Posted: 2024-06-16 03:44:09

NSW Blues coach Michael Maguire has made five changes ahead of the state's must-win Game II.

Mitchell Moses has been chosen as the Blues halfback, with Nicho Hynes being dropped after a quiet outing in Game I.

Latrell Mitchell will make his return to the State of Origin arena, being selected at centre for the suspended Joseph Sua'ali'i.

Meanwhile, Sydney's Connor Watson and Penrith's Dylan Edwards have been named in the starting 17 to make their debuts.

Edwards was selected at fullback for Game I, but suffered an injury in training which ruled him out. 

Former captain James Tedesco played at fullback in Game I, but Maguire has again shown his belief in the Panthers' custodian to perform on the biggest stage.

Cronulla captain Cam McInnes has been named in the squad, dropped from the 17 to make way for Watson.

NSW Blues State of Origin Game II

1. Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)

2. Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers)

3. Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

4. Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

5. Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)

6. Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)

7. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)

8. Jake Trbojevic (c) (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

9. Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys)

10. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)

11. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)

12. Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)

13. Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

14. Connor Watson (Sydney Roosters)

15. Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)

16. Haumole Olakau'atu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

17. Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters)

18. Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)

19. Cameron McInnes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

20. Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)

Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog below.

That is all for the blog today

This is where we finish our live blog of Round 15.

It has been a great weekend, but today's announcement of the NSW Blues team for State of Origin Game II.

Wins this afternoon for Manly and Penrith also highlighted a fun day of footy.

ABC Sport will be back next week to bring you live coverage of Round 16.

ABC Sport is also your place for State of Origin news and live coverage.

Goodnight.

Why are the teams named at different times?

Mick, why do NSW name their team before QLD? Doesn’t this give an advantage?

- Presto

Hey Presto (I like that).

Thanks for joining me mate.

I don't really know why NSW announce on Sunday night and Queensland on Monday morning.

Maybe it's a way to ensure rugby league dominates the news cycle for two days? I'm not sure.

Does it give Queensland an advantage? No.

Why? Queensland has not cared about anything New South Wales has done since June 6, 1859.

NSW Blues team list announced

1. Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)

2. Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers)

3. Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

4. Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

5. Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)

6. Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)

7. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)

8. Jake Trbojevic (c) (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

9. Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys)

10. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)

11. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)

12. Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)

13. Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

14. Connor Watson (Sydney Roosters)

15. Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)

16. Haumole Olakau'atu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

17. Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters)

18. Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)

19. Cameron McInnes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

20. Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)

Mitchell Moses will play halfback for NSW

The Parramatta Eels media team clearly could not wait any longer.

They have confirmed their man, Mitchell Moses, will play halfback for the Blues.

That means Nicho Hynes has lost his spot in the side.

When will Queensland announce their team?

Do we know what time tomorrow the QLD team will be announced?

- Mikayla

Hey Mikayla.

Thanks for joining me on the ABC live blog.

We expect Queensland to announce the Maroons for Game II at some point tomorrow morning.

Paitence wearing thin with the audience

Waiting... waiting....waiting.....and still waiting for the NSW S-o-O team selection?

- Sir Wally Wombat

Blues fans cannot wait to find out who will play Game II

The wait is almost unbearable!!

- Clare

The NRL ladder after 15 rounds

The NSW team will be announced shortly

Hey Mick. When will the Blues team be named?

- Dan

Hi Dan.

Thanks for joining me on the ABC Sport live blog.

We are on standby for the team announcement which we expect shortly.

Liam Martin on Penrith's culture

There were tough moments for the Panthers tonight, but they did what they needed to secure victory.

"That's what we all do, we turn up for each other," Liam Martin tells ABC Sport.

Jack Cogger speaks to ABC Sport after loss to Penrith

Newcastle's Jack Cogger has told ABC Sport he thought the Knights had a great chance to beat Penrith tonight.

"There's just some lapses that we're having ... and when you play those better teams they make you pay." 

FULL-TIME: Penrith Panthers 26 def Newcastle Knights 18

Jarome Luai has hoisted Penrith to a 26-18 defeat of Newcastle to confirm he will go into NSW camp for State of Origin II in scintillating form.

Since his Blues side was outgunned in Origin I, Luai has turned in two starring performances in his new role as the Panthers' chief playmaker, with his efforts in a 20-6 first half proving the difference on Sunday.

The Knights were gallant all afternoon and stormed back into the contest after half-time.

Luai's rival halfback Jackson Hastings set up back-to-back tries as Newcastle threatened to pull off a come-from-behind upset before a sold-out home crowd.

But on return from the quad injury that snatched his NSW debut away ahead of game one, fullback Dylan Edwards scored the try that put the Panthers back on top and on their way to a hard-fought win.

65' TRY: Dylan Edwards scores for Penrith

Great play from the Panthers.

Dylan Edwards scored after Moses Leota created the linebreak and secured the try assist.

58' TRY: Bradman Best scores for Newcastle

The Knights are back!

Bradman Best scored after Jackson Hasting put in a chip kick on the third tackle.

In the previous play, Daine Gagai was held up over the line.

Hastings then saw Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards was out of position and he put in the kick.

Penrith's lead is now just two points.

53' TRY: Newcastle make someting out of nothing to score

The second half has been all Penrith, with Newcastle holding on.

But the Knights are the first to score in this second half.

It came out of nothing.

Jackson Hastings gave the perfect short pass to Dylan Lucas who runs 30 metres to the line.

Newcastle cut the deficit to eight points.

Mark Hughes joins ABC Sport as rugby league fans dig deep in support

The Mark Hughes Foundation is on track for a record fund-raising year having already raised $30 million over the past 10 years.

The great man joined the team on ABC Sport.

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Is Connor Watson on the verge of NSW selection?

There is a strong belief that Rooster Connor Watson will be named in the NSW Blues side for Game II.

He spoke to ABC Sport about what he would be doing today as rumours swirled he was on the verge of selection.

HT: Penrith Panthers 20 leading Newcastle Knights 6

That was a professional performance from the Panthers.

They conceded the opening try when Fletcher Sharpe showed off some brilliance, but after that it was all the Panthers.

They controlled the pace of the game and punished any error made by Newcastle.

39' TRY: Lindsay Smith makes the Knights pay

It's a very bad finish for Newcastle.

Newcastle coughed up the ball when Daine Gagai offloaded to no-one, ultimately gathered by Penrith.

The Panthers marched down the field, and Lindsay Smith was put into a gap and scores. 

33' TRY: Luai finishes off a brilliant passage of play for Penrith

Well done Penrith, that was magnificent.

The Panthers had forced consecutive goal line dropouts, starving the Knights of the ball.

Penrith, as we have come to expect over the past four years, worked over their opposition.

Jahrome Luai is the man to score, throwing two dummy passes before putting the foot down as he runs through a big gap.

Brilliant.

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