Moses, Katoa named for NSW in State of Origin II squad

And that will do me – thanks for stopping by on what’s been a big arvo of footy action.

Be sure to tune in again on Thursday, when we’ll be live blogging all over again, and from tomorrow as we continue to bring all the best news and yarns from State of Origin camp.

Take it easy!

Bear in mind this is yet to be confirmed – when Daley was talking about players dealing with injury he was mainly referring to Stephen Crichton, who is fresh off the field after playing for Canterbury this afternoon and has been carrying a shoulder injury, but this is what we can expect to see next Wednesday at the MCG.

1. James Tedesco

2. Brian To’o

3. Kotoni Staggs

4. Stephen Crichton

5. Tolu Koula

6. Mitchell Moses

7. Nathan Cleary

8. Payne Haas

9. Reece Robson

10. Addin Fonua-Blake/Mitch Barnett

11. Haumole Olakau’atu

12. Hudson Young

13. Isaah Yeo

14. Api Koroisau

15. Victor Radley

16. Cameron Murray

17. Addin Fonua-Blake/Mitch Barnett

18. Ethan Strange

19. Casey McLean

20. Dylan Lucas

21. Isaiya Katoa

No word yet on which prop starts or whether Lucas can force his way into the 19, as was speculated earlier today.

Daley says he wants a better start than what New South Wales endured in Origin I.

“It was there for everyone to see, when we were at our best we don’t look anything like that,” Daley said.

“For us, we have to make sure we start better than what we did. I know that we will.

“Watching some of the football and when we did play the way we wanted to, we played well. That excited me, because we haven’t played our best.”

The big inclusion for the Blues is Payne Haas, who missed Origin I due to injury. 

“Everyone’s watched Payne over the last couple of years and seen how much he brings for the Broncos. His ability to play long minutes is quite remarkable,” Daley said.

“He loves pulling on the NSW jersey, he loves being part of this environment.”

Two potential debutants for the Blues in Dylan Lucas and Isaiya Katoa and the latter gets some attention from Daley. 

“He’s a player right now. He could step in and play in the halves for New South Wales, we’re lucky to have him and he’s got a big future,” Daley said.

“I like what he brings to a footy team, he’s got a great kicking game and his organisational skills are great. All the ingredients you need for a half.”

Daley wants all the players dealing with injury to be ready to go by Thursday. 

“Our first training session is on Wednesday and that’s always been an educational day rather than a heavy session,” Daley said.

“By the Thursday they need to be humming. You don’t want to take in guys who are underdone.

“It’s more about those guys having the week to prepare. It helps everyone if you have a nice preparation.”

Stephen Crichton has kicked a late penalty goal to help Canterbury slow the Bulldogs’ worrying run of NRL form with a 14-12 win over Parramatta.

Crichton struck from the tee in the 76th minute at  Stadium Australia on Monday after Eels hooker Tallyn Da Silva was penalised for a questionable high shot on Matt Burton.

Burton laid down seeking treatment after Da Silva’s contact and failed to finish the match as he was sent for a head injury assessment.

Crichton’s penalty got the Dogs home after the first scoreless first half in the NRL in five years.

Cameron Ciraldo’s side (5-8) climbed to 13th on the NRL ladder but the first half was a snapshot of Canterbury’s season when they dominated possession and territory and outran the Eels by more than 230m.

Despite having 17 play-the-balls in the Eels’ 20m zone in the opening 40 minutes, the Bulldogs’ attack was blunt and directionless.

The Eels thought Josh Papalii had scored a try on the stroke of halftime, only for his effort to be called back for a knock on, resulting in the first scoreless first half since a 2021 meeting between the Eels and Canberra.

Sitili Tupouniua was held up early into the second half before finally crashing over for the game’s opening try off a Lachlan Galvin shortball in the 49th minute.

Three minutes after Canterbury finally got on the board, captain Stephen Crichton helped his side double their lead.

Crichton climbed above Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi to claim a Galvin bomb to touch down.

But just when the Bulldogs thought they were beginning to pull away, the Eels hit back with a double salvo in back-to-back sets to send the game to the wire.

Winger Josh Addo-Carr made a burst down the left and grubbered in-field for Da Silva to slide in and the hooker was quickly followed over by Papalii after a midfield bust from Eels debutant Teancum Brown.

The Eels were hunting a third after Ronald Volkman forced a goal-line drop-out but Da Silva brought the halfback’s work undone when he was penalised for an escort on Tupouniua — and then handed the Bulldogs the win.

Da Silva was placed on report by referee Todd Smith for a debatable high shot on Bulldogs five-eighth Burton and Crichton stepped up to slot the winning penalty from 40m out.

AAP

Not long now, sit tight – we’ll have the team as soon as it’s named.

Word round the traps is Mitchell Moses is expected to be named at five-eighth for New South Wales after he missed Game I due to a hamstring injury.

Moses was ruled out of the first match of the series two days out and Ethan Strange was superb on debut in relief but Laurie Daley is set to stick solid with the Eels playmaker.

Don’t go anywhere, there’s still plenty to come.

We’ll have all the news from the press conferences as well as live coverage of the New South Wales Origin team announcement, which should come through in about an hour.

Parramatta’s last set ends with a bomb that Xerri takes and that will do us.

Canterbury escape with a very controversial win.

Parra go short and get it back, can they find an equaliser or a winner?

They spread it left to Addo-Carr but there’s no spce and he steps on the sideline. Only third tackle as well. Pressure got to them a bit there. Bulldogs ball.

Burton gets clattered by da Silva, the Bulldogs five-eighth stays down and the Eels hooker is penalised and on report. Another very rough call against Parra, they have copped some shockers today.

Crichton will go for goal, 40 out, right in front. Burton has to go off for an HIA so his day is over.

Can Crichton nail it? It’s a long way out…..but he makes it!

Canterbury take the lead 14-12.

Volkman puts a really nice kick around halfway, it gets Tracey out of position and as the fullback tries to get out of the in-goal he slips over!

Dogs go short, Iongi takes it but Tuponiua’s hit the ground and the Eels are penalised. Parra will challenge but they don’t get it.

Not much in it but correct to the letter of the law. Dogs penalty. They should get a shot at field goal at the end of this set.

Burton cuts through, he has Tracey in support, the cover just drags him down ten out and on the last tackle Galvin goes to the line, fires it to Xerri but his attempted tap-on goes over the sideline!

Parra just hang on.

Just like Canterbury did, Parramatta have gone back to back!

Walker goes short to Teancum Brown and the debutant strides into open pasture, he draws Tracey and has Papalii in support to score!

Da Silva converts and we’re all locked up at 12-all!

Parra go down a narrow short side, Volkman and Russell combine to put Addo-Carr away, he kicks inside and it sits up for da Silva who scores.

Very nice try after Parramatta’s best passage of the day. Da Silva converts his own try and it’s 12-6 Canterbury.

Iongi drops a bomb – Crichton went up and seemed to be a disruptor but it’s not called – and the Dogs have another set inside the 20.

Heyward goes for a kick but it beats the defenders over the dead ball line.

Volkman puts up a bomb, Tracey lets it bounce, it gets back to Volkman, he finds Walker who kicks to the other side of the field looking for Addo-Carr but he can’t gather it in.

But the Eels retain the ball, Tuala knocked it on first. Can they score here and get back in the game?

They can’t, in fact they get penalised in possession for Tuilagi raising his elbow into Curran. A rough call in my book.

After waiting so long for our first try the second comes in a matter of moments.

A strong set, highlighted by a Kiraz offload that put Burton away, is capped by a Tracey bomb that Crichton takes over Iongi and the Dogs skipper is over.

He converts his own try and in a matter of seconds it’s 12-0 Bulldogs.

Samrani knocks it on his own 20 and Canterbury have ANOTHER set. Surely they can crack the Eels this time?

A set restart helps them build pressure, Galvin goes for the short ball to the backrower that he favours so much and Tupouniua crashes over.

At last, we have our first try. Crichton converts and it’s 6-0.

Tupouniua looks to plunge over but Kautoga somehow manages to get his arm underneath the ball, what an effort from the Eels backrower!

But the Dogs retain possession, last tackle Burton goes across field but Russell rises high to take it and Parramatta hold on again.