Matty Johns has urged Laurie Daley to pick and start Manly star Jake Trbojevic for the Blues in Game I — ahead of champion Penrith forward Isaah Yeo.
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Origin squads for Game I will be finalised next Sunday and Monday, with several spots still up for grabs.
What to do with Trbojevic, who captained the Blues to a 2-1 series win last year, has been a hot point of debate.
His club form this season for the Sea Eagles probably doesn’t warrant Origin selection in the eyes of most, but Johns believes Trbojevic possesses the intangibles the team will need.
“The rules of State of Origin football from a Blues perspective is don’t get rid of Jake Trbojevic,” Johns said on Matty and Cronk.
“Two rules, don’t axe him and don’t get rid of him because it’s been done before and almost every time he’s been left out of the side or been axed, he’s been put in the side for the next game.
“Without Jake Trbojevic we have the talent, we have the toughness but when he’s in the side he gives an injection of emotion and spirit.”
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For the Sea Eagles, Trbojevic is averaging career-lows in minutes per game (61) and metres per game (49)
Trbojevic isn’t expected to be picked as the Blues captain in Game I but Johns outlined what his plan would be for Trbojevic if the Manly forward was in the squad.
“I do start him. He doesn’t have to be the captain, for me that’s not important but I do start him in the side,” Johns said.
“I’m really conscious that with (Nathan) Cleary and (Mitch) Moses in the halves, I want to make sure we don’t start by going too east-west, so I start with Jake and bring Isaah off the bench. Keep Isaah out of that early stuff and bring him on after 20-25 minutes.
“He’s not in great form nor is he a spring chicken, but when I look over at what Queensland have done over the years, they’d pick players in terrible form but they’d perform.
“Jake Trbojevic is one of those players.”
