Bostock to debut, To'o axed as Blues make six changes for decider

Dolphins back Jack Bostock will make his Origin debut in the July 8 series decider at Suncorp Stadium after NSW coach Laurie Daley made six changes to the side beaten in Game II.

Bostock, who has been named on the wing, will join centres Stephen Crichton and Bradman Best, secondrower Liam Martin, interchange forward Haumole Olakau'atu and dummy half Blayke Brailey as the new faces in the Blues side.

Crichton and Brailey return from injury after playing in Origin I while Olakau'atu has been recalled. Martin and Best have previously played for NSW but were overlooked for the opening two matches of the series.

The players to make way are Panthers winger Brian To'o, Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs, Knights secondrower Dylan Lucas, Wests Tiger Api Koroisau and Roosters Victor Radley, who was named as 20th man.

Sea Eagles back Tolu Koula, who played on the wing in Origin I and centres in Origin II, has been dropped to the bench. Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange, who starred in Origin I, is again on the interchange.

There was no room for no room for Manly's Tom Trbojevic.

Daley said the changes reflected the belief within the Blues camp that previous Origin experience would be crucial for a series decider in Brisbane, with Bostock the only debutant in the squad.

He replaces To'o, who has played 17 consecutive Origins for NSW since 2021 but has been targeted under the high ball in the opening two matches of the series as the Maroons have matched the taller Selwyn Cobbo and Jo Jo Fifita against him.

"All of these players have played Origin before, and Jack was a part of the 19-man squad down in Melbourne," Daley said. "He's a big body, he's an aerial threat and he's someone that we think will do well in Game III.

"It was a difficult decision, Bizza has been one of my personal favourites and is someone who has been the Brad Fittler Medal winner - he won that last year.

He's given great service to NSW and I'm sure he'll be back, but just for this game, we just feel like we just needed to make that change. Jack's a young man, he gets his opportunity and we expect him to play well."

After being dropped for Lucas in Origin II, Olakau'atu has responded in the best possible way for Manly to force his way back into the squad.

However, the Tongan international will have to make his return from the bench after Daley recalled Martin, who has been a mainstay of NSW and Australian team since 2021.

"He's had four games back now from injury, and he's a guy that has never let NSW down," Daley said of Martin. "He does bring that aggression.

"He understands Origin. He understands what we're about to walk into up there at Suncorp Stadium, so I'm sure Liam will be very excited about the opportunity.

"I think with Haumole, it was just a matter of the way we wanted to play in Game II, and then the balance of our team for Game III, just to have him on the bench.

"We believe he can make an impact in that position, so that's the reason why we've gone that way this time around. They're always hard decisions."

Martin will start alongside Canberra's Hudson Young in the secondrow, with Panthers team-mate Isaah Yeo retained at lock despite the claims of South Sydney's Cameron Murray, who has again been named on the bench.

Brisbane's Payne Haas and Warriors prop Mitch Barnett will start in the frontrow, with Cronulla and Tonga enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake on the interchange.

Roosters hooker Reece Robson and Brailey will share the dummy half duties as they did in Origin I, before the latter broke his arm playing for the Sharks.

Crichton was initially named for Origin II but ruled out with a shoulder injury. However, he has starred for the Bulldogs in back-to-back wins against the Sea Eagles and Titans in the new role of five-eighth.

The Samoa superstar is considered the best defensive centre in the game and he will be tasked with shutting down Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Cobbo, who scored four tries on Queensland's left edge in Melbourne.

Best has played for the Blues previously and scored a try in the 2024 decider at Suncorp Stadium as NSW overcame defeat in the opening game to win the series.

"With Bradman, we just felt we probably just needed someone there that has experienced Lang Park before, someone that's a big body and who defends really well and carries the football strongly," Daley said.

"Tolu has been excellent for us in Game One and Two, but we just felt like that combination of Bradman and Jack can give us something a little bit different to what we've had."

Westpac NSW Blues squad

1. James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
2. Jack Bostock (Dolphins)*
3. Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights)
4. Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
5. Mark Nawaqanitawase (Sydney Roosters)
6. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)
7. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
8. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
9. Reece Robson (Sydney Roosters)
10. Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)
11. Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders)
12. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
13. Isaah Yeo (c) (Penrith Panthers)
14. Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
15. Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
16. Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
17. Blayke Brailey (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
18. Ethan Strange (Canberra Raiders)
19. Toluta’u Koula (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
20. Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters)