KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - New South Wales coach Graham Murray last night defended the selection of injured Bulldogs forward Willie Mason despite leaving out Jarrod Mullen for next Wednesday's second State of Origin match.
Cronulla halfback Brett Kimmorley was yesterday recalled for his first Origin match since game one in 2005 in place of the injured Mullen, one of three changes from the side that lost 25-18 to Queensland in the series opener in Brisbane.
Kimmorley was dropped from the NSW side after throwing an intercept pass in golden-point extra time to hand Queensland a 24-20 win.
The 30-year-old beat out Manly's Matt Orford and Penrith's Craig Gower to the No 7 jersey.
Greg Bird and Melbourne's Ryan Hoffman were also called in to make their Origin debuts off the bench for the Blues. Bird will fill the utility role vacated by Knights fullback Kurt Gidley, who dislocated his shoulder in game one, while Hoffman replaces axed Sydney Roosters forward Anthony Tupou.
Mason, selected alongside Nathan Hindmarsh in the Blues' back row, will be given time to prove his fitness.
But Mullen, who is expected to return from a calf strain for Newcastle this weekend, was left out of the Blues squad because he would not be able to train from day one.
"I think we put [Mason] in the category like we did Anthony Minichiello," said Murray.
"We had Anthony go along two or three days without training for Origin 1 and he could handle that."
Bird, 23, was rewarded for his outstanding NRL form with the Sharks, including six tries in his last five games.
Queensland's selectors are confident skipper Darren Lockyer will overcome a back injury picked up last Friday in an NRL game and lead the Maroons to an historic series victory.
Queensland yesterday named the same 17-strong squad they initially picked for last month's opener in a bid to wrap up the interstate series at a venue they have never won at, Telstra Stadium.
"We have spoken to Lockyer. He thinks he will be right. Brisbane medical staff think he will be right," Queensland chairman of selectors Des Morris said. "But we've got some handy halves on standby."
Cowboys hardman Carl Webb, ruled out by injury from the opening Origin match, and forward Nate Myles who had been suspended, are in the starting 13 for next week.
The Maroons have gone without an Origin victory in 11 attempts since 1999 at the Sydney venue.
