Brad Fitler’s Blues 17 for the first game is starting to get clearer Preliminary reports suggest that Jack Whitton will agree to start Stephen Crichton at the center.
According to Michael Chamas of the Sydney Morning Herald, Whitton, who came in last year for one and two games, looks set to join Brisbane’s Cotoni Stags as the Blues’ starting point.
The pair will arguably play the toughest role on the field as they seek first-choice and replace star pair Tom Trobozevic and Lateral Mitchell, both of whom are out due to injuries.
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When Nathan Cleary was dropped when Whitton started three games in the half last year, his return as an Origin center meant he would make his debut for the Blues outside of Crichton Interchange.
The last time Whitton played for the Blues was in a losing series in 2020, with Ellis fullback Clint Gutherson at the other center.
Wheaton’s tenure at the center was in 2020 when Fitler’s squad was without Trobozevic and Mitchell, as was the case this year.
In other line-up moves, Sharks playmaker Nico Hynes, who last week claimed to have bought Fitler for the season, has been handed the number 18 jersey, meaning he will not make his debut unless he has a last-minute injury, or a concussion rule during the game. Is activated.
Hines joined the Sharks this season after leaving Storm, the club with which he won the Premiership in 2020. He led the league with 13 lineback assists and three field goals.
According to Chammas, the Blues will take to the field on June 8 as follows:
1. James Tedesco, 2. Brian Too, 3. Cotoni Stags, 4. Jack Whitton, 5. Daniel Tupu, 6. Jerome Louai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Pain smiles, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Paolo Jr., 11. Cameron Murray, 12. Tariq Sims, 13… Isaiah Yo
Liam Martin, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Stephen Crichton and Ryan Matterson rounded out 17 from the interchange bench.
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