Injuries lead to NSW Blues changes, with Ethan Strange as a potential State of Origin debut contender amid a halves battle.
Injuries will force mass changes to the NSW Blues but a rising Canberra star Ethan Strange is a dark horse for a State of Origin debut in just over a month.
Already with a halves conundrum on his hands, Blues coach Laurie Daley has issued a challenge to Strange over the next four weeks, saying he wants the 21-year-old to put pressure on the experienced incumbents.
As it stands there's a three-way battle for the halves for Origin I with Nathan Cleary, Mitch Moses and Jarome Luai all hunting for the jersey for Origin I on May 27.
But at the State of Origin series launch at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday, Daley said he's backing the exciting Raiders star to push the trio.
"It's interesting. Nathan is playing really well, Mitch Moses played really well yesterday, Jarome's back, Ethan Strange for the Raiders is starting to play his best football," Daley said when asked about his options in the halves.