NSW boss Laurie Daley must weigh up some of the biggest decisions of his coaching life this weekend, as he prepares to name the Blues side for the State of Origin decider on July 9.
With the Blues desperate to salvage the series following the upset Game II loss to Queensland in Perth, two players in the selection mix are Wests Tigers forwards, Api Koroisau and Terrell May.
However debate continues to swirl around their potential inclusions for the must-win clash in Sydney—a situation not helped by a wretched run of club form that has seen the Concord-based Tigers slump to 14th on the NRL ladder off the back of a five-game losing streak.
Koroisau last played Origin in 2023, but is believed to be in calculations to replace Sydney Roosters utility, Connor Watson, on the NSW bench.
Meanwhile, Terrell May, highly touted in the lead-up to the 2025 series but overlooked so far, could be in line to unseat the man he replaced at the Wests Tigers this season, Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu.
Writing for Channel Nine, NRL insider, The Mole, shared strong views about what NSW selectors must do to save the series against Billy Slater’s Maroons.
“First and foremost, they need to come up with a hooker capable of matching it with Harry Grant,” he wrote.
“Veteran Api Koroisau fits the bill perfectly and has the speed and skill out of dummy half to hold his own.”
The Mole then called for Daley to make two more changes in the forwards, noting reserve big man, Stefano Utoikamanu, made four runs for just 41 metres in a 24-minute stint off the bench in Origin II.
“Queensland are happy to take on Stefano Utoikamanu and Max King in the battle up front—and that’s precisely why NSW need to spice things up,” he wrote, suggesting Souths beast Keaon Koloamatangi should be one of the first forwards picked for Game III.
“Put (Terrell) May on the bench and he will rip and tear when thrown into the fray—just what Queensland won’t want,” The Mole added.
Koroisau and May have one final chance to push their case in tonight’s Round 17 NRL clash against the Manly Sea Eagles at Four Pines Park.