Unlikely bolter among 10 new faces in the NSW team Andrew Johns would pick for Origin I

New South Wales legend Andrew Johns is calling for Blues coach Laurie Daley to bring a surprise bolter into the State of Origin team for game one among 10 players who didn't play a role in the 2025 series.

Johns wants Wests Tigers utility playmaker Adam Doueihi to make his Blues debut in the series opener in Sydney on May 27, with the Immortal picking a team that would require coach Laurie Daley to abandon loyalty and pull the trigger on a radical shake-up.

The 27-year-old Lebanon international is playing in the halves for the high-flying Tigers this year, but has filled a range of positions throughout his NRL career.

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He's been plagued by injuries over the years and only managed 121 games since making his debut in 2018, but is one of the most versatile players in the league.

His form has been so impressive for the third-placed Tigers that Johns is picking him as his No.14 for the state.

"As a coach, jersey 14 is so important," he said on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth.

"So you've got Connor Watson, Victor Radley, Matt Burton... I've gone Adam Doueihi.

"Especially with the extended six-man bench you could put Api Koroisau - if you've got (Reece) Robson or (Blayke) Brailey (starting at hooker) - in that 19... Doueihi plays in the halves, can play centre, can play on the wing, fullback, lock, can play second row, and at a pinch could probably play dummy-half."

Origin coaches will now pick a 19-man team for game day, and will be able to use 17 of those players as they see fit.

It means Blues coach Daley can carry a specialist back-up hooker on his six-man bench, as well as a bona fide utility like Doueihi who can cover multiple positions.

Andrew Johns' NSW Blues game one team, via The Sydney Morning Herald: 1. James Tedesco 2. Brian To'o 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Latrell Mitchell/Tolu Koula 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase/Jacob Kiraz 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Reece Robson 10. Isaah Yeo 11. Haumole Olakau'atu/ Jacob Preston 12. Hudson Young 13. Cameron Murray 14. Adam Doueihi 15. Keaon Koloamatangi 16 Mitch Barnett/Jackson Ford 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Latrell Mitchell/Tolu Koula 19. Api Koroisau

Fellow Blues legend Brad Fittler wants to see Roosters forward Victor Radley picked as NSW's No.14.

Radley has played nine Tests for England but is suddenly also eligible for NSW given the rules revamp.

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"He's played dummy-half, he could defend as far out as three-in I think," Fittler said of Radley.

The Blues and Maroons have a number of curly selection headaches to solve before squads are named on May 18.

A big one for Blues coach Daley is who plays fullback, given Roosters champion James Tedesco is putting heat on incumbent No.1 Dylan Edwards.

Johns wants to see Tedesco recalled for his first Origin game since the 2024 opener.

"Yeah, he's my fullback," Johns said.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, he is in close to career-best form.

"I would have had Turbo there fully fit, but with Turbo out I'd have Teddy there for sure.

"The thing I think Teddy is different to Dylan is he has a better passing game, which brings the outside men into play."

The Maroons came back from a game-one loss to win last year's Origin series 2-1.