Tigers had expected skipper Koroisau to play Origin II

Jasper Bruce | June 18, 2026

Benji Marshall admits Wests Tigers were expecting Api Koroisau to take the field in State of Origin II, as NSW’s bench tactics come under scrutiny.

Blues coach Laurie Daley kept Reece Robson at hooker for the entirety of Wednesday’s loss in Melbourne, even as fatigue crept into the game and Queensland racked up 36 second-half points.

Robson clocked only 15 metres from two runs as the Blues struggled to gain ascendancy in the ruck during the 44-24 defeat.

Queensland starting hooker Harry Grant, by comparison, was immense with two line breaks in his 63 metres.

Known for his creativity out of dummy half, three-time premiership winner Koroisau was powerless to stop the onslaught, sitting on the bench as one of two unused substitutes.

The other, Jack Bostock, had only been expected to play in the event of an injury to the outside backs.

The Tigers had prepared this week as though Koroisau would return a little more fatigued for Saturday’s clash with Bostock’s Dolphins.

“To be honest, we were probably expecting Api to play last night,” Tigers coach Marshall said.

“So we planned a little bit differently. But now that he didn’t play, he’ll be right to play for us.”

Koroisau’s lack of game time left him at the mercy of his coach’s barbs.

“We’re looking forward to having him back. He’ll be fresh, he got $30,000 for playing no minutes. Highest paid player last night,” Marshall joked.

Koroisau’s omission was one of a handful of eyebrow-raising bench calls from the Blues, who are now tasked with winning a game-three decider in enemy territory.

Excellent on debut in Origin I, Ethan Strange only entered the fray once when Kotoni Staggs was in the sin bin, with the Blues out of the game down 32-18.

Cronulla enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake ran for only 30 metres in a bizarre nine-minute cameo during the second half.

“Sometimes with the way that the bench and the momentum happens and what you need at certain stages, it’s quite difficult,” Daley explained.

“Two are always going to miss out. When we went down to 12, we had to take Addin back off because we felt like we needed more speed, rather than having a big guy there.”

Tigers utility Adam Doueihi, originally in the mix for a spot on the NSW bench in game one, is a slim chance of returning from his shoulder injury this weekend.

Doueihi was in career-best form for the Tigers before going down late last month.

“It’s a long shot,” Marshall said of Doueihi’s chances to face the Dolphins.

“If it’s not this week it’ll be next week.”