11:45, January 29, 202611:45, January 29, 2026

New faces in Origin mix as Blues plan redemption mission

Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey is progressing toward his debut for the Blues after receiving an invitation to an NSW planning camp this weekend.

Coach Laurie Daley is set to gather a squad of approximately 30 existing and upcoming Blues players on Saturday afternoon to kick off their mission to regain the State of Origin shield.

Brailey shone as the top hooker in the latter half of last season and secured a spot in the Kangaroos Ashes touring squad. The 27-year-old is in a tight competition with current Blues hooker Reece Robson for the No.9 position.

NSW led the series 1-0 in 2025, but Queensland came back to win the shield with victories in Perth and Sydney.

While the upcoming camp will feature several seasoned players, Daley is also committed to introducing new talent like Brailey to the Origin setup.

The team has struggled at home recently, losing three of their last four games at the venue. Daley is determined to turn this trend around as he aims to kick off the campaign with a victory.

This season, the coach is planning to innovate, with the Blue Mountains camp being replaced by a fresh approach to their preparation.