Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh has urged NSW to pick Joseph Suaalii for this year’s State of Origin series, saying he hopes his big-money move to the Waratahs will not crush the Sydney Roosters star’s Blues dream.

Waugh said NSW coach Michael Maguire did not need his input when it came to finalising the Blues side for game one on June 5, but the optimal policy was simply to pick the best players available.

And Waugh said he had told Mark Nawaqanitawase just that when it came to playing in the Wallabies Tests this year, despite his move to the Roosters next season on a three-year deal.

Suaalii was criticised for signing a three-year, $5 million contract with Rugby Australia in 2023 to play for the Tahs from October this year. Phil Gould was one of many league luminaries who wanted him out of the NRL immediately.

However, the 20-year-old has impressed this year for the Roosters, so much so that he has entered the Origin conversation when it comes to a wing spot with four rounds remaining before Maguire picks his line-up for the series opener.

Penrith’s Brian To’o has been a mainstay of the Blues in recent years and will be one winger, barring injury, while Suaalii is in a shootout with Canterbury’s Josh Addo-Carr and possibly Manly ace Tom Trbojevic. Suaalii outplayed another Blues’ aspirant, St George Illawarra’s Zac Lomax, on Anzac Day.

Players experiencing Origin for the first time are left physically and mentally jaded, but Waugh was all for Suaalii being unleashed against the Maroons, despite the outside back being groomed for the Wallabies’ busy European tour in November.

“My view is when you have players on contract, and they’re in your sport, you should pick the best possible team to win, whatever game you’re playing,” Waugh said. “We will have players that commit somewhere else after the season we’re in, but we still pick the best team to win.