NSW are ready to unleash the NRL’s most lethal left edge on Queensland on Wednesday night after three years in waiting.
The Sydney Roosters’ left-edge combination of Boyd Cordner, Luke Keary and Daniel Tupou will play together in State of Origin for the first time in Game I of the 2020 series in Adelaide.
Canberra five-eighth-turned-centre Jack Wighton will be the only non-Roosters member oo that edge, but hits the series in Dally M Medal winning form.
After dominating the NRL for three seasons, it marks the first time the Roosters have filled more than half of the Blues’ left side in that time.
Since the start of 2017, the Roosters have scored 142 tries down their left with Cordner, Keary and Tupou plus Latrell Mitchell and then Josh Morris – more than any other team in the competition.
“It definitely helps with combinations and knowing how each other plays,” Cordner said.
“Origin is a different game like we all know. So under the pressure moments it will help a bit.
“The combinations do help but it means nothing if we don’t get the win.”
They will come up against an inexperienced Maroons duo, with rookies Brenko Lee and Xavier Coates playing together for the first time.
While Cordner has been a mainstay of the Blues since his debut in 2013, Tupou will play his first game for NSW since 2015.
Keary’s debut has, meanwhile, been a long time coming, after he first seriously entered discussions in 2017.
He was part of the Blues’ camp in 2018 and would have almost certainly played last year had it not been for an ill-timed concussion.
Albeit a rookie at Origin level, he will enter this year’s showdown with three premierships and two Tests for the Kangaroos to his name.
“I think as a rugby league fan you feel the same way (proud) just given what he has been able to achieve in the last couple of years of his career,” skipper Cordner said.
“He has taken his game to the next level.
“He has always had that rep footy tag over his head.
“He’s been a little unlucky with injuries and what not but he has certainly proved his point again this year and he’ll certainly take his chance.”
