)
3. Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs)
4. Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
5. Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs)
6. Jarome Luai (Panthers)
7. Mitchell Moses (Eels)
8. Junior Paulo (Eels)
9. Damien Cook (Rabbitohs)
10. Payne Haas (Broncos)
11. Tyson Frizell (Knights)
12. Hudson Young (Raiders)
13. Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
14. Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers)
15. Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
16. Liam Martin (Panthers)
17. Reece Robson (Cowboys)
18. Stephen Crichton (Panthers)
19. Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)

The Blues’ do-or-die second game in the 2023 series starts at 8.05pm on June 21.

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