Queensland Maroons legend Cameron Smith believes that NSW coach Brad Fittler should bring Jack Wighton back for the Origin decider but place him on the bench rather than in the starting side.
Wighton was easily NSW’s best player in their 16-10 loss in Game I of Origin but missed Game II due to COVID. His replacement, Matt Burton, had a dream debut and is now locked in for one of the starting centre positions.
Smith believes that Wighton offers Fittler more on the bench as a genuine utility whilst Stephen Crichton and Burton are pure centres.
“I reckon they’ll make one change and that will be Siosifa Talakai and that spot will be taken by Jack Wighton,” Smith said on SEN 1170 The Captain’s Run.
“He’ll come back in on the bench.
“Jack Wighton plays every position in the backline plus you can chuck him in at 13 or even in the back row if you needed to.
“He was their best player (in Game I) and there was no doubt he would’ve been there Game II if he hadn’t contracted COVID.
“I reckon he’ll be there and he’ll take Talakai’s spot.”
Talakai played just the 13 minutes in Game II and whilst he performed well in the time he was on the park, the fate of the match had long been decided.
SEN’s Denan Kemp said that due to his limited game time, dropping Talakai is the most sensible decision for Fittler to bring Wighton back in.
“We know that Freddy (Fittler) really likes what Wighton brings,” Kemp said.
“Wighton could’ve come on in Game II and done something similar to what Talakai had done.
“It was minimal not because of anything Talakai did wrong but because of the circumstances of the game.
“I think that’s the way they go and I really don’t mind it.”
Game III will be held at Suncorp Stadium on July 13.