3 minute read
Tom Trbojevic has celebrated his debut in the NSW centres with a hat-trick in the Blues' State of Origin series-levelling win over Queensland in Perth.
Latrell who?
Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic has celebrated his debut in the NSW centres by notching a hat-trick in the Blues' State of Origin series-levelling 38-6 thumping of Queensland in Perth.
Blues selectors raised eyebrows when they announced seven team changes for Sunday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium.
But arguably the biggest surprise was the dumping of their centres - particularly X-factor Latrell Mitchell.
Josh Morris appeared an unlucky omission after coming out of representative retirement and impressing in Queensland's 18-14 game-one win.
However, his three-quarter partner Mitchell's axing had critics scratching their heads after the Sydney Roosters' star tore Queensland apart last year to inspire NSW's rare series win.
But NSW coach Brad Fittler had the last laugh after Trbojevic's stellar game-two display at a sold-out Optus Stadium.
Trbojevic notched the first NSW hat-trick in Origin since Matt King in 2005.
Remarkably, not so long ago, many wondered why Trbojevic had been picked in the first place.
The Manly fullback was seemingly a lock for the Blues in the lead-up to the series but missed eight games early in the NRL season with a hamstring injury.
Just two games into his return, Fittler had no hesitation in rushing Trbojevic back into the team for game two in Perth.
It marked the first time Trbojevic had played in the centres since running out for the Kangaroos in 2018.
He has played just four of his 81 NRL games at centre, last featuring there in round 16, 2016.
Yet, Trbojevic didn't waste time repaying Fittler's faith.
He out-jumped Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga in the seventh minute to open the scoring in just the seventh minute.
Then Trbojevic ran off a rampaging fullback James Tedesco run to crash over in the 35th as NSW jumped to an 18-6 halftime lead.
Trbojevic iced the result when he again ran off Tedesco to seal his hat-trick in the 53rd minute.
In the end, Trbojevic ran 115m with five tackle busts.
"They copped a pizzling from the critics for no loyalty by replacing Latrell and Josh," TV commentator Paul Vautin said of the centre change for game two.
"How's Freddy (Fittler) going now?"
Immortal Andrew Johns said Fittler's selection roll of the dice had been justified.
"Tom was picked out of position but, at this level, you pick your best players wherever you can play them," he told the Nine Network.
"And the scary thing is, Tommy is just at the start of his career."
