Bombshell axing, crucial selection calls facing Laurie Daley to kick off new era with NSW Blues

A new era for NSW is set to begin under Laurie Daley, opening the door for months of feverish selection debate before he picks his first team on May 18.

It's a slightly different scenario to the one faced by Michael Maguire this year. Replacing Brad Fittler on the back of 2-1 series losses in 2022 and 2023, Maguire had a mandate for change and he used it to axe the longtime NSW captain James Tedesco and name a host of fresh faces for Origin I.

In came rookies Dylan Edwards, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Zac Lomax, Cameron McInnes, Spencer Leniu and Haumole Olakau'atu. There were more debuts to come, with Connor Watson and Mitchell Barnett also getting their first taste of Origin in 2024.

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After a disastrous first game in charge of the Blues, Maguire pulled the series out of the fire in stunning fashion, wresting the shield back for NSW in hostile territory by inspiring the Blues' first victory in a Suncorp decider since 2005.

That victory set Maguire up for continued tenure and what would have almost certainly been a game one 2025 team that had a close resemblance to the squads picked in 2024.

That's still likely to be the case, but a new coach, along with a new advisor in Craig Bellamy, is sure to bring a slightly different flavour at the selection table.

Throw in the superstars who were MIA due to injury in 2024 and the result is a murkier picture at the selection table than you would usually expect off the back of an iconic series win.

So, which decisions will be keeping Daley up at night for the next six months?

THE BACK FIVE

Dylan Edwards became Maguire's clear choice at fullback in 2024 and after a hiccup that stopped him from making his debut in the series opener, he took his chance with both hands in games two and three. He has since slipped into the Kangaroos No.1 jersey and is now the consensus pick as the game's best No.1. Assuming he's fit he'll almost certainly be Daley's fullback, but the picture's less clear elsewhere in the back five.

Maguire picked four centres this year and not one of them was Tom Trbojevic. Stephen Crichton was a standout throughout the series and is without peer when it comes to specialist centres, but there will always be temptation to pick the x-factor attacking players like Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell in representative sides. Daley is a huge fan of both but can probably only pick one if all the centre candidates, including Bradman Best, are fit and available. From the outside looking in it appears that the only way to fit both Trbojevic and Latrell in Daley's side would be to stick Trbojevic on a wing but that would appear unlikely given Zac Lomax's incredible debut series and the consistent excellence of Panthers gun Brian To'o.

Laurie's likely verdict: Edwards, To'o, Crichton, Trbojevic, Lomax.

THE HALVES

The Mitchell Moses/Jarome Luai halves pairing was superb for Maguire in games two and three this year but there's nothing more certain than Nathan Cleary resuming in the No.7 jersey, perhaps as captain, if he can get through the early part of 2025 unscathed.

Cleary played injured through the finals and stood up yet again in big moments to spearhead the Panthers' charge to a fourth straight premiership in 2024, so despite spending plenty of time sidelined this year his status as the No.1 player in the game was only further solidified.

The tricky decision for Daley and Bellamy will be who should partner him in Origin I. The easy call is Luai, given the pair's history together but this is no easy call due to the performances of Moses at representative level over the last two years. Had he been picked for Origin I, Moses may have won the Wally Lewis Medal this year and he was rightfully chosen ahead of Daly Cherry-Evans in Mal Meninga's end of season Kangaroos side. Both Luai and Moses will be wearing the No.7 on their back at club level in 2025, so there'll be no hiding behind the "specialist five-eighth" explanation for picking the Tigers recruit. Still, perhaps the most crucial factor tipping the scales towards Luai is that he's a natural left sided player who kicks with his left foot. While Moses is comfortable roaming, he spends most of his time on the right hand side, which is the area of the field Cleary likes to occupy.

Matt Burton is the obvious wildcard and could force his way into the No.6 jersey if his early season form is superior to Luai's or onto the bench if Daley opts for a backline utility.

Laurie's likely verdict: Luai, Cleary

HOOKER

While Reece Robson won the battle for the No.9 role in Maguire's Blues side, there are several other intriguing options that could yet come back into the frame when Daley and Bellamy put their heads together. Apisai Koroisau is still considered the craftiest hooker in the game and will have the benefit of rekindling his combination with Luai at a Tigers side that should be much improved in 2025. Blayke Brailey, meanwhile, has become one of Cronulla's best and most reliable players and at 26 is starting to come into his prime. With five Origins under his belt, Robson may have done enough to get the benefit of the doubt to start the 2025 series but he's got work to do to become an automatic pick.

Laurie's likely verdict: Robson

FRONT ROW

Could Jake Trbojevic be the second NSW captain to be axed in two years? One of Maguire's most contentious selections, the Manly champion started all three games in 2024 after succeeding Tedesco as captain, but in each of those games he was withdrawn from the field after the softening up period and was barely seen thereafter. One of Daley's first agenda points will be to scrutinise that role. Is it sustainable to have your leader off the field for so long? Does Trbojevic have the leg speed to warrant more minutes? If not, there may not be a case to pick him in a pack that will be led by Payne Haas, with Spencer Leniu an almost certain pick in an impact role off the bench.

Others who will press their claims are Storm recruit Stefano Utoikamanu and the Saifiti twins, with Daniel making a fresh start at the Titans, Manly man mountain Taniela Paseka, Junior Paulo under a new coach at the Eels and surprise Kangaroos pick Lindsay Smith, who has been a big improver at the Panthers. Throw in Mitchell Barnett, who debuted as a versatile bench forward in 2024 and the enigmatic Terrell May, who will be given more responsibility at the Wests Tigers, and this is one of the most difficult positions to pick.

Laurie's likely verdict: Haas, Utoikamanu, Leniu, Barnett

BACK ROW

This is one of NSW's biggest strengths and will remain so for a few years to come yet, with Isaah Yeo among the game's premier players in any position, Liam Martin widely considered the best edge back-rower in the game with a big 2024 series for the Blues and a Clive Churchill Medal winning performance in the grand final as well as the reigning Wally Lewis Medal winner, Angus Crichton.

Throw in Cameron Murray, who has the versatility to play in the middle or on the edge and you've got a world beating combination. The likes of Haumole Olakau'atu and Hudson Young have also showed promise in the Origin arena and are worthy of discussion as is Keaon Koloamatangi.

Laurie's likely verdict: Crichton, Martin, Yeo, Murray.

THE UTILITY HEADACHE

After picking a four forwards bench in Origin I that backfired when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was sent off in the opening minutes, Maguire settled on Connor Watson as the player best equipped to cover the key positions and the Roosters gun played the role beautifully. The question Daley and Bellamy must answer is do they see an Origin bench in the same way? If Bellamy's club bench in the big games is anything to go by, it seems likely that Watson will be in the frame, potentially fighting with rising Storm utility Tyran Wishart for the all important position.

Another option is to go with a backline utility more like Matt Burton, who could go on in the halves or at centre in the case of an injury, with Tom Trbojevic and Stephen Crichton options to cover at fullback. However, the Burton pick or one like it would leave the Blues exposed if the starting hooker was injured or sent from the field.

Laurie's likely verdict: Watson

POSSIBLE ORIGIN I 2025 NSW BLUES 17

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Brian To'o 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Tom Trbojevic 5. Zac Lomax 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Payne Haas 9. Reece Robson 10. Stefano Utoikamanu 11. Liam Martin 12. Angus Crichton 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Connor Watson 15. Cameron Murray 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Mitch Barnett