EXCLUSIVE: Huge names including Stephen Crichton axed as Joey makes sweeping Blues changes

New South Wales legend Andrew Johns wants several big changes to the Blues team despite winning game one in a thriller in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Queensland dominated the opening half hour of the contest at Accor Stadium and still led 20-6 until fullback Kalyn Ponga was sent off in the 57th minute for a high shot on Blues rookie Tolu Koula.

And while NSW scored three tries against 12 men to win the contest 22-20, Johns hopes the victory doesn't paper over the cracks that were obvious earlier in the game.

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"The last 23 minutes, it was a false economy, because you're playing against 12 men and players out of position," Johns said on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.

"So the first 57 minutes is what you've got to judge your selections. It's intriguing."

Johns has taken an axe to the Blues backline and dumped three-time premiership centre Stephen Crichton.

He would make way for Latrell Mitchell if the South Sydney superstar can overcome a back injury in time for game two.

Crichton was formerly regarded as a mainstay for NSW but his form has dipped this season along with that of his Bulldogs at club level.

Johns can't find a spot for Crichton in his backline for Origin II, given the right-side flank of Kotoni Staggs and Brian To'o will stay put.

It leaves young guns Koula and Casey McLean fighting for the left wing position.

Koula performed well on debut before being knocked out by Ponga, and McLean was outstanding when he came on to replace him on the wing.

Johns says 20-year-old Penrith gun McLean has to be in the team.

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"One, Casey McLean has to be in the starting line-up. I don't know how they fit him in," Johns said.

"He is unbelievable. He caught two of those bombs... he is some player, far out. He has to be somewhere.

"And then Latrell Mitchell... he's in. Yep, left centre. Kotoni stays (at right centre).

"Crichton is not a winger for mine, so then it's between McLean and Koula for left wing."

The other curly selection call for coach Laurie Daley comes in the halves, where Nathan Cleary was man of the match and debutant Ethan Strange was not far behind.

Strange was excellent in his first Origin game, with his 92kg frame terrorising the Maroons.

But Daley has already stated Mitchell Moses will come straight back into the team once he overcomes the hamstring niggle that kept him out of game one.

Johns says Moses has to wear the No.6 jumper, but Strange will remain in the side.

"(Strange) will be 14, if Moses is fit they will go with Nathan and Moses," he said.

"But far out, I thought (Strange) was man of the match, he was a nine out of 10. He sparked them.

"Ethan probably goes to 14... but geez, irresistible, he was so good."

The forward pack will undergo at least one change with superstar prop Payne Haas coming back from injury.

He will knock either Mitchell Barnett or Addin Fonua-Blake out of the front row, although both could be axed if Daley decides to put Cameron Murray at lock and move Isaah Yeo to the front of the scrum.

"Payne is straight in. I don't know if you need two big men, I thought we might have been exposed," Johns said.

"Were we too big in the middle? Do you need two or three big men in your team in Origin, with how quick it is now?

"I thought when Cam Murray and Victor (Radley) came on they looked dangerous around the ruck.

"So when Payne comes in, do you have a worker like Barnett, or like a Jackson Ford there?

"Cam Murray has to start somewhere in the middle... and play big minutes."

Daley has two rounds of NRL football to watch before naming his team for game two, which is in Melbourne on June 17.