LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Cowboys website has announced a major shake-up in the Blues Game I Team, with Sea Eagles stalwart Jake Trbojevic set to lead the charge as captain at Accor Stadium on June 5.
NSW coach Michael Maguire has thrown six new faces into the mix for his debut Origin team, with Panthers speedster Dylan Edwards stepping up to fill the boots of the legendary James Tedesco.
In a surprising move, Tedesco has been left out of the starting lineup, joining a long list of experienced players who were either snubbed or unavailable for selection from last year's victorious Blues squad.
Alongside Edwards, other debutants include:
With Cleary and Murray out due to injury, Maguire has turned to Trbojevic to take the reins, setting the stage for a showdown with Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, his Manly compatriot.
Despite not being a regular captain at the club level, the 30-year-old Trbojevic's leadership qualities have earned him the armband for this crucial encounter.
The NSW squad features only a couple of club captains in Crichton and McInnes, adding to the new look and feel of the team.
As the first Blues skipper in recent memory without a club captaincy, Trbojevic will rely on his teammates to rally together and take on the mighty Maroons in what promises to be an epic battle on the Origin stage.