Are the NSW Blues using a complete smokescreen to get around ridiculous State of Origin rule?
Matt Burton is reportedly a genuine chance to leapfrog Campbell Graham and start in the centres if Stephen Crichton is ruled out of State of Origin 1. And it suggests the selection of Graham as 18th man might have been a smokescreen to get around a farcical rule that continues to frustrate NRL clubs.
NSW coach Laurie Daley raised eyebrows when he named Graham as 18th man, but was it simply designed around the fact South Sydney had the bye last weekend? If Daley had named Burton or Tom Trbojevic as his 18th man, they wouldn't have been allowed to play for Manly or the Bulldogs in Round 12 because neither NRL team had the bye.
But the fact he named Graham meant he avoided any drama at club level because the centre didn't miss any games for Souths. The Bulldogs were left fuming last year when Burton was once again named 18th man for Game 1 - the third time it occurred in four games.
Because the 18th man is required on game-day should anyone be ruled out after an act of foul play, they're not permitted to play for their club team the weekend before. It meant Burton was unavailable for the Bulldogs with no guarantee he'd get on the field for the Blues.
And the same occurred for the Bulldogs this year with Kurt Mann named as Queensland's 18th man. The gun utility was in Maroons camp when the Bulldogs lost to the Dolphins last weekend, but is unlikely to make his Origin debut on Wednesday night unless something dramatic happens.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo couldn't hide his frustration when discussing the situation last week. 'Considering we play Thursday night and Origin isn't until next Wednesday [it is a bit frustrating]," he said. "But in saying that, we want our players in and around that arena, especially someone like Kurt, who has worked so hard for a long time.
'We would never begrudge him of that, but it is quite frustrating to lose a player to 18th man. I haven't spoken to the Maroons, that's not for us. We're just really happy that he's there. We hope he has a great week and comes back to us a better player.'
It begs the question as to whether Daley avoided naming Burton (or even Trbojevic) as his 18th man so he didn't hamper their respective NRL clubs. With Crichton under an injury cloud after suffering a corked thigh at training on Monday, Burton was rushed into the squad.
Graham filled in for Crichton at training, and Burton's inclusion would seemingly be as the new 18th man if Crichton is ruled out. But reporter David Riccio revealed on Tuesday morning that there's every chance Burton will be parachuted into the starting team.
"There is a suggestion that Burton could actually be parachuted in ahead of Graham," Riccio said on SEN radio. However the Blues are said to be confident Crichton will be right to play.
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Graham played three Test matches for Australia at the World Cup in 2022, and was banging down the door for Origin selection in 2023. But injuries derailed his hopes of playing for the Blues that year, and he hasn't managed to recapture the same form. Burton has seemingly been in much better form, and many would have him in the team on Wednesday night ahead of Graham.
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