New South Wales Blues coach Laurie Daley’s recent selection decisions for the upcoming State of Origin decider have generated considerable discussion, particularly the omission of winger Brian To’o and the handling of back-rower Dylan Lucas. These changes follow the Blues’ 44-24 loss in Game Two, which necessitated a decisive third match at Suncorp Stadium.
Ivan Cleary, coach of the Panthers, expressed confidence that Brian To’o will recover from his unexpected exclusion from the NSW squad. Cleary disagreed with suggestions that To’o was dropped due to his height, noting that To’o’s stature has not been a significant issue for his club or state previously. To’o’s run of 17 consecutive games for NSW, during which he scored 11 tries, will conclude with this omission. The decision means he will not have the opportunity to secure the outright try-scoring record for NSW on July 8.
Daley replaced To’o with rookie Jack Bostock, citing To’o’s confidence levels as a factor. The Blues have opted for a taller backline, featuring Bostock (194cm), Stephen Crichton (193cm), and Mark Nawaqanitawase (190cm), all of whom are considerably taller than To’o, listed at 182cm. While To’o has been below his best in the past month, making some errors in the Origin opener, he still led all players in metres gained during that match.
Cleary acknowledged the mixed feelings surrounding To’o’s absence, stating, “I’m definitely not standing here going ‘I’m so glad they’re playing for us’ because in my heart, I’d love them to be playing for the Blues.” He added that To’o is an “absolute legend and a champion player” who will “bounce back for sure.”
Reactions to To’o’s omission
Former Panthers assistant Ben Gardiner described To’o as a “sacrificial lamb,” expressing shock at the decision. Gardiner questioned whether Bostock could replicate To’o’s production, particularly in yardage. He highlighted To’o’s statistics, including 188 metres per game, placing him in the top 10 in the competition, and 59 tackle breaks, also in the top 10. To’o has made only 11 errors in 13 games this season, averaging less than one error per game, and has 233 carries, ranking him sixth in the competition.
Gardiner noted that Bostock, while performing well at centre for the Dolphins, faces a different role on the wing, requiring him to handle bombs and perform kick returns, which are areas where To’o excels. He also pointed out that if errors were a factor in To’o’s exclusion, Mark Nawaqanitawase has recorded 30 errors, making him the competition’s leader in that category.
Cooper Cronk, a Fox League analyst, stated he would have included To’o in his team, suggesting the Blues might have overreacted to a limited number of instances where To’o was beaten in the air. Conversely, former Maroons coach Kevin Walters described Daley’s decision as “very brave,” understanding the rationale behind selecting Bostock for his height and confidence.
To’o is scheduled to play for the Panthers against the Rabbitohs on Friday as his club aims to end a two-game losing streak. The Panthers will feature a new-look back row, with Scott Sorensen and Luke Garner stepping in for Liam Martin (Origin duty) and Isaiah Papali’i (head knock).
Concerns over Lucas’s treatment
Beyond To’o’s situation, former Blues five-eighth Luke Keary voiced his disbelief regarding the selection process for back-rower Dylan Lucas. Lucas was a surprise inclusion for Game Two, replacing Haumole Olakau’atu, only to be dropped for the decider. Keary questioned the logic of bringing in a rookie for one game, playing him for 80 minutes, and then omitting him from the subsequent squad.
Keary remarked, “That’s the bizarre one for me. No one will speak about it, because it will just go away… but it’s just like, what is going on? It doesn’t make any sense to any person involved in the game at all.” He believes Lucas was “very hard done by” despite acknowledging that Olakau’atu and Martin “provide more.”
The three-time NRL Premiership winner also suggested that the situation could make it difficult for Olakau’atu to perform confidently in the Origin arena, especially after the reason for his initial exclusion was reportedly leaked to the media. Olakau’atu confirmed after his Game Three recall that his initial dropping was related to effort areas, though Daley declined to elaborate on the details.
The Panthers, currently leading the ladder, have experienced a dip in form recently, with Cleary noting they have “lost our edge a bit” in the last couple of weeks. The team will look to regain its best form as they approach the middle of the year.
Injured duo Casey McLean and Mitch Kenny are expected to return after next week’s bye, with Penrith unlikely to make any further moves before the June 30 deadline.
Source: foxsports.com.au
