'Don't think it's balanced': Laurie Daley's selections under fire as Phil Gould casts doubt over NSW team

Former NSW coach Phil Gould has raised concerns over the make-up of Laurie Daley's squad for the State of Origin series opener, questioning the lack of coverage in two positions while claiming the Blues can't win without an even share of possession.

Daley unveiled his team for game one on Monday morning, with the Blues naming six debutants to face the Maroons at Accor Stadium on Wednesday week.

Tolu Koula will line up on the wing and Addin Fonua-Blake starts at prop for their first taste of Origin football, while the six-man bench includes Victor Radley, Blayke Brailey, Ethan Strange and Casey McLean - none of whom have been there before. Dylan Lucas is also the 20th man and has never played Origin.

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Selectors also made the huge decision to axe incumbent fullback Dylan Edwards in favour of recalling Roosters captain James Tedesco.

Speaking on Nine's 100% Footy, the state's most successful coach Gould revealed his main issues with the 19-man side and where it falls short compared to the Maroons.

"When I look at the NSW squad, I don't think it's anywhere near as balanced as the Queensland side," Gould explained.

"I don't think it covers as many things that could go wrong on the night positionally, particularly at fullback. If something happens to James Tedesco, you've virtually got an inexperienced fullback going back there to cover that position.

"The other thing is coverage in the back-row, I guess Victor Radley or Cameron Murray might be able to cover an edge and they have done it at club level, but Origin's different.

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"I look at this team and I'm thinking they are gonna have to have a lot of possession. I don't think this is a team that can survive without the ball for long periods of time, which can happen in Origin and could happen with how they've been refereeing.

"They're gonna need a lot of ball to win, I can't see them surviving without it."

Paul Gallen echoed those sentiments, pointing to the "lighter" bench which features two lock forwards - Radley and Murray - as well as a hooker, five-eighth and centre.

However, during an interview standing alongside Radley on the show, Daley explained his own thought process and pointed to the man beside him as an edge option.

"I reckon there's good cover there with Rads," Daley said.

"(Radley) played most of the season last year at right edge for the Roosters and I went back to look at some of those games.

"Without giving too much away, I think he handles defence very good and when there's shape coming out the back, he can do what we need him to do.

"Both the back-rowers [Haumole Olakau'atu and Hudson Young] are 80-minute players but if they need a spell or one of them gets injured - I haven't had the conversation with Victor, he's just found out - but he will probably be in the back-row." 

Radley - who only became eligible again for Origin at the start of this year after some timely rule changes - also brushed off any doubts about his commitment to NSW.

"I'm super passionate - Australia is my home, I've never gone away from that," he said.

"I know I went to play for my dad's heritage for England, but I grew up on Bronte beach and this series was on the calendar every year.

"I was a bit envious not being part of it over the last eight or nine years with teammates being a part of it, I've seen how much they love that arena.

"I'm super grateful that Loz gave me the opportunity to play this game."

The other left-field selection was Jacob Saifiti, who is the only recognised front-rower on the bench, which came as a surprise to many.

While prepared to back whatever team Daley sends out onto the field, Gallen admitted he wanted to see one incumbent player keep his bench spot.

"Personally, I would have liked to have seen Spencer Leniu there," he said.

"There's always one forward who will only get 15-20 minutes off the bench and I just think Spencer Leniu who can bust a few things up."

Daley lost his first series back as NSW coach last year and is well aware of the pressures that come with the position, having led the side from 2013 to 2017 as well.

But with all the outside noise and criticism being directed towards him, the Raiders legend is remaining fully focused on the task at hand.

"I always think of the Wayne Bennett quote - when you listen to the people sitting in the stands, eventually you'll be there," he said.

"You've got to be careful, there's people you trust and take advice from, but at the end of the day it's your decision and you live and die by that.

"Origin is not about game plans and trying to be the smartest man in the room.

"It's about your will to want to do something and if we've got that connection and we want to play well and compete hard, I'll be happy."  

NSW will look to avenge last year's series loss starting on Wednesday, May 27. in Sydney - the scene of last year's game three disaster.