EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Johns suggests huge Origin smokey as injured NSW Blues stars race the clock

Andrew Johns has suggested a left-field option to play for the NSW Blues this year, with a number of stars racing the clock to be fit for the State of Origin opener.

Incumbent wingers Brian To'o and Zac Lomax are set to be sidelined in the lead-up, with the latter suffering a broken foot in Parramatta's round five win over the Dragons.

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Both players would have been near-automatic selections for Laurie Daley's side, but will now need to prove their fitness before the first game on May 28.

Mitchell Moses - who is no guarantee of being selected even if he is fit - won't be back on deck for the Eels until round nine, while there's uncertainty over Tom Trbojevic.

Speaking on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour, one of the Blues' all-time greats examined the chances of all four men and if they will be right to play the Maroons.

"I think Zac - it's a break, so one week for him," Johns said.

"Players with soft tissue injuries probably need two or three games, which is Brian To'o with a hamstring. Mitch Moses has been out for a long time, that would be three games.

"I don't know with Turbo how bad that medial ligament is, they are talking six weeks. You'd probably want two games for him also.

"Zac Lomax only needs one, but the others need two or three."

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While the hope will be that Lomax and To'o are both available for Origin, it has raised question marks over who the next wingers in line would be.

The experienced and safe options would be Josh Addo-Carr and Daniel Tupou, who have starred at rep level in the past and are still playing good football.

But according to Johns, the one man who he "wouldn't hesitate" to throw in is Dolphins flyer Jack Bostock, who took out the Dally M Rookie of the Year honours in 2024.

"He brings the ball out of trouble, which for Origin is what you need," Johns said.

"He's a big body, he's tall and strong in the air and a really good finisher. To me, he just looks like a rep player and an Origin sort of player.

"There's talk of Jacob Kiraz, but if I was to put Bostock and Kiraz next to each other, I think Bostock is a little bit in front. He's over 100kg and he's super athletic … he's a gun.

"He is probably a couple of years off it, but I wouldn't hesitate to put him in there." 

Bostock has scored 17 tries in 30 first grade appearances to date and has become a damaging ball runner out of his own end, as well as a try-scoring threat at the other.

The 21-year-old moved to Redcliffe for the club's inaugural season after coming through the ranks at the St George Illawarra Dragons.