Dylan Lucas Set for Blues Bench Promotion — Nrl Today
Dylan Lucas is set to earn a promotion to the NSW Blues’ six-man bench for Game 2, a move that could bring him into Origin for the first time. nrl today, the selection shake-up also follows Payne Haas’s return after the series-opener.
NSW will officially unveil its squad on Monday night, and Laurie Daley has already been forced into bench changes. Payne Haas’s inclusion pushes Addin Fonua-Blake to the six-man bench, while Blayke Brailey is one of two injury-driven changes and Jacob Saifiti is one of two changes after being dropped.
Daley’s bench reshuffle
The bench picture is tight. If Lucas is added, either Fonua-Blake makes way or Daley does not pick a second hooker to replace the injured Brailey. Ethan Strange, the Game I hero, is one option to cover minutes at hooker in relief of Reece Robson.
That leaves Daley balancing more than one selection call in the same area of the squad. Mark Nawaqanitawase is likely to be overlooked, while Liam Martin is also likely to miss out despite his representative experience.
Moses fitness test on Monday
Mitchell Moses must pass an Eels fitness test on Monday to take his place. If he fails, Ethan Strange replaces him and Katoa is promoted onto the extended bench.
Casey McLean added another layer to the squad watch on Sunday night when he said he should be fine to head into Blues camp after an ankle injury against the Tigers. The Blues’ final Game 2 squad, then, hinges on a few moving parts: Haas back in, Brailey out through injury, Saifiti dropped, and Lucas waiting on a bench call that could send him into Origin debut territory.
