Damien Cook has been punted from the New South Wales No.9 jumper after 13 straight games in the job.
Cook is replaced by Penrith rake Api Koroisau, who will start at dummy-half for the second State of Origin game in Perth on Sunday.
The South Sydney livewire debuted for the Blues in game one of the 2018 series, and has played every Origin game since. This will be the first time he has started on the bench.
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His benching is just one of a number of changes Brad Fittler has made to the game one team that lost by a converted try in Sydney.
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Matt Burton and Siosifa Talakai will make their Origin debuts, at centre and off the bench respectively. Burton has been called in to replace Jack Wighton, who was the only forced out due to COVID-19.
Angus Crichton, Jake Trbojevic, and Koroisau have been recalled to the side, having missed out on selection for game one.
Stephen Crichton has been promoted off the bench. He and Burton make a brand new centre pairing, with Wighton out and Kotoni Staggs axed after one game.
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Cameron Murray starts in the second row – having been named there then been benched before kick-off in Origin I – while Junior Paulo is named on the bench this time, after being named in the starting side then benched also before game one.
Tariq Sims and Ryan Matterson are both dropped. Nicho Hynes retains his spot as the team’s 18th man, after he was not needed in the series opener.
Koroisau to join NSW Blues team
BLUES TEAM: 1. James Tedesco (c), 2. Brian To’o, 3. Matt Burton, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Daniel Tupou, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Payne Haas, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Jake Trbojevic, 11. Cameron Murray, 2. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Damien Cook, 15. Angus Crichton, 16. Junior Paulo, 17. Siosifa Talakai. (extended squad): 18. Nicho Hynes, 19. Joseph Suaalii, 20. Jordan McLean, 21. Clint Gutherson, 22. Victor Radley
Blues Origin I final team: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. Daniel Tupou, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Payne Haas, 9. Damien Cook, 16. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 12. Tariq Sims, 15. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Stephen Crichton, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Cameron Murray, 17. Ryan Matterson. 18th man: Nicho Hynes
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