NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has dumped Young's Angus Crichton as part of a stunning seven changes for Origin II at Perth's Optus Stadium on Sunday, which NSW must win to stay alive in the series.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NSW sent an SOS to James Maloney after Mitchell Pearce's unlikely Origin recall was sunk at the 11th hour due to injury.
It forced Fittler to abandon plans to pair the Newcastle No.7 with Nathan Cleary in the halves, leaving him to turn to Cleary's Penrith teammate Maloney and reuniting the pair who steered NSW to a drought-breaking series triumph 12 months ago.
Maloney was overlooked for the opening game of the series as the Blues opted for Cody Walker.
It wasn't the biggest shock, with Fittler dumping Latrell Mitchell, who just a month ago was touted as potentially the world's best player. He scored two tries on his 22nd birthday as the Roosters dismantled the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said he's disappointed to see both Crichton and Mitchell left out.
"I'm disappointed for him [Latrell Mitchell] and for Angus [Crichton] as well," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said after Sunday's match.
"It's obviously a price to pay for the first one.
"They're both disappointed and they're both men.
"They know that there is a fair bit of motivation for what they have both done so far in their careers at a young age and what they are going to get to.
"You can be slightly off and not be in a team and that is what's happened. I guess the only thing is a bit of clarity about why ... it doesn't have to be this week, but knowing what they need to do and what they need to improve."
Wade Graham, despite playing just 88 minutes of NRL since returning from an ACL tear, won a spot on the bench, with Tom Trbojevic also rushed into the team after only two games following a persistent hamstring problem.
Blake Ferguson will end his Origin exile. Melbourne workhorse Dale Finucane will finally make his NSW debut after years of near misses while Newcastle prop Daniel Saifiti will be the seventh Blues debutant of the series.
Tariq Sims will play his second Origin game off the bench.
Walker was axed from the halves, joining Josh Morris, Crichton and Mitchell as omissions.
David Klemmer (wrist), Nick Cotric (ankle) and Payne Haas (hamstring) were all ruled out through injury.
Crichton was a part of the Blues series-winning side in 2018.
He played 51 minutes in game one of this series.
READ ALSO: Lions edge Tolland at Rawlings Park
READ ALSO: Young Cherrypickers boost finals hopes