NSW’s State of Origin Strategy and Potential Last-Minute Changes
Former New South Wales player Matty Johns has suggested that Laurie Daley could make a last-minute switch to his 19-man team ahead of the State of Origin opener on Wednesday. This potential move could see Dylan Lucas, currently named as the 20th man, promoted to the starting line-up. The Blues’ bench has been a topic of discussion, with a smaller mobile pack selected for speed around the ruck.
The inclusion of players like Cameron Murray and Victor Radley aims to add leg speed from the bench, while Blayke Brailey might be used around the ruck to replace Reece Robson. However, there have been suggestions that the bench is missing a versatile second-rower.
The Blues are covered with Casey McLean out wide, but concerns remain if James Tedesco goes down at fullback, leaving the team scrambling to replace him. Johns believes the player who could come onto the bench and offer coverage at second-row and centre is already named as the 20th man.
Lucas is listed as the emergency for Game 1, meaning he won’t play on Wednesday night unless the Blues suffer multiple head injuries or serious injuries from foul play. However, Johns thinks he will be promoted to the 19-man team on Wednesday night, which means someone else will be axed.
Lucas has shown his versatility at club level, playing primarily at second-row for the Knights but also filling in at centre when needed. He has done this role superbly across the last two seasons.
Johns feels that, in addition to Tolu Koula and Stephen Crichton potentially switching positions between centre and wing, Lucas could make his way onto the bench to add more versatility. “The one that wouldn’t surprise me is bringing Dylan Lucas into the 19. He’s currently 20th man. We’re short of an edge back rower,” Johns said on Fox Sports on Tuesday night.
“I’ve heard Laurie say ‘well I can put Cam Murray and Victor Radley there’. I don’t like either on an edge. It doesn’t suit their games.”
Johns added: “The other one is covering the outside backs. I heard Gus talk about the concern of the lack of flexibility and what would happen if James Tedesco gets injured.
“If Teddy goes down and you got Lucas in the 19, what happens is that Crichton or Koula go to fullback and Lucas into the centres. I’ve seen Lucas play centre and he’s as good a centre as he is an edge back rower.”
If Lucas does find his way into the game-day side, it will likely see Panthers outside back McLean relegated to 20th man.
Potential Positional Shifts for Koula and Crichton
Johns also believes that Tolu Koula and Stephen Crichton will switch roles come kick-off. Speaking last week, Johns felt that Crichton could move to the wing so he can use his height against Selwyn Cobbo. This would allow debutant Koula to play his more natural position during his first game in the Origin arena.
“I think they will [move Crichton to wing], they need size on the wing to defuse bombs,” Johns said on SEN radio on Friday. “On the wing I am unsure about [Koula], I just have a sense he will move into the centres.”
