NSW could unleash Tyson Frizell on Queensland debutant Anthony Milford as they look set to shake up their forward pack ahead of the opening game of the series.
Fairfax Media understands the Blues are contemplating switching Bulldogs enforcer Josh Jackson, who won the Brad Fittler Medal last year as NSW's best player, from the back row to the lock position to allow Frizell to torment Milford.
The Blues have identified defensive deficiencies in Milford's game that will see the Broncos five-eighth receive a baptism of fire from Frizell down NSW's right side. There's a belief among the NSW camp that Queensland may opt to use Michael Morgan in the brutal opening exchanges to soak up the initial onslaught from the Blues, but the Maroons insist that's not on the agenda.
The Blues are also planning to use hooker Nathan Peats for 80 minutes in his opening game, however Jack Bird and Wade Graham have been discussed as potential alternatives if the debutant runs out of gas.
"That's the plan, yeah," Peats said when asked if he would play the entire game. "I know it's going to be hard. A bloke like Cameron Smith, he does it easy. I'm confident I can do it. Only time will tell."
The Blues are also likely to make a tactical change themselves, tinkering with the forward pack they originally named on Monday night. However Queensland insist they aren't playing games with the make-up of their squad, maintaining their plan was still to start the game with Milford.
"I wouldn't have thought so," Cronk said of the Morgan option. "There's that flexibility to be able to do that but Kevvie [coach Kevin Walters] is a man of his word and the way he went about naming the team - Milford will be there. The thing Morgan has done the last few series is bring impact off the bench so if you move him around it changes the dynamic. It should be as named, I would say."
Thurston was officially ruled out of the opening game of the series on Thursday. While the Blues are no doubt privately rejoicing the omission of their long-time tormentor, they are wary of the threat posed by Milford and Morgan.
"You lose him, you bring in Anthony Milford who is probably one of the best attacking players in the game," Klemmer said. "He can open up a footy game. Hooker, fullback and winger they are very blessed there. That's what wins you footy games as well. It's a big loss but they bring in a young kid who can open up a game.
"It is obviously his first game so you probably test him. But he is going to be well protected whatever side he plays - he has Matt Gillett or big Josh Papalii there. It is a big game and it will be his first game so I reckon they will be trying to protect him as much as they can.
"They will probably address that as a football team. As I said they have two big bodies there who are good defenders as well. They will be helping their teammate as much as they can. He just has to get in there and run. Honestly we haven't really talked about it."
Thurston said he was hopeful of being fit for game two at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on June 21. "Fingers crossed I will be back before then," Thurston said.
