Utoikamanu in as Cleary warns NSW halves set to explode
Nathan Cleary has declared his combination with Mitch Moses can go to another level in Perth, as NSW made only one injury-enforced change for State of Origin II.
Blues coach Laurie Daley announced his team on Monday night, with Stefano Utoikamanu beating out Keaon Koloamatangi to replace Mitch Barnett.
Max King will start at prop with Utoikamanu on the bench, while Matt Burton is the Blues' 18th man with Keaon Koloamatangi and Lindsay Smith reserves in the extended squad.
NSW's stability comes at a time when Queensland's halves are undergoing monumental changes, with Daly Cherry-Evans axed for next Wednesday's clash.
But in Cleary's eyes, NSW's halves are only about to get better.
The Penrith No.7's combination with Moses was the major talking point ahead of Origin I, with both naturally dominant halfbacks in the NRL.
It paid off, with Moses fitting into the supporting role and No.6 jersey unlocking his running game as planned in the 18-6 win.
The duo hardly got in each other's way, linked up in the lead up to one NSW try and Cleary also played a role in each of the Blues' other three four-pointers.
NSW have only had one other all-halfback pairing this century, with Trent Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce joining forces in the 2015 series loss.
Hodkinson spoke last month about how it became easier for the pair after they'd played one game together.
And Cleary believes it would be the same for he and Moses, as NSW hunt a second straight series win with victory at Optus Stadium next Wednesday night.
"The way Mitch and I combined was good, but I think even that, we can go to another level," Cleary said.
"I'm looking forward to getting to camp with them again and building that.
"It's probably just a bit of a feel thing (where we can be better). Especially when we're under fatigue and in the tough moments of the game.
"But still I thought just generally connecting off three training sessions really was pretty good."
Cleary said he expected to regain the kicking duties after handing over to Zac Lomax after three straight missed conversion attempts in Brisbane.
He also believed his own game would benefit after not playing Origin since game one 2023 due to injury.
"It is a weird dynamic (with Origin), where once game three is done, it's almost like another year until you play game one again," Cleary said.
"I think that's why with Origins series, you build into them.
"Particularly for me, coming back after two years out, I got to build those combinations in the first camp.
"But I think I can elevate those even more in this second camp."
NSW have now largely kept their squad intact for four straight matches, with the core of this year's team also winning last year's series.
"It helps," second-rower Liam Martin said.
"You can hit the ground running when you're getting into training. You know each other.
"That was the goal last year to build something, start fresh and try and build a legacy of the Blues. It's a group where everyone wants to buy in.
"Everyone is chasing the same goal. Everyone's just got that team-first mentality, and it's pretty special to be a part of."
NSW TEAM FOR STATE OF ORIGIN II:
Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, Latrell Mitchell, Stephen Crichton, Zac Lomax, Mitch Moses, Nathan Cleary, Max King, Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Isaah Yeo (capt). Bench: Connor Watson, Spencer Leniu, Hudson Young, Stefano Utoikamanu. 18th man: Matt Burton. Reserves: Keaon Koloamatangi, Lindsay Smith.
Nathan Cleary has declared his combination with Mitch Moses can go to another level in Perth, as NSW made only one injury-enforced change for State of Origin II.
Blues coach Laurie Daley announced his team on Monday night, with Stefano Utoikamanu beating out Keaon Koloamatangi to replace Mitch Barnett.
Max King will start at prop with Utoikamanu on the bench, while Matt Burton is the Blues' 18th man with Keaon Koloamatangi and Lindsay Smith reserves in the extended squad.
NSW's stability comes at a time when Queensland's halves are undergoing monumental changes, with Daly Cherry-Evans axed for next Wednesday's clash.
But in Cleary's eyes, NSW's halves are only about to get better.
The Penrith No.7's combination with Moses was the major talking point ahead of Origin I, with both naturally dominant halfbacks in the NRL.
It paid off, with Moses fitting into the supporting role and No.6 jersey unlocking his running game as planned in the 18-6 win.
The duo hardly got in each other's way, linked up in the lead up to one NSW try and Cleary also played a role in each of the Blues' other three four-pointers.
NSW have only had one other all-halfback pairing this century, with Trent Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce joining forces in the 2015 series loss.
Hodkinson spoke last month about how it became easier for the pair after they'd played one game together.
And Cleary believes it would be the same for he and Moses, as NSW hunt a second straight series win with victory at Optus Stadium next Wednesday night.
"The way Mitch and I combined was good, but I think even that, we can go to another level," Cleary said.
"I'm looking forward to getting to camp with them again and building that.
"It's probably just a bit of a feel thing (where we can be better). Especially when we're under fatigue and in the tough moments of the game.
"But still I thought just generally connecting off three training sessions really was pretty good."
Cleary said he expected to regain the kicking duties after handing over to Zac Lomax after three straight missed conversion attempts in Brisbane.
He also believed his own game would benefit after not playing Origin since game one 2023 due to injury.
"It is a weird dynamic (with Origin), where once game three is done, it's almost like another year until you play game one again," Cleary said.
"I think that's why with Origins series, you build into them.
"Particularly for me, coming back after two years out, I got to build those combinations in the first camp.
"But I think I can elevate those even more in this second camp."
NSW have now largely kept their squad intact for four straight matches, with the core of this year's team also winning last year's series.
"It helps," second-rower Liam Martin said.
"You can hit the ground running when you're getting into training. You know each other.
"That was the goal last year to build something, start fresh and try and build a legacy of the Blues. It's a group where everyone wants to buy in.
"Everyone is chasing the same goal. Everyone's just got that team-first mentality, and it's pretty special to be a part of."
NSW TEAM FOR STATE OF ORIGIN II:
Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, Latrell Mitchell, Stephen Crichton, Zac Lomax, Mitch Moses, Nathan Cleary, Max King, Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Isaah Yeo (capt). Bench: Connor Watson, Spencer Leniu, Hudson Young, Stefano Utoikamanu. 18th man: Matt Burton. Reserves: Keaon Koloamatangi, Lindsay Smith.
Nathan Cleary has declared his combination with Mitch Moses can go to another level in Perth, as NSW made only one injury-enforced change for State of Origin II.
Blues coach Laurie Daley announced his team on Monday night, with Stefano Utoikamanu beating out Keaon Koloamatangi to replace Mitch Barnett.
Max King will start at prop with Utoikamanu on the bench, while Matt Burton is the Blues' 18th man with Keaon Koloamatangi and Lindsay Smith reserves in the extended squad.
NSW's stability comes at a time when Queensland's halves are undergoing monumental changes, with Daly Cherry-Evans axed for next Wednesday's clash.
But in Cleary's eyes, NSW's halves are only about to get better.
The Penrith No.7's combination with Moses was the major talking point ahead of Origin I, with both naturally dominant halfbacks in the NRL.
It paid off, with Moses fitting into the supporting role and No.6 jersey unlocking his running game as planned in the 18-6 win.
The duo hardly got in each other's way, linked up in the lead up to one NSW try and Cleary also played a role in each of the Blues' other three four-pointers.
NSW have only had one other all-halfback pairing this century, with Trent Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce joining forces in the 2015 series loss.
Hodkinson spoke last month about how it became easier for the pair after they'd played one game together.
And Cleary believes it would be the same for he and Moses, as NSW hunt a second straight series win with victory at Optus Stadium next Wednesday night.
"The way Mitch and I combined was good, but I think even that, we can go to another level," Cleary said.
"I'm looking forward to getting to camp with them again and building that.
"It's probably just a bit of a feel thing (where we can be better). Especially when we're under fatigue and in the tough moments of the game.
"But still I thought just generally connecting off three training sessions really was pretty good."
Cleary said he expected to regain the kicking duties after handing over to Zac Lomax after three straight missed conversion attempts in Brisbane.
He also believed his own game would benefit after not playing Origin since game one 2023 due to injury.
"It is a weird dynamic (with Origin), where once game three is done, it's almost like another year until you play game one again," Cleary said.
"I think that's why with Origins series, you build into them.
"Particularly for me, coming back after two years out, I got to build those combinations in the first camp.
"But I think I can elevate those even more in this second camp."
NSW have now largely kept their squad intact for four straight matches, with the core of this year's team also winning last year's series.
"It helps," second-rower Liam Martin said.
"You can hit the ground running when you're getting into training. You know each other.
"That was the goal last year to build something, start fresh and try and build a legacy of the Blues. It's a group where everyone wants to buy in.
"Everyone is chasing the same goal. Everyone's just got that team-first mentality, and it's pretty special to be a part of."
NSW TEAM FOR STATE OF ORIGIN II:
Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, Latrell Mitchell, Stephen Crichton, Zac Lomax, Mitch Moses, Nathan Cleary, Max King, Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Isaah Yeo (capt). Bench: Connor Watson, Spencer Leniu, Hudson Young, Stefano Utoikamanu. 18th man: Matt Burton. Reserves: Keaon Koloamatangi, Lindsay Smith.
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Daily Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Keaon Koloamatangi to play round 15, SuperCoach NRL trade tips
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The Age
6 hours ago
- The Age
Would Utoikamanu be back in Blue if he was still a Tiger?
Would Stefano Utoikamanu have been selected for State of Origin if he had stayed at the Wests Tigers? Of course, it's a hypothetical question. It's also worth remembering that Utoikamanu made his NSW debut while at the Tigers, one of the few players to make the step up to interstate level from the joint-venture club. However, his failure to make a second appearance for the Blues by the end of 2024 allowed him to activate a release that eventually led him to Melbourne. After being an unused reserve in the opening game, a season-ending knee injury to Warriors forward Mitch Barnett has opened the door for Utoikamanu in game two. The front-rower is too diplomatic to be drawn into speculation over whether his chance would have arisen if he was still a Tiger. 'It's hard to say,' Utoikamanu said. 'The Tigers are going better now than we were last year, so I wouldn't know.' Maybe it's a question better directed at Terrell May, whose contributions since shifting from Bondi Junction to Concord are, at least statistically, as good as any prop in the game. Regardless, Utoikamanu concedes joining the Storm – especially now that Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy and footy boss Frank Ponissi are in NSW camp – didn't hurt his chances of a Blues call-up. 'It was one of the things I looked at when I was going to leave the Wests Tigers,' he said. 'I feel like the Melbourne Storm have such a good system and being in it now, I'm happy I made the move and happy to be here.'
Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
'We're a team within a team: Lomax lifts lid on selfless act that sealed victory in Origin I
Zac Lomax has opened up about the selfless act that went a long way to helping NSW win game one – and ensured he was voted man of the match by his Blues teammates. Brian To'o's sin-binning on the brink of half-time at Suncorp Stadium, for tackling Xavier Coates in the air, left NSW needing to survive the opening ten minutes of the second half defending with 12 men. Lomax had watched the Maroons send all their attacking kicks to Coates's side of the field, where the towering Maroons winger enjoyed a hefty height advantage over To'o, and knew they would continue to attack down that flank when the game restarted. As revealed by colleague Roy Masters the day after the 18-6 win at Suncorp Stadium, Lomax approached Laurie Daley during the interval and volunteered to switch from the right side of the field to defend on the left while To'o was in the bin. Lomax was confident the NSW right edge would cope, because Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and Stephen Crichton 'had defended together forever' in clubland, and suggested he would be of better use switching over and helping out Latrell Mitchell try and stop Coates. The Maroons scored a try while To'o was in the bin, but it came from a Mitchell error rather than any luck attacking with the extra player. The foresight and maturity shown by Lomax was praised by Daley – and yet another example of how quickly the Parramatta recruit has adjusted to life in the representative arena within 12 months. As he joined his Blues teammates in camp in the Blue Mountains on Tuesday, Lomax opened up on the Origin I half-time conversations with the coaches.
