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Nicho Hynes is dismissed as NSW Country of origin halfback, with Mitch Moses, Latrell Mitchell and Dylan Edwards among the five new faces for match two.
Blues manager Michael Maguire on Sunday night made some big calls for the must-win at the MCG on June 25, with Hynes the highest-profile casualty of the Blues’ series-opening defeat.
Edwards regained his place at full-back after returning from an ankle injury for Penrith, with James Tedesco again dropped after his last-minute return in Sydney.
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Conor Watson earned a NSW debut, giving Maguire much-needed utility off the bench at the expense of Canberra’s Hudson Young.
Cameron McInnes has also been sidelined since his Blues debut, with Cameron Murray, who has lined up again, coming straight back into the team from the spot.
And Mitchell is in line to play his first game for NSW since 2021 after being appointed to replace the suspended Joseph-Aukuso Swaalii at centre.
Injuries have derailed Mitchell’s last two campaigns and there were questions over his commitment to the Blues earlier this year.
But he sat next to Maguire at an event in South Sydney on Saturday afternoon and made it clear he wanted to help NSW claw back from a 1-0 series deficit.
Yet, at half-time Maguire made the biggest call.
Hynes came under fire after the Blues’ series-opening 38-10 loss, with NSW accused of lacking late-set polish in attack.
Meanwhile, Moses is now three games back from a long-term leg injury and is showing some signs of getting back to his best for Parramatta.
On Sunday, there were calls from Andrew Johns for Cody Walker to join Moses in the halves, in a complete overhaul of the Blues’ attacking formation since the start of the series.
But Maguire instead kept faith with Jarome Luay at No.6, with the Penrith star partnering Moses.
Maguire’s selection means Tedesco is the other notable omission from the initial squad announcement for the second time in two games.
The Australian Test captain played for the Sydney Roosters in their win over the Eels on Saturday night, but admitted afterwards he expects Edwards to reclaim the NSW No.1 jersey.
Matt Burton was also dropped as the 18th man, with Mitchell Barnett, McInnes and Luke Carey on the extended bench.
NSW side for second State of Origin clash:
Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Steven Crichton, Latrell Mitchell, Zach Lomax, Jarome Luay, Mitch Moses, Jake Trbojevic (capt), Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Cameron Murray. Bench: Connor Watson, Isa Yeo, Haumole Olakau’atu, Spencer Leniu. Subs: Mitchell Barnett, Cameron McInnes, Luke Carey.
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