How Martin’s stellar Origin form paved the way for Barnett’s debut

NSW Blues coach Michael Maguire is set to unleash New Zealand Warriors enforcer Mitch Barnett onto Suncorp Stadium ahead of the Origin series decider on Wednesday night.

Barnett, who has spent the first two games in camp in the extended squad for the Blues, was given the nod ahead of Manly Sea Eagles backrower Haumole Olaku’atu for the highly-anticipated series decider.

Olakau’atu had a limited impact in the first two games off the bench, largely in part due to the outstanding performances of incumbent backrowers Liam Martin and Angus Crichton.

The two imposing edge forwards have proven to be undroppable and with NSW expecting a barrage through the middle from Queensland, Maguire opted for an out-and-out middle forward in Barnett.

“Oly (Olakau’atu) he’s excellent for us and I think he’s got a massive future for us, in this space,” Maguire told SEN 1170’s The Run Home.

“It’s really about moving and shuffling players around the bench.

“When you’ve got someone like Liam Martin who plays so well on an edge, I felt like being able to leave him there and having a player that can play more within the middle, like a Mitch Barnett who is playing excellent, (meant) we could have a rotation on our bench in a different format, that’s really the reasoning behind it.

“Liam has been doing a great job as a backrower for us and building combinations with the boys there.

“I felt like just leaving that (rather) than bringing Haumole onto the right and Liam into the middle and having more changes around the team.”

Olakauatu himself admitted the form of the Crichton and Martin made the axing easier to accept but also heaped praise on the debutant Barnett.

“Those two are two of the best second rowers in the game,” Olakau’atu told SEN.com.au.

“I look up to them both, they’re legends off the field, I like to just observe them and learn from them on and off the field.

“I was obviously pretty disappointed but very happy to see Mitch Barnett have a go.

“He’s a very good player and has a lot of energy, I believe he’s made for Origin.”

Watch Maguire’s full chat with Joel and Fletch below.