New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has admitted his selection of Tevita Pangai Jr in his Blues for the 2023 State of Origin opener is “a gamble”, but that selection gambles are a part of Origin footy.
“They’re all a gamble – that’s what it’s all about,” Fittler said at Blues camp in Coogee on Monday.
“[When] you pick a rep team, you make an assumption that they’re going to handle the big stage.”
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Fittler said he had no doubts the Bulldogs prop could do that.
“I’ve liked him for a while and I can see teams are intimidated by him. At times he hasn’t handled that well, but I’ve always liked him,” Fittler said.
“He’s super talented and I think it’s just a matter of him just getting that next level of control and showing leadership.
“When I talk to people at Canterbury, they say he’s a great trainer and prepares excellent.
“So if it’s a risky gamble, let’s have a gamble.”
Pangai Jr is one of three debutants in Fittler’s blues team, along with Nicho Hynes and Hudson Young. They are among eight faces named in this team who didn’t play game three last year.
Josh Addo-Carr has also been recalled, as has Latrell Mitchell. A hat-trick against the Raiders on Sunday afternoon was enough to secure Tom Trbojevic’s place in the side. He missed last year’s series due to injury.
Tyson Frizell and Payne Haas are the other two recalled to the squad.
Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham was initially named at 18th man, but has since been withdrawn due to a sternum injury, replaced by Stephen Crichton.
Speaking earlier on Monday on Nine’s Today, Fittler said the decision to choose Api Koroisau over Damien Cook was tough.
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“I think going down to the last couple of weeks, Api’s form and his relationship with the players in the team has been long,” Fittler said.
“Cooky has been in such good form and giving him a phone call last night and having a chat to him, he reassured me if anything happened, he’s our man if anything goes wrong.”
The Blues will take on Queensland on Wednesday week at Adelaide Oval.
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BLUES ORIGIN I TEAM
Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
Tyson Frizell (Newcastle Knights)
Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
Nicho Hynes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers)
Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)
Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Tevita Pangai Junior (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
James Tedesco (c) (Sydney Roosters)
Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)
Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)
Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders)
18th player – Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers)
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