Brad Fittler’s Blues 17 for game one is starting to become more clear with early reports suggesting Jack Wighton will get the nod ahead of Stephen Crichton to start in the centres.
Wighton, who came off the interchange in games one and two last year, looks set to join Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs as the Blues’ starting centres, according to the Sydney Morning Herald’s Michael Chammas.
The pair will have arguably the toughest role on the field as they look to replace first-choice selections and star pairings Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell, who are both out with injury.
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While Wighton started game three last year in the halves when Nathan Cleary was ruled out, his move back as an Origin centre means Crichton will make his debut for the Blues off the interchange.
The last time Wighton played at centre for the Blues was in the losing series in 2020, with Eels fullback Clint Gutherson the other centre.
Wighton’s stint in the centres in 2020 was when Fittler’s squad was without Trbojevic and Mitchell, similar to this year’s scenario.
https://twitter.com/MichaelChammas/status/1531067296944226305
In other line-up moves, Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes, who Fittler last week claimed to be the buy of the season, has been handed the No.18 jersey, meaning he won’t make his debut unless a last-minute injury ahead of game one occurs, or the concussion replacement rule is activated during the game.
Hynes joined the Sharks this season after departing the Storm, the club he won a premiership with in 2020. He leads the league in linebreak assists with 13, and field goals with three.
https://twitter.com/MichaelChammas/status/1531072187435581441
According to Chammas, the Blues team to take the field on June 8 is as follows:
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, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Cameron Murray, 12. Tariq Sims, 13. Isaah Yeo
Liam Martin, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Stephen Crichton and Ryan Matterson round out the 17 from the interchange bench.
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