'Create more points': Daley outlines Blues attacking vision
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The NSW Blues are set to play a free-running attacking style of football throughout the State of Origin series after coach Laurie Daley selected a squad suited to thrive in the fast-paced nature of modern rugby league.
The biggest takeaway from the Game One team announcement on Monday morning was the presence of multiple mobile, versatile forwards at the expense of the traditional big men who have dominated Origins past.
The selection of Cam Murray and Victor Radley on the bench reflects the playing styles that have dominated the NRL throughout the first 11 rounds of the 2026 season.
Set restarts and increased ruck speeds have opened the game up for crafty playmakers and mobile forwards to take advantage of retreating defensive lines.
Cameron Murray Try
While State of Origin matches have traditionally been more physical affairs, this has shifted in recent years and Daley is confident he has a squad that can prevail in a fast-paced game when the series kicks off at Accor Stadium on next Wednesday.
"If it's going to be refereed like the NRL, you've got to have that mobility, and hence we've gone down that path," Daley said.
"You still need to go forward, so we could have gone with four genuine front rowers, but we believe we've got enough go forward there with the three big men, plus the littler guys that can play through the middle.
[Isaah Yeo] can play through 80 minutes, Cam Murray can play 80 minutes. You've got Victor that can play long minutes, plus play on an edge. You've got Ethan Strange, if we needed him to play 13, he could do that.
"You've got Brailey that can play through the middle if required, and Robson could go back and play a 13 role. We think we've got enough mobility in our team to counter however it's going to be officiated."
Radley is one of six potential debutants in Daley's side, with Manly young gun Tolu Koula named on the wing and Sharks enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake to start at prop.
Rookies Brailey, Strange and Casey McLean join Radley on a six-man bench also featuring Murray and Knights veteran Jacob Saifiti, providing the coach with coverage across all positions.
Halves Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary will orchestrate the attack, reuniting after leading NSW to victory in Game One last year at Suncorp Stadium.
Maroons v Blues – Game 1, 2025
Moses injured his calf prior to Game Two and missed the remainder of the series. Incumbent hooker Reece Robson retains the starting role after a scintillating start to the year for the Roosters, with Brailey earning a place on the interchange.
The toughest call for Daley to make was fullback. James Tedesco is the reigning Dally M Medallist and in career-best form, while Dylan Edwards is the incumbent and has starred for the table-topping Panthers throughout the past few months.
The pair were neck and neck right up until the conclusion of Magic Round, when Daley ultimately settled on Tedesco.
The Roosters No.1 has scored six tries, with eight try assists and 11 line breaks, and is averaging more than 200 running metres a game.
While acknowledging how tough the decision was, the coach feels Tedesco is better suited to the attacking style he wants the side to play throughout the series.
Origin statement from Tedesco
"Dylan and Teddy play different football," Daley said. "Teddy's more dynamic and Dylan gets through a mountain of work. With what we want to do when we have the ball, we need to do a bit more.
"That's not to say Dylan doesn't do that, but we just feel the spine with Teddy and the connection he's got with Robson, then Moses and Cleary on either side gives us a few more opportunities to create a few more points."
With every team selection comes the hard-luck stories of players who narrowly missed out on a place in the NSW squad.
Back-rowers Jacob Preston and Angus Crichton were edged by Haumole Olakau'atu and Hudson Young, while Jackson Ford came agonisingly close to a Blues debut.
The Warriors forward was edged out by Saifiti, with Daley reserving one place on his bench for a traditional big-bodied prop.
While Ford is a pure middle forward, Radley and Murray boast the ability to also play on the edge and it was the versatility that played in their favour.
Radley has long been destined to play Origin and was viewed as a future Blues enforcer before opting to represent his English heritage in the international arena.
Changes to the State of Origin eligibility rules opened the door for the Roosters lock to play for NSW and Daley hopes he takes the game to the Queenslanders when he is injected off the bench next Wednesday.
Victor Radley Try
"I reckon you could guess what he said [when I told him]," Daley said. "What he said was exactly what I was looking for, so that excites me.
"I picked Victor to be Victor. I love everything he brings. He brings intent and he brings a physicality. A lot of people, when they've watched Victor Radley over the last few years, would have loved to have seen him on this arena, and now he's eligible in Game One.
"I don't think there's a better time to give him that chance. He's a good person with good qualities that I'm after, so he's someone I'm really looking forward to working with."
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