League legend Andrew Johns has lauded Brad Fittler‘s decision to start with Api Koroisau in the No.9 jersey for game two, predicting the line-up change will spark the Blues in game two.
After being in Fittler’s game one squad, Koroisau will replace the incumbent Damien Cook in Perth, with the Souths star dropping to the bench.
Johns said the Koroisau-Cook move had the potential to emulate what Danny Buderus and Craig Wing did for NSW during his time in the Origin arena.
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“I think it’s a masterstroke,” he told Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.
“The best rep teams I ever played in was with Buderus and Wing, I’ve been quite vocal about that.
“You’ve got the one-two punch where you start with Api and his trickery around the ruck, the way he brings the forwards into play, and then you’re going to have the speed of Cook. (Cook) would be disappointed that he’s not starting, but it’s team-first.”
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Despite the Blues being criticised for being “too Pantherised” by Phil Gould following the game one loss, the inclusion of Koroisau makes it seven representatives from the reigning premiers in the Blues’ game two line-up.
However, Johns downplayed concerns that the team could fall into the same problems from game one.
“The attack was a cut and print of what Penrith does,” he said of the game one performance.
“If you have a look at the way New South Wales attacked, it was very much like a club team that is very successful whereas Queensland played a lot out of dummy half and they had their halves on the advantage line who were dominant, we had Isaah Yeo being the dominant player.
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“With the introduction of Koroisau and Cook, the attack will change. They’ll still have those formations with Isaah Yeo linking with the Penrith boys, but I think it changes with the dummy-halves, which really suits Origin.”
New South Wales and Queensland will face off in the pivotal second State of Origin game on Sunday evening at Perth’s Optus Stadium.