‘Won’t play again’: Ex-player’s dire warning for Blues stars; daunting call facing Slater — Origin Talking Points

Tonight, the 2026 Origin series will be decided.

While it’s 1-1 on the scoreboard, Queensland have been the superior team and are favourites to clinch the series. The Blues won’t die wondering though and have made a couple of key changes.

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Mitch Moses could be playing for his Origin career following an ordinary Game II performance.

Meanwhile, the burning questions around coaches Laurie Daley and Billy Slater.

Read on for all of the talking points ahead of the 2026 State of Origin decider!

WHY MOSES COULD BE ONE OF SEVERAL BLUES STARS PLAYING FOR THEIR ORIGIN CAREERS

Struggling five-eighth Mitchell Moses hasn’t been one of Laurie Daley’s most popular selections, given how well Ethan Strange played in the series opener.

But during his Origin coaching career, Daley, a former champion five-eighth himself, has been fairly firm on his halves.

During his first stint as Blues coach, he was always adamant that Mitchell Pearce was going to be his halfback, and he has the same attitude with Moses.

He would have picked the Parramatta No. 6 for Game 1 had injury not ruled him out.

Not even the outstanding debut on Strange, combined with the poor form of Moses in Game 2, has been enough for Daley to change his mind about his five-eighth choice.

Fox Sports journalist Paul Crawley said on ‘NRL 360’ that Daley’s loyalty to Moses “wasn’t warranted”.

“You can’t pick him ahead of Ethan Strange at the moment,” Crawley said.

“In Game 1 we saw from Ethan Strange that he was up for Origin level.

“You could have played on the back of that momentum, sending him into Game 2, instead they went for Mitchell Moses, who hadn’t played in 30 days and he didn’t have a good game.”

Crawley also pointed to the fact that after an “average” Game 2, Moses went back to Parramatta and allowed an understrength Souths side to “run three tries through him”.

“Then you look at the way Strange attacks the game for Canberra and you can see what he’s doing and the danger that he poses,” Crawley said.

Fellow journalist Dave Riccio thinks Moses might not wear the Blues jersey again if he plays poorly and NSW loses on Wednesday night.

“I was hugely supportive of Mitch getting that jumper in Game 2, despite the fact Ethan was fantastic in Game 1,” Riccio said.

“But I go back to Ethan in Game 3. He just keeps questioning the defensive line and keeps tormenting them every single time he carries the footy.

“Mitch had gone through this Origin period with no great pressure from any rival six. This may well be his last (Origin) because of the pressure of Ethan.”

The stakes aren’t just high for Moses too with former Blues playmaker Luke Keary telling Triple M there are “six or seven blokes that won’t play State of Origin again” if the Blues lose.

“There are guys in that team that have failed twice... it’s a fact you can’t do that. They’ll just wipe them out... they’ll say they didn’t get the job done. We need to move to the next.”

‘NRL 360’ host Braith Anasta has been a Strange fan from the start of the series and said he would be his five-eighth for the decider.

But Anasta also praised Daley’s courage to stick with his out-of-from half.

“I like the loyalty factor. I like that, for once, NSW have stuck with their halves when they haven’t performed at their best because they often don’t do that,” Anasta said.

“When you’re a half, if you’re coach sticks with you, you owe them and you repay them, and this is the best opportunity to do that.

“He’s going to have to have the game of his life.”

IF BILLY CLIMBS THE ORIGIN MOUNTAIN, WHAT NEXT?

Outgoing Queensland Rugby League chief executive Ben Ikin may have given away Billy Slater’s plans for his future.

But ahead of the 2026 decider, the talented coach made a surprising comment regarding a potential extension to remain Maroons coach.

“I don’t think so, but I don’t know,” Slater said on Monday morning when asked if Game III would be his final match as head coach of the Maroons.

“I won’t be signing another contract. This is not a contract job for me.”

Slater then walked back on those comments somewhat in his final press conference before Wednesday night.

“I don’t anticipate not being here next year, so sorry for all those comments,” he said.

“It’s just how I feel. I could be standing here in five years’ time doing the same thing. I love this position, I love what it means, I love the group of men in that dressing room and I enjoy helping them prepare for that game of football.

“I’ve studied this game pretty hard and put a lot of time energy into it. This position means a lot to me.”

Meanwhile, Ikin was clear when quizzed on whether Slater would remain at the helm.

“We haven’t gone too deep-diving, but everything is pointing in the right direction for him to continue next year,” Ikin told the NewsWire.

So it’s fair to say there’s a bit of mixed messaging there, especially when those comments came only a week apart.

Regardless of whether Slater is considering signing an extension or not, there’s undoubtedly a major decision to make for the legendary fullback.

And it could be made easier if he wins on Wednesday night.

Victory at Suncorp Stadium would mark a fourth series win in five years — a staggering record for a mentor many consider to be one of the game’s best coaching talents.

So could Slater trade a three-game series for an NRL season and take the leap into clubland after conquering the Origin mountain?

There’s a genuine possibility.

Slater is a Storm legend and he has consistently been tipped to succeed Craig Bellamy as head coach of the Melbourne club.

The speculation has only intensified following Bellamy’s revelation earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder, leaving no guarantee that he will be coaching beyond the 2027 season.

Becoming a club coach is said to be a considerably tougher job than coaching the short Origin period.

But if there’s a club any mentor would love to take over, the Storm would be close to the top of the list given their star-studded roster.

Slater also already works with the Melbourne squad as a part-time consultant and already has a relationship with key figures, including Cameron Munster and Harry Grant.

While Slater’s future really is up in the air — he could complete Origin on Wednesday night and be ready for the next challenge.

‘NO-BRAINER’ TO START MURRAY AT LOCK IN PLACE OF SKIPPER

It’s the section debate that won’t go away and a former Blues great believes Laurie Daley will finally bite the bullet and make a massive change for Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Braith Anasta believes the Blues coach will finally start Cameron Murray at lock and shift skipper Isaah Yeo back to the bench.

Anasta has long called for Murray to start with Yeo to move to the bench or push into the front row.

The NRL 360 host, who played 10 games for the Blues between 2002 and 2008, predicted Daley would finally relent and give the Souths skipper the job of starting.

“Murray will start, Murray will start, and I’ll show you why,” Anasta.

“It’s a no-brainer to me.”

Anasta pointed to how well Yeo was used off the bench in the winning 2024 series by coach Michael Maguire, who simplified his game.

“Have a look at these carries from Isaah Yeo when Murray started at 13. Yeo was obviously directed here by Michael Maguire just to run the ball, don’t look to pass, make your metres, find your elbows and knees,” Anasta said.

“Look at these carries when they won the series up at Suncorp, he was outstanding. He’s not looking to pass, he’s not worried about executing a game plan or getting the ball to Nathan Cleary.

“He’s just thinking he’s going to run over as many Queenslanders as he can, play the ball as quick as he can, then the halves can play off the back of that and the service out of nine will be better.”

The Blues are 3-0 when Murray starts at lock and in his 16 games for NSW, the side is +174 points when he’s on the field, while they’re -48 when he’s on the bench.

There’s also been strong criticism during the past five years that NSW is too heavily influenced by all the Penrith players in the side.

While the Panthers have produced one of rugby league’s great dynasties in recent years, good game plans at club level don’t always hold up in the Origin arena.

Journalist Paul Crawley agreed with Anasta’s strong views on Murray’s role in the side and thinks he would help NSW to get off to a better start if he was in the run-on side.

“I think Cameron Murray has to be in the starting side,” foxsports.com.au’s Crawley said.

“Isaah goes to front row, I’d be happy with that. If Isaah goes and starts on the bench I’d be happy with that.”

Daley has copped plenty of criticism during the series on the back of losing last year’s shield after winning Game 1 at Suncorp Stadium.

Had Kalyn Ponga not been sent off in Game 1, the series would likely be over.

Crawley said the criticism was warranted, particularly around Daley’s game plan compared to rival coach Billy Slater’s.

The Maroons have looked a far better drilled team than NSW, who were favourites to win the series before and after Game 1.

“They’ve got to change something up. I think the criticism of Laurie Daley is justified, from the selections and the use of the bench and the game plans we’ve seen so far,” Crawley said.

“I think from the outside looking in, when you analyse the two coaching performances so far this series you can clearly see where Billy’s plan has come together and it’s almost improved over the course of the series.”

Fellow journalist Dave Riccio said Daley and Yeo themselves made the argument for Murray to start after the team’s 44-22 loss in game two.

“In the post-match press conference at the MCG, I reckon Laurie Daley and Isaah Yeo referenced the ruck and the ruck speed more than a dozen times,” Riccio said.

“Cameron Murray speeds up your ruck.”

Riccio also claimed that Yeo, despite being the team’s leader, would happily go back to the bench if it meant he was holding up the shield after the match.

“He will do anything for the Blues to win the game and if it’s starting from the bench he will do it,” Riccio said.

Anasta dismissed suggestions that starting the captain from the bench was disrespectful.

“You hear it’s disrespectful to Issah Yeo. It’s not disrespectful to Issah Yeo. No-one is saying don’t start him. Just play him in the front row, or if you do start him off the bench this is the impact he can have for his state,” Anasta said.

Yeo said in an interview last week that he would happily ‘put the team first’ and go back to the bench if Daley though it was best for NSW.

DALEY RECALLS ENFORCER BUT IS HE BEING USED CORRECTLY?

Blues coach Laurie Daley has recalled Manly wrecking ball Haumole Olakau’atu for Game 3, but his inclusion has created some debate.

After he was dropped for the match at the MCG, Olakau’atu will come off the bench for the decider.

He went from starting in Game 1 to being left out of the squad all together by Daley who was disappointed in a few of the backrower’s effort areas off the ball.

Olakau’atu did fade late in Game 1, which is part of the reason Daley has opted to use him off the bench for the decider with Penrith’s Liam Martin coming into the starting side.

But Braith Anasta questioned if that was the best plan.

Anasta said on NRL 360 that he would like to see Olakau’atu be sent out to ‘terrorise’ the Queensland halves, who have rarely been tested defensively all series.

“What we haven’t done enough to the Queenslanders is target their halves and if we haven’t done that enough, why aren’t we starting with Olakau’atu and just terrorise Munster with Hudson (Young) running at Sam (Walker),” Anasta said.

“Let’s try and execute that for once in this series and get at them.

“It made me think we should start with Olakau’atu. Maybe he’s the right one to terrorise the halves early on in the game, then bring Martin on when he gets a bit tired.”

Journalist Dave Riccio took a different view and backed Daley’s preference to start four-time premiership winner Martin.

“I’m comfortable with Liam Martin (starting). Wind him up, you know what he can possibly do. Start him and wind him up,” Riccio said.

Elsewhere, Martin himself has become somewhat of a role model for the Sea Eagles gun when it comes to his attitude — and a will to win.

“That aggression is something that I will definitely take out of Marto’s game, and learn from him,” Olakau’atu said to Code Sports.

“He’ll lead and hopefully I can do what it takes to follow his footsteps and back up his actions.”

Olakau’atu also admitted that he was unsure whether he could follow in Martin’s footsteps when it comes to harnessing what the ‘dawg’ inside.

“I’m surprised by Haumole’s answer. But he definitely has that ‘dawg’ in him. You ask any opposite halve, his physicality is second to none,” Martin said.

“But I’ll help him to get a bit more of that side of him out. We can just feed off each other during the week.

“Haumole, as big and as powerful as he is, he is a very humble and quiet guy. He’s a bit of a gentle giant off the field, really.

“But if he is saying he doesn’t have the ‘dawg’ in him, then he is not giving himself enough credit.”

WHY THE DECIDER MEANS MORE FOR WALKER

Sam Walker sits in a peculiar spot when it comes to his contract negotiations.

The talented halfback comes off contract on November 1, and he has reportedly discussed a new deal with the Roosters.

Code Sports’ Brent Read said Walker’s agent has named a price but there had been little movement on a new deal.

“His agent came out and the figures that got spruiked were five years for $6 million,” Read said.

“For me that’s unders for Sam, if we are talking the way the salary cap is going to be in 2028. A halfback for the Sydney Roosters who is playing for Queensland.”

But Walker hasn’t just been playing for the Maroons, he has been starring.

With a dominant display in the decider, there’s every chance he takes home the Wally Lewis Medal — and boosts his value.

Although, according to Braith Anasta, Walker is already asking for more than the $1.2 million being cited above.

“Are you sure he is asking for $1.2 million? Because I have been hearing that they … how do I say this,” Braith said.

“His representatives for a period of time now, they have always asked for a quite decent dollar. They always have.”

However, the biggest doubts surrounding Walker have always been his ability to perform in crunch moments.

During his time at the Roosters, the club have been unable to put together a deep finals run and now he is considered one of the Tricolours’ main men.

But a Wally Lewis Medal, and an Origin series victory certainly quietens that train of thought and then a title charge in clubland would ultimately silence it.

So what could Walker be worth if he delivers in Game III?

With the salary cap expected to increase, more competition being included in the competition in the form of news clubs and tax-free dollars being thrown about, Walker is a hot commodity.

Elite halfbacks are also hard to come by and the Roosters almost certainly don’t want to lose his talents to a rival club.

However, if they continue to postpone his negotiations, especially if he delivers in the decider on Wednesday night, they run a big risk.

“I think there’s a risk with that, because if you disrespect him and say ‘no, let’s see how you go, we will make a decision at the end of the year’,” Read said.

“He gets on a roll and wins them a comp, he has every right to turn around to them and go ‘hold on, lets go to November 1 and see how I go’.”

WHICH MAROONS SHOULD BLUES HARDMEN TARGET

The Blues just haven’t been damaging enough with ball in hand or close to the line this series and it’s shown on the scoreboard.

While the Maroons had all 13 men on the field in Games I and II (137 minutes), the Blues have scored just 30 points.

Interesting comments from Blues enforcer Hudson Young last week led to debate over who New South Wales should target in the Maroons’ defensive line.

Young said the Maroons ‘hide’ halfback Sam Walker on the wing.

Entering the series, Walker was considered the Maroons’ weak link in defence, yet, he hasn’t really been exposed.

Those comments from Young indicate that the Maroons’ coaching staff are doing a good job in putting Walker in positions where he can’t put Queensland in jeopardy.

According to journalists Brent Read and Michael Carayannis though, Walker shouldn’t be the only players the Blues enforcers, such as Young, Liam Martin, Haumole Olakau’atu and the forward pack should have in their line of sight.

“I’m sure if Queensland is smart, they would’ve thought of ways to hide Sam Walker in the defensive line and protect him,” Read said.

At times, he porobably is defending a bit wider. Obviously that’s going to be a mission for them. The Blues have to get not just Sam, but Cam Munster as well.”

For Carayannis, Harry Grant looms as the logical target.

Not so much because he’s a suspect defender, but to tire him over so he’s not a bigger threat in attack.

“They’ve got to make Harry Grant 40 to 50 tackles. I think he’s probably got off scot free in the last couple of Origins,” Carayannis said.

“Queensland don’t have the luxury of having a second hooker on the bench Queensland, so if you can find a way to get at Harry and work him over, I think that’ll go a long way.”

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