Dolphins back Jack Bostock will make his Origin debut in the July 8 series decider at Suncorp Stadium after NSW coach Laurie Daley made six changes to the side beaten in Game II.
Bostock, who has been named on the wing, will join centres Stephen Crichton and Bradman Best, secondrower Liam Martin, interchange forward Haumole Olakau’atu and dummy half Blayke Brailey as the new faces in the Blues side.
Crichton and Brailey return from injury after playing in Origin I while Olakau’atu has been recalled. Martin and Best have previously played for NSW but were overlooked for the opening two matches of the series.
The players to make way are Panthers winger Brian To’o, Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs, Knights secondrower Dylan Lucas, Wests Tiger Api Koroisau and Roosters Victor Radley, who was named as 20th man.
Sea Eagles back Tolu Koula, who played on the wing in Origin I and centres in Origin II, has been dropped to the bench. Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange, who starred in Origin I, is again on the interchange.
There was no room for Manly’s Tom Trbojevic.
Daley said the changes reflected the belief within the Blues camp that previous Origin experience would be crucial for a series decider in Brisbane, with Bostock the only debutant in the squad.
He replaces To’o, who has played 17 consecutive Origins for NSW since 2021 but has been targeted under the high ball in the opening two matches of the series as the Maroons have matched the taller Selwyn Cobbo and Jo Jo Fifita against him.
“All of these players have played Origin before, and Jack was a part of the 19-man squad down in Melbourne,” Daley said.
“He’s a big body, he’s an aerial threat and he’s someone that we think will do well in Game III.
“It was a difficult decision, Bizza has been one of my personal favourites and is someone who has been the Brad Fittler Medal winner – he won that last year.
He’s given great service to NSW and I’m sure he’ll be back, but just for this game, we just feel like we just needed to make that change. Jack’s a young man, he gets his opportunity and we expect him to play well.”
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