Nicho Hynes has been axed as NSW State of Origin halfback, with Mitch Moses, Latrell Mitchell and Dylan Edwards among five new faces for game two.
Blues coach Michael Maguire on Sunday night made several big calls for the must-win match at the MCG on June 25, with Hynes the highest-profile casualty of the Blues’ series-opening defeat.
Edwards has regained his spot at fullback after coming back from an ankle injury for Penrith, with James Tedesco again left out after his last-minute return in Sydney.
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Connor Watson has earned a NSW debut, giving Maguire much-needed utility value on the bench at the expense of Canberra’s Hudson Young.
Cameron McInnes has also been dropped after his Blues debut, with the fit-again Cameron Murray coming straight back into the team at lock.
And Mitchell is in line to play his first match for NSW since 2021, after being named to replace the suspended Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre.
Injuries have derailed Mitchell’s past two campaigns, and there had been questions over his commitment to the Blues earlier this year.
But he sat next to Maguire at a South Sydney function on Saturday afternoon, and has made clear he wants to help NSW dig their way out of a 1-0 series deficit.
Still, it is in the halves where Maguire has made the biggest call.
Hynes came under fire following the Blues’ series-opening 38-10 loss, with NSW accused of lacking polish at the end of sets in attack.
At the same time, Moses is now three games back from a long-term foot injury and is showing some signs of being back to his best for Parramatta.
There were calls on Sunday from Andrew Johns for Cody Walker to join Moses in the halves, in a complete overhaul of the Blues’ attacking structure from the series-opener.
But instead, Maguire has kept the faith in Jarome Luai at No.6, with the Penrith star to partner Moses.
Maguire’s selections mean Tedesco is the other notable omission, left out of the initial squad announcement for the second time in two matches.
The Australian Test captain starred for the Sydney Roosters in their win over the Eels on Saturday night, but conceded afterwards that he expected Edwards to regain the NSW No.1 jersey.
Matt Burton has also been discarded as 18th man, with Mitchell Barnett, McInnes and Luke Keary all on the extended bench.
NSW side for second State of Origin clash:
Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Latrell Mitchell, Zac Lomax, Jarome Luai, Mitch Moses, Jake Trbojevic (capt), Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Cameron Murray. Bench: Connor Watson, Isaah Yeo, Haumole Olakau’atu, Spencer Leniu. Reserves: Mitchell Barnett, Cameron McInnes, Luke Keary.