The bench has been NSW’s biggest downfall before. How will they handle Origin’s new rules?

May 26, 2026 — 1:30pm

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Everyone has a plan, Mike Tyson said, until they get punched in the mouth.

Even though punching someone in the mouth is no longer allowed, the famous quote is as apt as ever in State of Origin.

With a fast, mobile bench on which only Newcastle prop Jacob Saifiti tops 100 kilos, Laurie Daley’s NSW game plan is the clearest it has been in years.

The Blues are bargaining on Wednesday’s series opener at Accor Stadium being officiated to the same six-again standards as this year’s warp-speed NRL competition – which has yielded more tries, blowouts and growing discontent among coaches and players. NRL head of football Graham Annesley has said that will be the case.

Daley acknowledged as much a few days before unveiling his Origin I side: “The way we play won’t change, but the way we select might,” he said.

Adding an extra wrinkle is the six-man bench being used for the first time in Origin after three months of tactical tinkering, trial and error at club-level.

The ability to carry two extra replacements as specialist cover for positions, rather than relying on a utility player gives Daley and Maroons coach Billy Slater flexibility and more........

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