State of Origin: Isaah Yeo to captain NSW as Bulldogs veteran handed shock debut
Laurie Daley has delivered a selection shock with Max King to make his State of Origin debut as the NSW coach also sweats on a Payne Haas quad injury.
Daley confirmed his side for the series opener on Sunday, with Dylan Edwards retaining the fullback role and Mitch Moses to partner Nathan Cleary in the haves.
Brian To'o and Zac Lomax have been named on the wings after Jacob Kiraz was ruled out on Sunday, set to miss at least a month with a calf injury.
Latrell Mitchell and Stephen Crichton will play centres, meaning Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic has missed out on selection.
Penrith's Isaah Yeo will take over as captain, with Jake Trbojevic's concussion ending his chances of keeping his spot at prop.
But all eyes in the Blues camp this week are likely to be on Haas, if he is even cleared to fly to NSW on Monday.
The Brisbane front-rower picked up an issue in Brisbane's loss to St George Illawarra on Sunday, before the injury grew worse later in the game.
He will require scans on Monday morning, after which a decision will be made on whether he flies down to join the Blues' camp in a bid to be fit for the 28 May opener.
Haas had been carrying a back issue in recent weeks and required treatment in Sydney this month, before suffering the quad problem.
His injury comes after a nightmare weekend for the Blues' forward stocks, with Jacob Saifiti also suffering a calf injury in Newcastle's loss to Parramatta.
Saifiti's spot will now go to 28-year-old Max King, with the in-form Canterbury prop named on the bench as the Blues' sole debutant.
NSW also have Stefano Utoikamanu on stand-by as 19th man, opting against going for Terrell May despite the Wests Tigers front-rower being among the NRL's best props this year.
Meanwhile it is the selection of Moses over Jarome Luai as Blues No 6 that looms as one of the most interesting factors head into Origin I.
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Moses and Luai led the Blues to an historic series win in Brisbane last year, helping overturn a 1-0 series deficit after defeat at home.
But Cleary's return from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of last year's series has always meant the duo were realistically fighting over one spot.
Moses was close to NSW's best player in last year's comeback, while Luai held the advantage of being Cleary's long-time premiership-winning partner at Penrith.
Moses's selection will bring into question how he and Cleary will combine, having never played together before.
Both are also dominant halves at their club, stationed on the right-hand side of the field as right-foot kickers.
Moses has not played five-eighth regularly since his days at Wests Tigers, having been the chief conductor since his arrival at Parramatta in early 2017.
NSW Blues: Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, Latrell Mitchell, Stephen Crichton, Zac Lomax, Mitch Moses, Nathan Cleary, Mitch Barnett, Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Isaah Yeo (c). Bench: Connor Watson, Spencer Leniu, Hudson Young, Max King, Campbell Graham. Reserves: Stefano Utoikamanu, Haumole Olakau'atu.
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