‘Pull the trigger’: Last chance for Blues stars as shake-up looms

Andrew Johns has conceded the State of Origin decider could act as the last chance for a number of high-profile NSW Blues stars.

With the series on the line at Suncorp Stadium, the future of coach Laurie Daley has been a major talking point, especially after a horror game two defeat.

However, the playing group for the Blues is under immense pressure as well and when asked if the clash in Brisbane could be do-or-die for some members of the team, Johns gave a resounding answer and suggested some replacements.

“Definitely,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.

“Number one will probably be fullback - Teddy [James Tedesco] is 33 and his replacement if he wasn’t there is Dylan Edwards, who is in his thirties as well and we all know that players like Kaeo Weekes are the next generation.

“Ethan Strange, whether he goes in because Mitch Moses is past 30. A lot of talk that Ethan should be starting here ... he was [close to] man of the match in game one.

“Nathan [Cleary] is what, 29 now? In two or three years time, we all know the next one to come in is gonna be Izzy Katoa. For whatever reason, if it doesn’t work, it’s gonna take a really brave call from the coach to really change our spine.

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“Whether the attitude is short-term pain for long-term gain, because Katoa and Strange and whether it’s Weekes or whoever, they’re gonna be there for 10 years.

“Whether someone pulls the trigger on that. The big one is probably fullback, so whether you pull the trigger on someone like Weekes.

“Strange will probably be five-eighth next year and barring injury, Nathan will be there but Katoa has gotta be there in the 19 for sure.

“There’s some big calls, but it won’t happen because we’re gonna win.”

Even after winning the Dally M last season, Tedesco is coming towards the end of his career with the Sydney Roosters and game three looms as a potential finale for the former Blues captain in the Origin arena.

But the admission from Johns - the greatest playmaker in NSW history - that both Cleary and Moses could be under pressure that illustrates the desperation that is starting to be felt south of the Tweed.

Two years ago, Moses was the hero for the Blues in a decider, while Cleary has been at the top of the sport for the best part of a decade with Penrith.

The likes of Isaah Yeo and Mitchell Barnett also have less football ahead of them than behind them and could be casualties if the Blues fall short.