NSW coach Ricky Stuart knows Akuila Uate is a potential match-winner for the Blues – which is what made the decision to drop him for the State of Origin decider even harder.

Uate on Sunday paid the price for some crucial defensive lapses in the opening two games of the series, with Stuart recalling St George Illawarra’s Brett Morris – who will line up for his sixth Origin appearance at Suncorp Stadium but first alongside twin brother Josh.

Two of Queensland’s three tries were scored down Uate’s wing in game one while his indecision in not taking a high ball gifted Ben Hannant a four-pointer in the rematch in Sydney.

“It’s something that I had to mull over for a number of days and nights, had a number of discussions with Bozo (chief selection adviser Bob Fulton), ‘are we making the right choice?,” Stuart said.

“… but I’ve needed to bite the bullet. That’s my job.

“It’s hard when you’ve got to make those decisions and calls, you don’t like doing it but for our NSW state and supporters, it’s a decision I had to make

“I just believe there’s an opportunity there to strengthen that edge defensively, but it won’t be too long and he’ll be back – he won’t be gone for too long Akuila.

“It’s a tough position to defend, especially when you’ve got the quality of (Greg) Inglis and (Darius) Boyd on that left edge – they’ve got a lot of strike there.”

But Stuart denied Uate was to solely to blame.

“It’s not fair just to look at Aku in regards some of the defensive lapses,” Stuart said.

“It starts from the play-the-ball, it starts from the inside of the football, it doesn’t just come down to Josh and Aku.”