Former NSW hooker Michael Ennis has picked four debutants and picked two position switches on his blues team to kick off the 2020 State of Origin series at the Adelaide Oval.
Ennis has picked Eels full-back Clint Gutherson to play at the center in his first interstate game, while picking Rooster’s star Luke Keary to partner with Panthers supremo Nathan Cleary in the half.
The other two debutants on Ennis’ new blues team are Storm Flyer Ryan Papenhuyzen in 14th and Panther’s star Isaah Yeo on the bench.
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There are also NSW recalls for Roosters winger Daniel Tupou and reborn Eels propeller Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
Tupou has not played for the Blues since the last of his four Origin games in 2015, having scored 11 tries in just 15 games for the Roosters in 2020.
Former Panther Campbell-Gillard has been back in shape since joining the Eels in 2020 and is eager to play his first game for the blues since debuting in 2018.
The biggest call Ennis has made to incumbents is to select Manly’s rear rower, Jake Trbojevic, to partner with Campbell-Gillard on the front row, allowing Rabbitoh star Cameron Murray to join Lock.
There’s no room for reigning prop Daniel Saifiti, while Campbell-Gillard is preferred to Eels partner Junior Paulo.
Putting Trbojevic in the front row also means Payne Haas would be coming off the bank instead of starting.
Ennis also prefers mobility on his bench when selecting workhorses Yeo and storm star Dale Finucane in the back row as well as tireless Broncos supporter Haas.
The reigning superstar James Tedesco receives the nod from the full-back, while Dally M-Star Jack Wighton holds on to his middle jumper due to an injury crisis.
Rabbitoh’s rake Damien Cook holds his seat at number 9, while the rear rowers Boyd Cordner and Tyson Frizell offer a lot of experience at the edges.
Ennis got the Blues to beat Baby Maroons 3-0 in a one-sided series.
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ENNIS ‘BLUES TEAM FOR ORIGIN I.
1. James German
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Jack Wighton
4. Clint Gutherson
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Luke Keary
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Jake Trbojevic
9. Damien Cook
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11. Boyd Cordner
12. Tyson Frizell
13. Cameron Murray
14. Ryan Papenhuyzen
15. Payne Haas
16. Dale Finucane
17. Isaah Yeo
FULL 27-MAN BLUES SQUAD
Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm), Nathan Brown (Parramatta Aale), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta Aale), Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers), Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters), Nick Cotric ( Canberra Raiders), Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters), Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers), Dale Finucane (Melbourne Storm), Tyson Frizell (St. George Illawarra Dragons), Clint Gutherson (Parramatta Eels), Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos), Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters), Zac Lomax (St. George Illawarra Dragons), Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers), Cameron McInnes (St. George Illawarra Dragons), Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm), Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)), Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights), James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters), Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders) , Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)
.
