Cotter blow forces Slater to re-think bench rotation

Maroons coach Billy Slater has admitted the loss of Reuben Cotter will force him to adjust his interchange rotation for the second State of Origin in Perth on Sunday night.

Cotter played the full 80 minutes in the middle during his Origin debut as Queensland came from behind to win 16-10 in the June 8 series opener at Accor Stadium, with the Cowboys forward making 51 tackles and carrying the ball for 134 metres in 14 runs.

However, Cotter will miss Origin II after tearing his hamstring during the warm-up before last weekend’s match against Manly and has been replaced in the frontrow by Lindsay Collins, with Jai Arrow the new face on the interchange bench.

“You have got to re-think the way you use your bench when you have a guy who played 80 minutes,” Slater said.

“He bought a lot to our team, he has been in great form and he was a big part of what happened in Sydney in Game I.

“Unfortunately, he picked up that hamstring injury and wasn’t available for this game but it creates an opportunity for Jai Arrow, who comes into the 17, and Lindsay Collins to start the game for us. He was super for us in Game I, so he really earned that starting position.”

Slater confirmed that he was planning to introduce Storm hooker Harry Grant into the game at about the 25 minute mark as he did in Origin I, with great success.

The Blues were on top up until that point of the game but the injection of Grant and Pat Carrigan turned momentum Queensland’s way and the loss prompted NSW coach Brad Fittler to make seven changes to his squad for the trip to Perth.  

“I have got to pick a team that I think is going to win, and I make no apologies for that,” Fittler said. “It has been a great week’s training, so I feel like we have made some good decisions.

“But at the end of the day there are two really good teams with good players in really good form, so we need to make it happen. Just because you lost the first one doesn’t mean anything.”

Among the most notable change to the Blues side was the decision to select Penrith hooker Api Koroisau to start, with Damien Cook moving to the bench in a dummy-half rotations similar to the way Grant and Ben Hunt were used by Slater in Origin I.'

Koroisau played from the bench in the final game of last year’s series but the selection of two hookers in the NSW team is a throwback to the early 2000s when Craig Wing or Kurt Gidley would play from the interchange.

Fittler and Slater attended a press conference on Saturday with captains James Tedesco and Daly Cherry-Evans in a Perth shopping mall, where it was made clear which team had the most support in Western Australia.

Even WA deputy premier Roger Cook received a louder cheer than the Blues.

“We are used to that,” Fittler said. “Unless you are in NSW, not many people cheer for NSW. I think it’s even on our number plates – The Premier State.”

Slater and Fittler work together for Chanel Nine and they were asked what each thought of the others coaching.

“I will be serious,” Slater said. “I have got a whole heap of respect for Freddy and what he has been able to do with this team over the last four years you have got to sit back and admire.

“I think NSW have gone through a really good period. They lost Game I but Isaah Yeo came within half a metre of drawing that game at the end so these games go down to the wire. I have been a part of many, I understand them and it is not over.”

Fittler said: “One thing you know with Billy is he is prepared always; whether it is a player, a commentator or now as a coach, so you would be a fool not to respect that and do similar”.

Slater confirmed that there would be no late changes to the Maroons team.