Girdler warning on Wighton omission

FORMER NSW centre Ryan Girdler says the Blues will miss Jack Wighton’s experience and physicality in the Origin cauldron during next week’s decider at Suncorp Stadium.

The best player for the Blues in game one, Wighton (pictured) succumbed to Covid for game two and was snubbed for game three. Cronulla’s Siosifa Talakai has been preferred on the bench.

Girdler, who holds a host of individual Origin records, including most points in a game (32), most points in a series (52) and equal most tries (five) in a series, believes Wighton’s unforgiving approach and experience at Suncorp Stadium would have given NSW an edge.

“His experience, especially in a decider at Suncorp,” Girdler said. “He has played three Origins there already and he’s one of the more experienced players at club level, too.

“He is also such a physical presence and you just know what you are going to get.

“He is great with the little things, like kick chase, he is super fit, he is good at bringing the ball out of his own end. You’ll miss all those things.”

But Girdler said for the sake of the Blues’ preparations and continuity, Fittler had made the right choice to stick with the side that levelled the series in Perth.

“Jack was really good in game one but we still lost,” Girdler said. “They wanted to make sure they went in with guys that had confidence and momentum.

“That’s State of Origin. It’s bloody hard to get in and when you do you have to make sure you are part of the winning squad, otherwise your position is always on the line. It is cutthroat.”

Sticking with Talakai, who only played 17 minutes in Origin II, on the bench could also be a tactical decision given powerhouse forward Payne Haas is out of the decider with a shoulder injury.

Girdler said having Talakai in the 17 gave Fittler more options to rotate his forwards if Jordan Mclean struggled in his Origin debut at prop.

“Who knows how many minutes Jordan can get out before getting gassed,” he said.