"He's such a good leader and great defender": Lewis

Zachary Honeysett

True Blue Luke Lewis has paid Westpac NSW Blues centre Stephen Crichton the ultimate compliment after rating him the best defensive centre he’s ever seen following his performance in Game One of the Ampol State of Origin series.

Crichton did a good job of containing livewire Queensland centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and also laid on the first try of the game for Zac Lomax.

“Stephen Crichton, I thought was brilliant out there one-on-one, the ‘Hammer’ never looked like getting around him,” Lewis told nswrl.com.au.

“He’s such a good leader and great defender, probably the best I’ve seen in the centres.”

Lewis also spoke about the impending change in the forwards for the Blues for Game Two at Perth on Wednesday 18 June, with Warriors prop Mitch Barnett unavailable following a season-ending knee injury he suffered last round against South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Lewis said coach Laurie Daley could promote Game One debutant Max King or Spencer Leniu from the bench to the starting side, with Wests Tigers prop Terrell May or Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi joining the squad.

“I’d love to see Max King who was excellent off the bench or Spencer Leniu get the starting position so he can get his carry off kickoff,” Lewis said.

“The other two guys who come into it could be Keaon Koloamatangi or Terrell May, I'm not too sure but NSW is in good hands.”