Stephen Crichton Edges Kotoni Staggs In Blues Backline Race

Stephen Crichton is on the outer for the Blues selection picture, and Friday against Cronulla could decide whether he stays in the mix for the backline. Kotoni Staggs is just ahead of him in the race, while Laurie Daley is closing in on a Game I squad that already has at least eight players locked in.

Crichton’s Friday test

A dominant performance against Cronulla on Friday is the path back for Crichton. He is competing directly with Staggs for a Blues backline spot, and the margin between them has narrowed to one club game and one selection call.

Daley is expected to pick Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses in the halves, with Brian To'o, Isaah Yeo, Hudson Young, Cam Murray and Mitch Barnett also expected to be included. That leaves fewer places open and makes the backline race tighter than the broader squad picture suggests.

Latrell Mitchell has overcome an injury concern and could line up at left centre for the Blues on May 27 if he gets through Friday night’s game against the Dolphins. Jarome Luai has likely missed out, adding more pressure to the final backline spots that Crichton and Staggs are fighting over.

Staggs and the selection squeeze

Staggs will not get a chance to build his case in Magic Round because he is suspended. That gives Crichton a cleaner route to make his mark on the same weekend, with the selection picture set to sharpen around what he does against Cronulla.

The fight is not just about form. It is about timing, and the calendar is tight with the May 27 series opener approaching and the Blues backline still being sorted around the players Daley already expects to choose.

Taulagi and Queensland pressure

Elsewhere, Todd Payten pushed back on reports that the Cowboys and the Maroons were at odds over Murray Taulagi’s State of Origin availability. Taulagi has been out of action since a concussion in Round 8, but Payten said he could return after the Rabbitohs game next week and be in line for selection.

“I read that, it was a little strange,” Payten said on Friday when asked about the reports. He added that the club’s medical team is being guided by concussion specialists and said, “It’s up to Billy and Queensland whether they want to pick him for that Origin with no games under his belt, but I’ll tell you there is no way, shape or form that we would ever stand in front of anyone’s road to representing their state or their national team.”

For Crichton, the comparison is simpler: one strong game, one rival suspended, and one Blues backline spot still open enough to be changed before the squads are finalised.