- Queensland dominated Origin I with NSW playing a man down
- As a result, coach Michael Maguire made five changes to the team.
- Moses replaces Hynes at running back and feels for opposing playmaker
NSW halfback Mitchell Moses has offered his support to Nicho Hynes following his State of Origin dismissal, labeling the ousted Blues No. 7 a media ‘scapegoat’.
After playing with a Blues team that was reduced to 12 men for 72 minutes in the first game, Hynes was the victim of a ruthless team reshuffle overseen by Michael Maguire as the NSW coach attempted to salvage the series.
The Cronulla playmaker has made way for Moses, who will make his fourth Origin appearance in Melbourne next Wednesday as the Blues look to match the Maroons.
Moses sympathized with Hynes’ plight, convinced that the circumstances of the series opener meant he had little chance of proving he belonged at Origin level.
“I’ll be sure to get back to him after this, it’s unfortunate,” Moses said.
“I feel sorry for him because he had 12 men the whole game and they pretty much made him the scapegoat.”
“I feel sorry for him… I have my chance and I have to grab it with both hands.”
Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses has been chosen to bail out the Blues in the second State of Origin match.
Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes was dropped after the Blues hammered Queensland in the first Origin clash in Sydney.
Blues coach Michael Maguire has made five changes to the New South Wales team as the series is played in Melbourne.
Maguire has been a long-time fan of Moses and would probably have given him the number 7 shirt for the first game, were it not for the Parramatta playmaker missing two months of NRL action with a foot injury .
Moses looked solid if unspectacular in his three hits for the Eels, but insisted there were no lingering concerns about his fitness.
After a trial season for 15th-ranked Parramatta, Moses described the prospect of entering the NSW camp as a “breath of fresh air”.
At running back, Moses is likely to be tasked with unlocking the Blues’ attacking weapons.
Both of NSW’s tries in the first game came from kicks and Moses is eager to unleash retired center Latrell Mitchell in Queensland.
“I think our job as halves is to throw the ball and get it to him in the places he loves it,” Moses said.
“He is a quality player and obviously he has been chosen for a reason.
‘He is a great influence on a team.
“He has a great influence on the team and has that aura that makes him love these types of games.”