Blues finally learn that only winners can stay loyal when it comes to Origin

Speaking just a few days before announcing his team for the opening State of Origin encounter, journalists were probing Laurie Daley for clues regarding the make-up of his NSW team.

“Incumbencies are always good when you’re winning,” Daley said at the time. “It won’t be coming down to incumbency.”

Indeed, after coming off a series loss, sticking solid is a luxury the Blues could no longer afford. Which is why there are seven new faces in the NSW team that will host the Maroons on May 27.

Admittedly, it is the first time that Origin will feature a six-man bench, and the naming of a 20-man side has opened the door for more debutants. However, change was required after the disappointment of last year, and it comes in the form of Victor Radley, Addin Fonua-Blake, Tolutau Koula, Blayke Brailey, Ethan Strange, Casey McLean and Dylan Lucas.

The players making way are Max King, Stefano Utoikamanu, Dylan Edwards and Roosters trio Connor Watson, Angus Crichton and Spencer Leniu. Jackson Ford, a standout for the Warriors during their rise to second spot on the ladder, can consider himself unlucky.

However, the mail was that injury would result in Ford’s training being heavily restricted, while the Blues were apparently informed on Saturday night that Campbell Graham would be a late scratching.

This has the potential to be a new era for the Blues. It may not be the seismic change that Brad Fittler introduced when he took up the Origin clipboard in 2018 and brought in 11 newbies, with the only surviving member being halfback Nathan Cleary. However, it’s an acknowledgement that it would be insanity to keep doing the same thing with the same people and expect a different outcome.

Tedesco’s return at the expense of Dylan Edwards is a case of back to the future, as is the recall of Kotoni Staggs. While the other centre options were dropping with injuries or playing themselves out of contention, Staggs’ two-game suspension helped rather than hindered his chances.

There are new rules on the field and also new rules off it. The change to eligibility rules that now permits players from tier-one nations such as New Zealand and England to play Origin provided existing criteria is met allowed Addin Fonua-Blake, Casey McLean and Victor Radley to join the squad. However, no selection raised more eyebrows than that of the latter.

Few players tread the fine line quite like Radley. The England international was a whisker away from being sacked by the Roosters last September when implicated in a Queensland Police investigation that led to former teammate Brandon Smith facing a drug supply charge.

There is no suggestion Radley obtained or took illegal drugs, but he was implicated in the investigation into Smith by text messages from his phone.

This time, it was good news on his phone when Daley informed him of his selection.

“I picked Victor to be Victor.”

Asked if he needed Radley to temper his aggression, Daley said, “I don’t have to have a conversation with Victor.

“I love everything he brings. He brings intent, and he brings a physicality, and I think a lot of people, when they’ve watched Victor Radley over the last few years, would have loved to have seen him on this arena.

“And now he’s eligible, in game one, I don’t think there’s a better time to give him that chance. Good person, good qualities I’m after, so he’s someone I’m really looking forward to working with.”

This will be the first Origin played under the new rules. Traditionally, the referees tend to keep the whistle in their pocket at this time of year, but what that means for the number of set restarts is anyone’s guess.

“I don’t know how it’s going to be refereed,” Daley said.

However, Origin is already the fastest game of football on the planet, and this iteration is expected to be quicker still. With that in mind, Daley has gone for a team that’s mobile and quick. Tolu Koula, selected on the wing rather than his customary position of centre, ran a 10.58-second time for 100 metres while still at school.

Tedesco, meanwhile, was dubbed “more dynamic” than the rock-solid Edwards.

“So just with what we want to do when we have the ball, I think we need to do a bit more,” Daley said of his most controversial change, to the No.1 jersey.

You know it’s a golden age for fullbacks when Edwards and Queensland’s Reece Walsh can’t get a look-in to the interstate arena.

Tedesco’s Roosters combination with Reece Robson played in their favour, while the Panthers, for all of their dominance, have only four players in the team. If there aren’t any injuries and McLean doesn’t get activated, only three of them will be required.

In his first stint in charge of the Blues, Daley showed loyalty to players who didn’t deserve it. This time, he has shaken up the status quo. The coach knows the next change that will be coming if the Blues lose yet another series.