Origin III Reshuffle
NSW Blues Announce Sweeping Changes for Origin III Decider, Key Players Recalled
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Key Points
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Jack Bostock was described by Daley as a 'big body and a good aerial threat,' earning a late call-up after he was named in the extended squad for game two, with Daley stressing the opportunity for the Dolphins youngster to prove himself at Origin level.
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Bradman Best has been parachuted into the No.3 jersey and Crichton returned to the No.4 shirt, with Tolutau Koula moved into the centres after Casey McLean’s injury forced a reshuffle ahead of game three.
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Dylan Lucas has been dropped from the squad, with Liam Martin earning a starting second-row spot in his place for the decider.
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Haumole Olakau’atu moves from 20th man to the bench, swapping spots with Victor Radley, as Daley reshuffles the forward pack to bolster the bench depth.
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If the Blues pull off a win in Brisbane, they could clinch the series at Suncorp, a achievement that would make them only the second NSW side in the last two decades to win a deciding game there.
NSW coach Laurie Daley has axed winger Brian To'o and centre Kotoni Staggs for the 2026 State of Origin decider, making six changes in a bold bid to clinch the series at Suncorp Stadium on July 8. To'o, a 17-game Origin veteran who has started every game since 2021, is replaced by Dolphins youngster Jack Bostock, 22, in the most striking call of Daley's reshuffle, according to Zero Tackle.
The Blues trail Queensland 1–0 after a brutal 44–24 loss in Game II in Melbourne. Daley now must win on the road at a venue where NSW has won a decider just once in the past two decades, according to NRL.com.
Bostock In, To'o Out in Daley's Biggest Gamble
Daley described Bostock as "a big body and a good aerial threat" — a direct response to Queensland's wingers targeting the shorter To'o in Game II. The 194cm Dolphins flyer has scored four tries in eight NRL appearances this season, averaging 160 running metres per game, according to Zero Tackle. Daley called To'o a "personal favourite" but insisted a tactical shift was necessary.
Fox Sports analyst Paul Crawley called the decision Daley's "most baffling yet," questioning why James Tedesco was kept while To'o paid the price. Critics argue Daley is being inconsistent — dropping a consistent performer for tactical reasons while protecting others out of loyalty.
Crichton and Best Return to Bolster the Backline
Stephen Crichton is recalled to the No. 4 centre jersey after missing Game II with a shoulder injury. Bradman Best slots into No. 3, with Tolutau Koula shifted to the bench following Casey McLean's quadriceps injury, which ruled him out of the decider, according to 7News.
The reshuffle gives Daley a more physical left edge. Crichton's Origin experience — and Best's size at centre — is designed to give NSW a stronger ball-carry threat against a Queensland defence that dominated for 36 second-half minutes in Melbourne.
Forward Pack Revamped to Match Queensland's Power
Liam Martin earns his first start of the series in the second row, replacing the dropped Dylan Lucas. Haumole Olakau'atu moves up from 20th man to the bench, swapping spots with Victor Radley, as Daley targets a stronger forward pack off the bench, according to ABC News.
Ethan Strange stays in the 17. The 21-year-old Raiders half earned an 8.5-rated debut in Game I — the historic 22–20 comeback win in Sydney where NSW trailed 20–0 after 20 minutes. Moses and Cleary remain the starting halves. Daley is betting on bench firepower, not a halfback change, to flip the result.
History Against Blues at Suncorp, Stakes Could Not Be Higher
Queensland wins roughly 75% of Origin deciders held at Suncorp Stadium. The last time NSW won a series-deciding game there was in 2005, according to NRL.com. A loss would almost certainly end Daley's second coaching stint, with analysts already flagging his position as under threat, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, Queensland has confirmed three returns of their own for Game III, with Patrick Carrigan, Jeremiah Nanai, and Corey Horsburgh all back, according to Zero Tackle. Lindsay Collins is out with a head injury. The Maroons are confident, fresh, and playing at home. Daley's overhaul is a calculated risk — but the margin for error is zero.
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