Haas out as Blues bank on McLean in Origin decider
Payne Haas won’t play for NSW in State of Origin III with Jordan McLean named to replace him in the series decider at Suncorp Stadium.
NSW coach Brad Fittler has labelled Jordan McLean an “unsung hero” and hopes the North Queensland prop can channel his club form into a long-awaited State of Origin debut.
McLean, who replaces the injured Payne Haas at prop, was preferred to Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard to play in the series decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday week.
The Blues are aiming to win a decider in Brisbane for the first time since 2005, having lost game one in Sydney before beating Queensland in Perth in game two.
McLean had been close to NSW selection in 2017 but only earned a recall to Fittler’s extended squad for Origin II.
At 30, McLean, who has won eight caps for Australia, will become the sixth oldest Blues debutant in State of Origin history.
“A few years ago I remember talking to a few players in a room and he was one of those young players that was about to make his debut and he never quite got there,” Fittler said on Monday.
“To watch what he’s done this year, he’s been outstanding. What he’s been doing for the Cowboys – he’s an unsung hero.
“(It shows) if you get to 30 – it’s never too late. His form, along with the North Queensland team hasn’t been great over the last couple of years. (But) the whole club has been unbelievable (in 2022) and he’s a big part of that.”
Haas has been ruled out with a shoulder injury that has plagued him all season and was reaggravated in Brisbane’s loss to North Queensland on Saturday.
Fittler conceded Haas’ absence would affect how he used his bench which is composed of hooker Damien Cook, forwards Angus Crichton and Junior Paulo as well as the versatile Siosifa Talakai.
“He (Haas) has done a pretty remarkable job with Brisbane and Origin over the last couple of months,” Fittler said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes at the back end of the year. We’ll have to have a look at that (interchanges). He gives you the luxury of playing him longer.”
Aside from the inclusion of McLean, Fittler’s squad is unchanged from Perth.
The big talking point after Latrell Mitchell’s withdrawal from Origin III was whether Jack Wighton would force his way back into a role in the centres.
Wighton was one of the Blues’ best in game one but after contracting COVID-19, missed out on the trip to Perth.
Matt Burton and Stephen Crichton have kept their starting spots and Talkai has held onto his bench role with Wighton consigned to 18th man.
“That was a tough one, Siosifa gives us versatility on the bench and that’s why we went with him instead of Jack,” Fittler said.
“What Matt did in the second game offered us a little bit more, and what Jack brings is different to what Matt brings.”
The uncapped trio of Nicho Hynes, Jacob Saifiti and Reece Robson round out the extended squad along with Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson.
NSW TEAM FOR ORIGIN III
James Tedesco (capt), Brian To’o, Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton, Daniel Tupou, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Jordan McLean, Api Koroisau, Jake Trbojevic, Cameron Murray, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo. Bench: Damien Cook, Angus Crichton, Junior Paulo, Siosifa Talakai. Reserves: Jack Wighton, Nicho Hynes, Clint Gutherson, Jacob Saifiti, Reece Robson.
By: George Clarke, AAP
Comments on RugbyPass
Mack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
1 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
2 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
7 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
2 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
16 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
7 Go to comments