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Blues ring in the changes as To'o dumped for decider

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Coach Laurie Daley has wielded the axe on his NSW team ahead of the State of Origin series decider, with Blues mainstay Brian To'o and Brisbane star Kotoni Staggs among four players dropped.

Needing to defy history to reclaim the shield, Daley made a series of changes for game three on July 8 in Brisbane, headlined by Canterbury's Stephen Crichton returning to the centres after missing game two with a shoulder injury.

Crichton replaces Staggs in the No.4 jersey after the Brisbane centre had a tough night in the Blues' 44-24 capitulation to Queensland at the MCG on June 17.

But the biggest shock is the omission of To'o despite him scoring nine tries this season to help Penrith shoot to the top of the NRL ladder.

To'o has featured in every Origin game since his first appearance in 2021, but has been replaced by the Dolphins Jack Bostock after failing to score a try in the first two games this year.

Bostock was left on the extended bench for game two and has yet to make an Origin appearance.

Newcastle's Bradman Best has been parachuted into the No.3 jersey for Tolutau Koula after the Manly winger was moved into the centres as Casey McLean suffered an injury before game two. Koula has been named on the bench for game three.

Penrith second-rower Liam Martin will also join the squad in place of Newcastle's Dylan Lucas, who had a quiet night in Melbourne.

Martin has played an integral role in the Panthers' dynasty and was a regular in the Blues' squad between 2021 and 2025, but was overlooked for the opening two matches.

After scoring two tries for Manly on Saturday, second-rower Haumole Olakau'atu has been called up from 20th man to the bench, swapping places with Sydney Roosters livewire Victor Radley.

Cronulla hooker Blayke Brailey has also been named on the bench instead of Wests Tigers' Apisai Koroisau, after missing game two with a broken arm.

Daley stuck to his guns in the halves, keeping the experienced duo of Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary, while game one hero Ethan Strange remains on the bench.

NSW's hopes of winning the decider were already dealt a blow as star centre Latrell Mitchell was ruled out with a calf issue.

The reshuffling follows an outpouring of heavy criticism against Daley after the game two defeat.

With his contract not yet renewed for 2027 and mounting noise for NSW to sack him, Daley is hoping his selection bets pay off and lead to an upset victory.

If his choices reward him, the Blues can become only the second NSW team in the last 20 years to clinch a series at Lang Park in Origin III.

In the day's NRL matches, Canberra kept their faint finals hopes alive with a 24-16 win over St George Illawarra before a spectacular, length of the field try in the final minutes delivered Newcastle a 12-6 victory over Wests Tigers.

Full New South Wales team for Origin III

1.James Tedesco, 2. Jack Bostock (debut), 3. Bradman Best, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Mitchell Moses, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Payne Haas, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Mitch Barnett, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Cameron Murray, 15. Addin Fonua-Blake, 16. Haumole Olakau'atu, 17. Blayke Brailey, 18. Ethan Strange, 19. Tolu Koula

Reserve: 20. Victor Radley

AAP

Re-live the action in our live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 7:33pm

New South Wales team for Origin III

Here's the team for the decider, at last.

1. James Tedesco

2. Jack Bostock (debut)

3. Bradman Best

4. Stephen Crichton

5. Mark Nawaqanitawase

6. Mitchell Moses

7. Nathan Cleary

8. Payne Haas

9. Reece Robson

10. Mitch Barnett

11. Hudson Young

12. Liam Martin

13. Isaah Yeo

14. Cameron Murray

15. Addin Fonua-Blake

16. Haumole Olakau'atu

17. Blayke Brailey

18. Ethan Strange

19. Tolu Koula

20. Victor Radley

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 8:09pm

Signing off

That'll be it from me, thanks for stopping by everyone. Hope you had fun with it all.

Don't forget to tune in again next week and for every game until the end of the NRL season, we'll be blogging every single one of them.

See you next time.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 7:34pm

Lots of changes for the Blues

Big one for New South Wales is Brian To'o missing out. He's played every game for the Blues since debuting in 2021.

Crichton and Best start in the centres with Staggs dropping out of the team and Koula going back to the extended bench.

Dylan Lucas drops out and Liam Martin replaces him at second row and Victor Radley drops back to 20th man with Haumole Olakau'atu joining the bench.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 7:19pm

The team announcement has been delayed until 7:30pm

Due to technical issues at the NSWRL, the team will not be released for another ten minutes or so.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 6:51pm

Predicted team changes for NSW

OK, let's try and game this one out.

I think the Blues will drop Kotoni Staggs and Reece Robson with Stephen Crichton and Blayke Brailey coming into the side.

Also reckon Dylan Lucas goes to the bench with Haumole Olakau'atu taking his place in the starting side and Addin Fonua-Blake dropping out.

Gun to the head I think Laurie Daley sticks with Mitchell Moses at five-eighth over Ethan Strange.

Could be more than a few curveballs though, the Blues are desperate after what happened in Origin II.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 6:04pm

Stay tuned for the NSW team for State of Origin III

Don't go anywhere, because the big news will keep coming tonight.

Laurie Daley will name his team for State of Origin III in about an hour's time and we'll have it straight away.

The Blues are expected to make more than once change for the decider so keep an eye out.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 5:52pm

Fulltime: Knights 12 def Tigers 6

It wasn't pretty, but Newcastle get the win in a hard-fought, low-scoring encounter.

They now have a share of second place on the ladder.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 5:47pm

75' Knights go 100 metres for a stunner!

Oh my God!!!!!

Doueihi put a bomb up, Bula got there over Ponga but knocks it on, Best scoops it up in the in-goal and finds Young, he takes off downfield and beats a few defenders and gives it back to Best for him to take it the final 40 metres to score!

After such a struggle in attack that is unreal! Once Ponga converts they lead 12-6!

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 5:44pm

73' Knights can't close

A good kick return from Marzhew puts the Knights in range for a field goal.

But then Ponga throws a bad short ball to Lucas and he knocks it on.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 5:42pm

Injury: Sunia Turuva

The Tigers centre is off for an HIA and unless we go to golden point that'll take him out of the game. Doueihi will defend at centre with Latu Fainu defending at half.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 5:39pm

69' Time grows short

Saifiti forces an error from May and the Tigers will challenge. They'll get it as well, the Bunker rules Saifiti got him high.

Koroisau kicks it on the last, it's deflected but Lucas dives on it. Knights ball.

Gotta think the field goal comes into play soon.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 5:30pm

61' Two big plays from Ponga

Fainu gets McEwan high and the Knights have a chance at more points.

Gagai gets smashed and drops the ball, Makasini picks it up and he's away, Ponga drags him down but only five metres out from the Newcastle line!

They run it on the last, Skelton and Sukkar combine but Ponga dives on the loose ball. Two big plays from the skipper.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 5:23pm

54' Knights score at last

Newcastle, finally, get over and it's Dylan Lucas.

Ponga drops him under and catches the Tigers middles going sideways, Lucas cuts through and goes 20 metres to score. A great show of speed from the backrower.

Ponga converts and it's 6-all.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 5:20pm