Daley's admission about Jake Trbojevic and Terrell May after Mitch Barnett blow
NSW coach Laurie Daley is considering former captain Jake Trbojevic and Tigers prop Terrell May as possible replacements for the injured Mitch Barnett having been forced to make a change for State of Origin 2. Fans were left devastated for Barnett after the NSW enforcer went down grasping at his leg on the weekend in the Warriors' win against the Rabbitohs.
The Warriors forward was one of the best players for NSW with his aggression helping his team win field territory against Queensland in Origin 1. But after being ruled out for the rest of the season, Daley has been forced to look elsewhere to fill the position.
Bulldogs prop Max King will likely shift to the starting side alongside Game 1 player-of-the-match Payne Haas, which leaves a front-row position available on the bench. Stefano Utoikamanu was a surprise selection in the NSW squad for Game 1, with many stunned Daley didn't go with May. Utoikamanu was on standby for Haas due to a quad injury, but Haas was later ruled fit to play.
Speaking on Tuesday, Daley suggested Utoikamanu could slot right onto the bench having already been around camp for the series opener. However he didn't rule out bringing former captain Trbojevic back into the fold as NSW look to seal the series in Perth.
Trbojevic captained NSW to the series win last year, but played very few minutes across the three games. The forward was on the cusp of being dropped for Game 1, but he suffered a concussion playing for club team Manly and it ended his chances of playing at Suncorp.
Daley suggested on Tuesday that the experience of the former NSW captain could be handy for Game 2 in Perth. He also said May and Souths prop Keaon Koloamatangi will come into calculations amid some brilliant form at NRL level.
'You've got Terrell May there who has been playing some really good football this year for the Tigers,' Daley said on SEN Radio. 'We had Stefano (Utoikamanu) in camp… Stefano was going to come in if Payne (Haas) didn't come up so he's obviously one of the front runners.
'Keaon Koloamatangi's been excellent the last few weeks. He's another one we're looking at. Jake (Trbojevic) hasn't played football, but we're hoping he may be able to get some football this weekend and if he does, then I'm sure that a guy of his experience and leadership will come up in conversations as well.'
Trbojevic's inclusion would raise some eyebrows with a number of front-rowers certainly exceeding his efforts in 2025. Across the last few weeks, Koloamatangi has arguably been the standout forward of the competition.
Koloamatangi was moved to prop in recent weeks and has thrown up some barnstorming efforts having run for more than 200 metres in his last three games. On average he has made more than 40 tackles per game and scored against the Warriors on the weekend. Few could argue Koloamatangi deserves a call-up, but May has also been strong to start the season.
But Daley is looking for that aggression that Barnett brought, which doesn't translate to stats. 'I think some of the work that Mitch (Barnett) did… when you go back and review the tape, some of the things you miss on game night,' Daley said. 'When you go back and analyze it, you just look at what he provided for the team. He was great and that to me is where it starts upfront, isn't it?"
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Speaking after the announcement of his NSW Game 1 squad, Daley defended his decision to omit May. 'I think it was more about the fact that other players have been playing particularly well. Max King, what he's been able to do has been excellent," the coach said.
"Terrell's playing some really good football and like all the others he's just got to keep banging down the door and his opportunity will come at some stage, But we just thought at this stage in Game 1 that's the team we wanted to go with. Max Deserves his chance. Stefano has really improved out of sight the past couple of weeks.'
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