NSW coach Brad Fittler has defended his decision to make seven changes to his Blues squad after the narrow loss in the State of Origin series opener, insisting he couldn’t afford not to “reassess”.
Ryan Matterson, Kotoni Staggs, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Tariq Sims have all been dropped from the 17 that lost 16-10 to Queensland, with Jack Wighton (COVID-19) the only forced change.
Jacob Saifiti and Tyson Frizell are also out of the extended squad for Origin II, to be played in Perth on June 26.
But Fittler said the only option after a defeat was to change tactics, especially when the three-match series was on the line.
