Live: Blues ring in the changes as To’o dumped for decider

Big one for New South Wales is Brian To’o missing out. He’s played every game for the Blues since debuting in 2021.

Crichton and Best start in the centres with Staggs dropping out of the team and Koula going back to the extended bench.

Dylan Lucas drops out and Liam Martin replaces him at second row and Victor Radley drops back to 20th man with Haumole Olakau’atu joining the bench.

Here’s the team for the decider, at last.

1. James Tedesco

2. Jack Bostock (debut)

3. Bradman Best

4. Stephen Crichton

5. Mark Nawaqanitawase

6. Mitchell Moses

7. Nathan Cleary

8. Payne Haas

9. Reece Robson

10. Mitch Barnett

11. Hudson Young

12. Liam Martin

13. Isaah Yeo

14. Cameron Murray

15. Addin Fonua-Blake

16. Haumole Olakau’atu

17. Blayke Brailey

18. Ethan Strange

19. Tolu Koula

20. Victor Radley

Due to technical issues at the NSWRL, the team will not be released for another ten minutes or so.

OK, let’s try and game this one out.

I think the Blues will drop Kotoni Staggs and Reece Robson with Stephen Crichton and Blayke Brailey coming into the side.

Also reckon Dylan Lucas goes to the bench with Haumole Olakau’atu taking his place in the starting side and Addin Fonua-Blake dropping out.

Gun to the head I think Laurie Daley sticks with Mitchell Moses at five-eighth over Ethan Strange.

Could be more than a few curveballs though, the Blues are desperate after what happened in Origin II.

Don’t go anywhere, because the big news will keep coming tonight.

Laurie Daley will name his team for State of Origin III in about an hour’s time and we’ll have it straight away.

The Blues are expected to make more than once change for the decider so keep an eye out.

It wasn’t pretty, but Newcastle get the win in a hard-fought, low-scoring encounter.

They now have a share of second place on the ladder.

Oh my God!!!!!

Doueihi put a bomb up, Bula got there over Ponga but knocks it on, Best scoops it up in the in-goal and finds Young, he takes off downfield and beats a few defenders and gives it back to Best for him to take it the final 40 metres to score!

After such a struggle in attack that is unreal! Once Ponga converts they lead 12-6!

A good kick return from Marzhew puts the Knights in range for a field goal.

But then Ponga throws a bad short ball to Lucas and he knocks it on.

The Tigers centre is off for an HIA and unless we go to golden point that’ll take him out of the game. Doueihi will defend at centre with Latu Fainu defending at half.

Saifiti forces an error from May and the Tigers will challenge. They’ll get it as well, the Bunker rules Saifiti got him high.

Koroisau kicks it on the last, it’s deflected but Lucas dives on it. Knights ball.

Gotta think the field goal comes into play soon.

Fainu gets McEwan high and the Knights have a chance at more points.

Gagai gets smashed and drops the ball, Makasini picks it up and he’s away, Ponga drags him down but only five metres out from the Newcastle line!

They run it on the last, Skelton and Sukkar combine but Ponga dives on the loose ball. Two big plays from the skipper.

Newcastle, finally, get over and it’s Dylan Lucas.

Ponga drops him under and catches the Tigers middles going sideways, Lucas cuts through and goes 20 metres to score. A great show of speed from the backrower.

Ponga converts and it’s 6-all.

Turuva knocks down a pass and the Knights get a fresh set inside the Tigers 20.

Gagai kicks from dummy half down the blind on the third and it goes dead by miles! Their attack is short-circuiting today.

Brown throws a loose pass over the sideline inside the Knights 20 and the Tigers are on the attack.

Pole nearly punches it in but the Knights scramble and hold.

And we’re back at it! Halfway home, Knights kick us off as the rain falls in the Hunter.

Ponga drops a bomb under pressure from Bula and the Tigers gave one last chance before halftime.

They get a set restart but Koroisau loses it at dummy half. That should do us. A scrappy half.

Another big run from Young puts the Knights on the attack and then a set restart helps them build pressure.

But they can’t get it right and Brown’s kick goes dead.

Another Knights errors, this time from Frizell, opens the door for the Tigers to score again.

But then Turuva drops the ball as he tries to play it. Lot of mistakes out there today.

Fox League are reporting that May has dislocated his shoulder for the third time this season. He won’t be back today.

Marzhew creates some space down the left for Best and the Knights are on the attack.

Sharpe nearly pulls through but on the next play Brown’s kick is cleaned up by Koroisau and the Tigers hold fast again.