The spotlight burns brightly on Laurie Daley as New South Wales head to Queensland for Wednesday’s State of Origin decider. 

UNDER-SEIGE Blues coach Laurie Daley has rolled the dice on six selection changes ahead of the deciding third State of Origin clash at Suncorp Stadium. 

Debutant Jack Bostock, Bradman Best, Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Haumole Olakau’atu and Blayke Brailey are the new faces in camp, after Olakau’atu and Brailey were dropped for the Game Two thrashing in Melbourne. 

Daley axed New South Wales’ all-time leading try-scorer Brian To’o for the 22-year-old debutant Bostock, as well as in-form backrower Dylan Lucas and centre Kotoni Staggs. 

Daley won just one of his five series in his first stint as coach, and lost his first campaign back in charge last year. 

Blues supporters have fiercely debated his selection decisions, such as overlooking red-hot forwards Terrell May and Jackson Ford this year, while constantly chopping and changing. 

They’ve also criticised his use of the interchange bench, such as giving impact subs Addin Fonua-Blake, Api Koroisau and Ethan Strange just 25 minutes between them in the Game Two collapse. 

“It’s disappointing for the guys we had to leave out, but they’re the sort of tough decisions you have to make,” Daley said. 

“We’ve gone with it, and we’re confident this will be the team that will get the job done. 

“Any time you’re going to cop criticism in this role, I totally get it. Totally understand. But to receive support is always great because it’s a lonely space at times.” 

NSW claimed the series opener 22-20 on home turf, mounting a remarkable comeback from 14 points down after Kalyn Ponga’s controversial dismissal for a shoulder charge. 

They then sunk to a 44-24 defeat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as Selwyn Cobbo ran riot with a hat-trick. 

The Blues fell in last year’s decider at Accor Stadium under Daley, but did claim the 2024 Shield in enemy territory under previous coach Michael Maguire. 

Curiously, the Maroons haven’t won in front of their own fans since Game Two, 2023. 

“Any Origin game is special; to play a decider in Queensland is exciting,” Daley said. 

“We go up there, we’ll give ourselves every opportunity.” 

North of the border, Billy Slater enjoyed a big boost with Patrick Carrigan (ankle) and Jeremiah Nanai (shoulder) both fit and available for selection. Lindsay Collins (concussion) and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki make way. 

Much of the build-up in Brisbane centred on Slater’s future as coach, with Craig Bellamy close to the end of his Melbourne Storm tenure and the ex-Storm star his heir apparent. Bellamy is contracted until the end of the 2028 season but was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder in April. 

When asked whether this was his last game in charge of Queensland, Slater told media: “I don’t think so but I don’t know. I won’t be signing another contract. This is not a contract job for me.” 

He then clarified that he meant he would only need an informal handshake deal to continue coaching the Maroons in future.

Slater is chasing his fourth series victory in his fifth year in charge of Queensland.

MAROONS: 1 Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights), 2 Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins), 3 Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters), 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), 5 Jojo Fifita (Gold Coast Titans), 6 Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm), 7 Sam Walker (Sydney Roosters), 8 Thomas Flegler (Dolphins), 9 Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm), 10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans), 11 Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sharks), 12 Kurt Capewell (New Zealand Warriors), 13 Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys). Subs: 14 Max Plath (Dolphins), 15 Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos), 16 Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys), 17 Trent Loiero (Melbourne Storm), 18 Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos), 19 Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys)

BLUES: 1 James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), 2 Jack Bostock (Dolphins), 3 Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights), 4 Stephen Crichton (Canterbury 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 Mitch Barnett (New Zealand Warriors), 11 Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders), 12 Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers), 13 Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers). Subs: 14 Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs), 15 Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla Sharks), 16 Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Sea Eagles), 17 Blayke Brailey (Cronulla Sharks), 18 Ethan Strange (Canberra Raiders), 19 Tolutau Koula (Manly Sea Eagles)