The Mole: The 10 changes Blues must make after disastrous 2025 loss in order to beat Maroons

After the Blues lost the unlosable series in 2025 I've made wholesale changes to my team for the State of Origin opener later this month.

In fact, I've only kept seven of the 17 players that went down in last year's finale 24-12 to a smarter, faster and hungrier Queensland team.

When NSW won game one in Brisbane, they had a massive psychological edge, but threw it away with some poor selections and ordinary play in the remaining two games.

READ MORE: Tszyu scores dominant win despite late controversy

READ MORE: FA urges Fed Square to overturn 'absurd' World Cup ban

READ MORE: Battling Dragons star faces up to Origin axing

Some of the changes I've made are due to injury but I'm picking blokes who are playing the best football - not giving away jerseys on reputation.

With a host of big names including Payne Haas, Angus Crichton, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Tom Trbojevic, Jacob Kiraz and Liam Martin unlikely to be available, coach Laurie Daley will be forced to bring in some new blood.

Warriors prop Jackson Ford is a MUST for the starting side - he has an amazing motor, plays 80 minutes most weeks and often tops both the running metres and tackle count for his team.

Jacob Preston is another newcomer worthy of selection, despite the Bulldogs' patchy form he is playing good football most weeks.

I would go for the veteran James Tedesco at fullback ahead of Dylan Edwards - I just feel he offers more in attack and has been a little more dangerous in the nine rounds we've played so far.

In the centres, Kotoni Staggs has been playing well but his brain snap that cost him 10 minutes in the sin bin last weekend worries me.

Watch the 2026 Women's State of Origin series live and free on Nine and 9Now.

The Maroons are certain to bait him if selected and so I've left him out, with Bulldogs' Mr Reliable Stephen Crichton partnering Latrell Mitchell, who is in career-best form.

One selection that will raise eyebrows is Api Koroisau at hooker, with Connor Watson his back-up on the bench.

I'm certain Daley will stick with the consistent Reece Robson but for me, the other two offer more in attack.

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

It's vital to have a fast, clever hooker the way the pace of the game has increased in recent years and Queensland have a massive edge with Harry Grant working the ball at dummy half.

Most of the rest of the team picks itself and if the Blues go with the guys in form, they are a huge chance to go one-up against a Maroons team that has several key players going poorly or out injured.

The Mole's Blues team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Brian To'o 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Latrell Mitchell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Api Koroisau 10. Jackson Ford 11. Hudson Young 12. Jacob Preston 13. Isaah Yeo. Interchange: 14. Haumole Olakau'atu 15. Cameron Murray 16. Keaon Koloamatangi 17. Connor Watson 18. Campbell Graham 19. Terrell May