LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
NSW coach Michael Maguire has set the cat among the pigeons with his bold selection of Joseph Suaalii for Origin 1.
The Roosters prodigy, who has already made headlines with his pending move to the rugby union world, has now been handed a State of Origin debut by Maguire.
Suaalii, a highly sought-after talent in the rugby league world, made waves back in March 2023 when he announced his switch to the rival code.
Despite the controversial move, which reportedly comes with a hefty price tag, Maguire believes the young gun has what it takes to shine on the Origin stage.
While some pundits may have written off Suaalii's chances of donning the sky blue jersey, Maguire has shown confidence in the 20-year-old's abilities.
Partnering up with the bulldozing Stephen Crichton in the centres, Suaalii will have the chance to prove his worth against the formidable Maroons.
With his eyes firmly set on the future, Maguire is banking on Suaalii to deliver on the Origin stage and silence the doubters.
Only time will tell if this gamble will pay off for the Blues, but one thing is for sure - Suaalii's selection has added an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming clash.