Blues skipper Isaah Yeo admits he was surprised Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans was dropped, but conceded NSW have made similar tough calls in must-win game two clashes.
Cherry-Evans was a shock axing from the Queensland side for game two, with Tom Dearden brought in at halfback and Cameron Munster named captain.
While dropping the Queensland captain mid-series hasn’t been done since Trevor Gillmeister 30 years ago, Yeo explained that coaches have to make brutal calls to keep the series alive in the pressure-cooker of game two situations.
“I was probably a little bit surprised, just because how good he’s been for Queensland over such a long time,” Yeo told foxsports.com.au from the NSW Blue Mountain’s camp.
“But we’ve probably been in a similar boat before where we’ve lost the first game and we’ve made some big changes as well going into game two.
“Off the back of that, just speaking for ourselves, we’ve always responded really well in the game two off the back of a loss.
“So we understand we’ll be expecting that again. Backs against the walls, they’ll be internalising it all and I think that’s when you can be most dangerous.
“So we need to understand that, but really looking forward to the challenge, looking forward to the week’s preparation.
“In terms of what Tommy Dearden brings he just competes on everything. We’ve seen it at the Cowboys, we’ve seen it in the Origin Arena before, we’ve seen it for Australia last year.
“He’s just an ultimate competitor and we will certainly need to do our homework on him, but we also just need to worry about ourselves I think.”
All the focus ahead of Origin two has been on Queensland with NSW slipping under the radar.
And while underdog is a tag the Maroons relish, Yeo pointed out the Blues had their fair of issues ahead of the series opener.
“We had our moments before game one,” Yeo said.
“We had Critta (Stephen Crichton) go off in the captain’s run and we didn’t have Payne (Haas) to train the whole week, so it wasn’t without its problems in the first one, but I just felt like we handled it really well, so that’s all I’ll say on that.”
Yeo will line up for the coin toss opposite a different skipper this week in Cameron Munster, who was unveiled as the 16th Queensland captain this week.
The Blues skipper believes Munster is a deserving captain and the extra responsibility can only help his performance.
“He’s a wonderful player and he’s going to want to have a big game and off the back of a loss in game one,” Yeo said.
“We will do our due diligence. He’s a freak at Origin level and will only grow with that extra responsibility.
“But we’re just really focused on ourselves at the moment and making sure we put our best performance on Wednesday night by making sure we train well throughout the week.”
One forced change for the Blues is the loss of Mitch Barnett to a season-ending injury, with Stefano Utoikamanu called up to the bench.
While Yeo has all the faith in his replacement, he admits Barnett is a big loss for the Blues on and off the field.
“Obviously gutted for Mitch, who is a real popular member of the group, but not just that, he’s just a wonderful player,” Yeo said
“He prioritises the right things that might go unnoticed to the outside fan, but internally we know how much he means to the group, so really gutted for him.
“But Stefano was obviously in the camp last time and it just feels like since going to Melbourne, he’s just come on in leaps and bounds.
“I think he’s been outstanding for them and you get rewarded with being in the squad for the first game.
“It just seems to be the case every Origin series that there’s injuries throughout and now he gets his opportunity and I’m just really excited for him.”
Utoikamanu is out to make amends for losing his Origin debut for the Blues, but Yeo’s message to the enforcer is simple.
“I don’t really need to give him advice, he’s part of a really good culture down in Melbourne and he’s played Origin before,” Yeo said.
“But I think it’s just anyone in this environment you just have got to go out there and do your job.
“So prioritise the right things, making sure to put the team first and that’s why Loz (Daley) has picked this group because I think all the players have shown that they go and do that at club land, so you just be yourself.”
Utoikamanu’s inclusion has opened up a spot in the reserves for Yeo’s club teammate Lindsay Smith and his captain thinks it is only a matter of time before he plays in the Origin arena.
“Lindsay is an Australian representative now as well, so I think that would have helped his confidence off the back of that Pacific championships last year,” Yeo said.
“But he brings a really good work ethic, he’s always in the picture and that’s a big thing from front row as well.
“It will be a really good experience for him, I certainly think he will be playing for the Blues one day, so this kind of experience is invaluable, so he just needs to soak it up.”
The Blues were dominant in game one, but Yeo feels they can be even better with another camp’s preparation under the belt, as they bid to wrap up the series.
“The preparation is a big one, the first week, first game, it’s going to be a little bit harder just because you might not have been together as a group,” Yeo said.
“So I just feel like this is for every series, game two and game three you are with each other for another week and a half, your combinations get better as the series go on.
“I’d like to think that’s the same case for us this week. We are really looking forward to the camp and we’ll be able to hit the ground running.
The weather’s holding up a little bit better than what it did last camp too, so I think that would be good for us.”
The Blues have a secret weapon in Storm coach Craig Bellamy in 2025, but Yeo revealed he has done more work with the coaches than the players. Still when Craig Bellamy talks everybody in the room listens.
“Laurie is the coach so you hear him more, I think Craig even come out and said he probably did more with the coaches than the actual players last camp,” Yeo said.
“He says things he thinks might need to be said and certainly everyone listens to that for sure. “But he’s a lot more behind the scenes I think talking to the coaches. I think he feels like he doesn’t want to leave anything to chance, so if he feels like something needs to be said he’ll say it, but Loz is the main voice for the players.”
In preparation for Origin II, Yeo came up against his former four-time premiership winning teammate Jarome Luai, with the Panthers winning 18-14 over the Tigers.
The Blues and Panthers skipper admitted there was a tinge of sadness reflecting on what they have achieved together, but he is happy the Tigers skipper is forging a new path as captain at his new club.
“Not too much sledging or scuffles, but some of my best moments on the field have been with him on the same side, so it was a little bit different,” Yeo said.
“But he had a really good game and I’m just stoked that he has taken his opportunity over there and is doing a wonderful job. He’s in a leadership role as well, so he’s been outstanding.”
Yeo was pressed on what he will tell his Blues players before they run out at Perth Stadium, as they bid to wrap up the series, but kept his cards close to his chest.
“Well certainly not going to be telling you, but it’s also about 10 days away so that’s a long way away,” Yeo said.
“We just need to make sure we prepare really well, I think we did that last camp and that set us up for our best game, so that will be driving our week.”
