New South Wales icon Andrew Johns is urging Blues coach Laurie Daley to include a surprising underdog into the State of Origin squad for the first game among 10 players who were absent from the 2025 series.
Johns is advocating for Wests Tigers’ utility playmaker Adam Doueihi to earn his debut for the Blues during the series opener in Sydney on May 27. The legendary player has proposed a team selection that would require Daley to set aside loyalty and make bold changes.
The 27-year-old Lebanon international has transitioned to the halves for the high-flying Tigers this season, yet he has demonstrated versatility across various positions throughout his NRL career.
Despite battling injuries, which have limited him to just 121 games since his debut in 2018, Doueihi remains one of the league’s most adaptable players.
His outstanding form for the currently third-placed Tigers has prompted Johns to name him as his preferred No. 14 for the state.
“As a coach, the player in jersey 14 is crucial,” Johns remarked on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth.
Celebrations: Tigers players Jarome Luai, Adam Doueihi, and Sunia Turuva. Getty
“So, there are options like Connor Watson, Victor Radley, and Matt Burton, but I’ve selected Adam Doueihi,” he added.
“With the extended six-man bench, you could include Api Koroisau alongside (Reece) Robson or (Blayke) Brailey as your hooker in that 19. Doueihi can slot into the halves, play centre, wing, fullback, lock, second row, and if needed, he could even step in as dummy-half.”
Origin coaches will now select a 19-man squad for game day and can utilise 17 players as they see fit.
This change allows Blues coach Daley to designate a specialist back-up hooker on his six-man bench, while also including a genuine utility like Doueihi, who can adapt to various positions.
Here’s Andrew Johns’ NSW Blues team for game one, as featured in The Sydney Morning Herald: 1. James Tedesco 2. Brian To’o 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Latrell Mitchell/Tolu Koula 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase/Jacob Kiraz 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Reece Robson 10. Isaah Yeo 11. Haumole Olakau’atu/Jacob Preston 12. Hudson Young 13. Cameron Murray 14. Adam Doueihi 15. Keaon Koloamatangi 16. Mitch Barnett/Jackson Ford 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Latrell Mitchell/Tolu Koula 19. Api Koroisau
Fellow legend Brad Fittler has expressed his desire to see Roosters forward Victor Radley fill the No. 14 position for NSW.
Radley, eligible for NSW due to revised eligibility rules, has previously represented England in nine Tests.
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“He has played dummy-half and can defend as far out as the third-in,” Fittler noted regarding Radley.
The Blues and Maroons both face a series of tricky selection dilemmas ahead of the squad announcement on May 18.
One major question for Blues coach Daley is who will lead as fullback, as Roosters star James Tedesco is applying pressure on the current No. 1, Dylan Edwards.
Johns is keen to see Tedesco reinstated for his first Origin match since the 2024 series opener.
“Yes, he is my fullback,” Johns stated.
“I never thought I’d say this, but he is close to being in career-best form.
“If Tom (Turbo) was fit, I would have picked him, but with Turbo unavailable, Teddy is my choice without a doubt.
“What sets Teddy apart from Dylan is that he has a superior passing game, which better facilitates the outside players.”
Following a comeback victory from a game-one loss, the Maroons clinched last year’s Origin series 2-1.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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