Matters of State: Middle mobility may see Blues name new captain

Returning Westpac NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley may have to make the gut-wrenching call to leave out inspirational skipper Jake Trbojevic for Origin One as the ever-increasing speed of the game puts untold pressure on middle forwards.

As Daley comes to terms with how his pack will balance out, whether it be with three or four middle forwards across his starting front row and interchange bench, the breakneck pace of the NRL competition in 2025 is a huge factor in his thinking.

“It’s a conundrum… trying to have that right balance. We have certainly been talking about it," Daley told NRL.com as he prepares to announce the NSW squad for the series opener at Suncorp Stadium on May 28.

"You don’t have to be a genius to see the game is just getting quicker and quicker and that leaves the question - how many big blokes do you actually carry. 

“Do you go with a lighter, more mobile sort of team or do you go with the four bigger guys, two front-rowers to start and two front-rowers on the bench? We have that option or the option of three middles and a hybrid - somebody who could play a bit of backrow and middle.

"That's all to be decided but it's something we're looking at and discussing quite heavily.”

With the Bulldogs on top of the competition sporting a more mobile pack and the likes of the Raiders riding high on the back of energetic backrowers helping lay a platform, it is increasingly likely the Blues lean towards just three middle forwards.

While Trbojevic skippered the winning side last season, he did so playing around 20 minutes per contest, and now the pace has risen again.

Between the Manly stalwart, Payne Haas, Terrell May, Spencer Leniu, Mitch Barnett, Stefano Utoikamanu and Jacob Saifiti – seven into three (or
possibly four) does not go for Daley’s team to be announced after Round 11.

There are also plenty of form backrowers in the mix even considering the absence of incumbent lock Cameron Murray.

Liam Martin and Angus Crichton were enormous for the Blues in 2024
and are all but certainties to return if available, while Isaah Yeo could not only be elevated from the bench, but into the role of captain from lock.

In-form Canberra back rower Hudson Young, can play in the middle, making him a hybrid option Daley speaks about.

Haumole Olakau’atu is another back row option having been used off the bench in the opening two games a year ago although he’s more of a specialist edge backrower and may be the unlucky one to miss out.

Daley, the former NSW mentor from 2013-2017, is returning for another crack at adding to his series win in 2014 as a coach.

He’s spent the last few months dissecting individual forwards on a microlevel, leaving no stone unturned as he tries to plot the downfall of Billy Slater’s Maroons.

“You have to look at everything a player does. I’m watching how he tackles, what's his first contact like, does he end up in front or behind of the bloke playing the ball? How effective is he in winning the tackle… ” Daley stresses.

“And then things like, how does he get back into the line after a line break has happened? How does he move in the defensive system when he's lining up on someone, but the ball has moved sideways, and how does he react when the ball goes past him?

"Does he move quickly? Does he drop off? Does he walk? All those little things that you're looking for that people can expose under pressure if you're not good at it.”

One player no longer in the mix is Bulldogs back-rower Jacob Preston who was suspended for four matches on Tuesday night for a crusher tackle on Queensland forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

Incumbent hooker Reece Robson is likely to hold off a challenge for his position. Robson, as an 80-minute effort player, was the prototype for Maguire and proved to be successful.

"He deserves another shot but if Daley decides to push for another layer of attack then Api Koroisau becomes a serious option, and the Warriors hooker Wayde Egan is also waiting in the wings.

The utility spot on the bench, handled by Connor Watson in Game II and Game III last year, is likely to return to the Roosters jack of all trades. Watson provides cover for hooker and the halves.

Other options include Tyran Wishart or Matt Burton.

Wishart is adept at playing all roles for Craig Bellamy’s Storm, providing cover at hooker, in the halves, and anywhere in the back line, including the wing, while Burton is a proven entity in the halves and centres.

If Wishart and Burton miss the top 17, they become serious options as the increasingly important 18th man.

Possible Blues Forwards and Bench

Props: Payne Haas, Mitch Barnett
Backrow: Angus Crichton, Liam Martin
Lock: Isaah Yeo
Bench: Connor Watson, Hudson Young, Spencer Leniu, Terrell May