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SYDNEY - New South Wales selectors have recalled Cronulla halfback Brett Kimmorley among three changes to their side for Wednesday week's second State of Origin match at Telstra Stadium in Sydney.
Kimmorley will replace injured Newcastle halfback Jarrod Mullen while Sharks teammate Greg Bird and Melbourne's Ryan Hoffman will make their Origin debuts off the bench for the Blues.
Bird will fill the utility spot vacated by Knights fullback Kurt Gidley, who dislocated his shoulder in NSW's 25-18 loss in game one, while Hoffman replaces axed Sydney Roosters forward Anthony Tupou.
Kimmorley is set to make his first Origin appearance since 2005, when he was dropped after game one of the series when he threw an intercept pass in golden-point extra time to hand Queensland a 24-20 win.
The 30-year-old beat Manly's Matt Orford and Penrith's Craig Gower to the No 7 jersey.
Selectors were considered unlikely to stick with 20-year-old Mullen, who had been battling a calf tear since game of the series, preferring to take a fully-fit halfback into the crucial match at Telstra Stadium where the Blues have never lost.
Bird, 23, was rewarded for his outstanding NRL form with the Sharks, including six tries in his last five games.
The back-rower's versatility, as shown by his outstanding performance at five-eighth in Cronulla's loss to North Queensland on Saturday, saw him beat out Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah to the bench utility spot.
Hoffman, who was called in as 18th man for game one and also for Australia's test match against New Zealand in April, aged out Sharks back-rower Paul Gallen and Manly's Anthony Watmough for a spot on the bench.
NSW:
Anthony Minichiello, Matt King, Jamie Lyon, Matt Cooper, Jarryd Hayne, Braith Anasta, Brett Kimmorley, Brett White, Danny Buderus (captain), Brent Kite, Willie Mason, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan.
Interchange: Luke Bailey, Steve Simpson, Ryan Hoffman, Greg Bird.
- AAP, NZPA
