Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler is keeping fans guessing for Game One of the 2022 Ampol State of Origin series after declining to name his starting 13 at today’s Captain’s Run.
Fittler is not required to name his final line-up until an hour before kick-off for the series opener at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
The Blues coach was asked if he had made a decision on whether to keep Jack Wighton as his starting centre, or swap him for No.14 Stephen Crichton.
There has been speculation Penrith premiership-winning centre Crichton would feel immediately comfortable with fellow Panthers players Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o in the run-on side rather than waiting for his chance off the bench with Liam Martin.
“I won’t confirm or deny that…. keep the interest up,” Fittler said.
“A lot of talk goes into the game and a lot of players won’t play the whole game, so there’s different ways you can look at all that.
“At the moment we’ll keep it to ourselves.”
Crichton, who is one of three debutants for the Blues, had his jersey presentation on Monday night with family members doing the honours.
“It’s very emotional… I was sitting at the back sobbing away,” Fittler said.
“It’s good I wear glasses now so I can just pull them down so no-one sees the tears.
“But it’s fantastic. It’s one of the real thrills being part of these camps having families coming in and giving their perspective on what their son has gone through.”
With the cold weather and gusty north-westerlies expected to produce a dry track, Fittler was tipping a fast game of football.
“A fair bit of wind around so I’m assuming the field might be a lot dryer than it normally is, which allows you to throw the ball around,” he said.
“I think they’re both pretty competitive teams. I just can’t imagine the score line getting too far ahead of anyone.”
Game One last year saw NSW score eight tries in a runaway 50-6 victory but Fittler is expecting much more of a typical “Origin grind” and said he’s trained his players for that eventuality.
“They understand that if it’s a tight game it’s all about pressure and doing all those little things right – there’s a good chance that will be happening tomorrow night.”
