Rugby League News | Raidercast

Tue, 9th June, 2026, 16:28 AEST
Blues Confirm Squad Changes for Game 2
NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley announced a squad for Game 2 of the 2026 State of Origin series, with injuries affecting participation.
LeagueNews.co
The head coach of the NSW Blues, Laurie Daley, has revealed his squad for the much-anticipated second match of the 2026 State of Origin series.
Jacob Saifiti and Matt Burton will not participate, having been excluded from the Game 1 lineup.
Daley opted not to specify a starting 17; instead, he released a list of 21 players arranged alphabetically.
Mitchell Moses remains a concern due to an injury and hasn't played since before the first game, which adds to the uncertainty.
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Tue, 9th June, 2026, 12:18 AEST
Blues drop Haumole Olakau'atu for State of Origin II, Dylan Lucas to debut against Maroons
Blues drop Olakau'atu; Lucas debuts. Moses starts despite hamstring injury.
ABC Sport
NSW has dropped Haumole Olakau'atu for State of Origin II and called Dylan Lucas into the starting side for his Blues debut.
Blues coach Laurie Daley confirmed on Tuesday morning Mitchell Moses would start in the halves alongside Nathan Cleary, despite a hamstring injury that clouded his availability.
But the biggest shock is the omission of in-form Olakau'atu, who drops out to pave the way for Newcastle second-rower Lucas to start next to Hudson Young.
Olakau'atu is the new 20th man, which is the role Lucas filled in the Blues' 22-20 win over Queensland in Origin I last month.
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Tue, 9th June, 2026, 12:12 AEST
'It's sweet': Moses says he's in no doubt for Origin II
Mitchell Moses feels fit and ready to return for NSW in State of Origin II, confident despite injury concerns prior to the match on June 17.
The Canberra Times
NSW five-eighth Mitch Moses insists he is a certainty to play the second State of Origin match despite being named to start under an injury cloud.
Moses was feeling "very good" on return to Blues camp on Tuesday, having been ruled out of the game-one win with a hamstring injury suffered two days before kick-off.
The Parramatta captain has not played since, but was put through a variety of fitness tests with the Eels leading up to Tuesday morning's team announcement.
Blues coach Laurie Daley has called Dolphins playmaker Isaiya Katoa into camp as injury cover, and has Moses' electric game-one replacement Ethan Strange on his bench.
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Tue, 9th June, 2026, 9:54 AEST
NSW drop Olakau'atu, Lucas to debut in Origin II
Haumole Olakau'atu has been dropped from NSW's starting lineup for Origin II, with Dylan Lucas debuting. Mitchell Moses will start despite a hamstring injury.
The Canberra Times
NSW have dropped Haumole Olakau'atu for the second State of Origin match and called Dylan Lucas into the starting side for his Blues debut.
Coach Laurie Daley announced on Tuesday morning that Mitchell Moses would start in the halves next to Nathan Cleary, despite a hamstring injury that clouded his availability.
But the biggest shock is the omission of in-form Olakau'atu, who drops out to pave the way for Newcastle second-rower Lucas to start next to Hudson Young.
Olakau'atu is the new 20th man, the extended squad role filled by Lucas in the victorious series opener.
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Mon, 8th June, 2026, 19:58 AEST
Blues pick Haas, bring in rookie as insurance for Moses
NSW coach Laurie Daley is betting on Mitch Moses' fitness for State of Origin game two, recalling him despite recent injury. Katoa is on standby.
The Canberra Times
NSW coach Laurie Daley is rolling the dice on the fitness of Mitchell Moses after recalling the Parramatta captain to his Blues side for game two of the State of Origin series.
Moses was named in Daley's squad on Monday despite having failed to play for the Eels since he was ruled out of the May 27 series opener in Sydney less than 48 hours before kick-off.
The Parramatta playmaker suffered a minor hamstring strain in the lead-up to game one and was replaced at five-eighth by Canberra's Ethan Strange.
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