MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Laurie Daley swallowing his pride gives New South Wales best State of Origin chance

Laurie Daley has channelled Frank Sinatra in picking what is likely to be his last NSW State of Origin team.

Going into the series decider in Brisbane next week, Loz can declare “I did it my way” after axing six players from game two and choosing an exciting rookie while bringing some genuine hard-arses back.

Jack Bostock and Bradman Best are wonderful additions, Blayke Brailey and Stephen Crichton were must-picks after missing game two through injury and how could you possibly ignore Manly’s carnage machine Haumole Olakau’uta?

Then there’s Penrith’s Liam Martin – a man born to play Origin.

I wonder if Laurie is a reader of The Nightly because last week I urged him in this column to pick up the phone and speak to Phil Gould.

As NSW’s most successful coach, I thought Gus could give him some sound advice and help him shut out all the negativity following the game two defeat.

“He’s got to ignore all the influence and all the media and all the speculation and advice going on around him and trust his gut,” Gus said on his podcast.

“He needs to trust himself and go with players he believes in. Bugger the media and bugger what everyone thinks about the team.

“They can do it - they can come up with a game that can win it.”

If this is to be Laurie’s last game, he’s shown he’s going to go out swinging.

Leaving Olakau’uta out of Origin II was a mistake and I know a few coaches who would have stubbornly refused to admit they got it wrong.

Loz obviously had his reasons but parked his ego and is man enough to concede he needs the Sea Eagles’ demolition man.

The Big O is the most feared forward in the game at the moment and Queensland will hate seeing his name on the team sheet again.

After his Melbourne team was steamrolled by the big fella on Saturday night, Queensland captain Cameron Munster had genuine concern on his face when asked about the prospect of facing him in Origin.

“(It’s) not ideal but that’s the cards I’ve been dealt,” he said.

“He’s a great player and only getting better. He’s very hard to handle.”

They say a good big man will always beat a good small man and that’s the thinking around Bostock’s inclusion.

Brian To’o has been a massive contributor to the Blues over many years but we need Bostock’s height and skills in the air to match the Maroons.

The cross-field kicks are such a big part of rugby league and the Dolphins beanpole provides us with a real edge in both attack and defence.

Crichton and Best are two powerful beasts who will help the back five get good yardage early in the tackle count.

It’s an area we struggled in at the MCG.

The only tinker I would make to the selected side is to start Cam Murray, push Isaah Yeo to the front-row and have two big men in Mitch Barnett and Addin Fonua-Blake steaming in off the bench.

Every bench rotation is critical. We have to have continuous punch and we need to bash – yes, you can still use that word in 2026 – Queensland from the opening whistle.

The Maroons’ squad was predictable enough and they’ll be bloody hard to beat.

Hard but not impossible.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

Enough is enough.

South Sydney either need to cut Latrell Mitchell loose when his current contract is up or negotiate a better pay-for-play deal.

There is no way the Rabbitohs should fork out over a million bucks a season for a player that spends more time in the stands than on the field.

They’re just not getting value for money from their biggest star.

Injuries are part and parcel of playing the toughest sport on the planet but Mitchell’s run of outs is becoming a joke.

He’s spent more time with the physio than an 80-year-old as the injuries – one after another – continue to pile up.

If I buy an expensive car and it spends half the year at the mechanics, then I’m asking for a refund.

Latrell is being paid Porsche money but is as reliable as a hippy’s Kombi van.

The thing that hurts the most is we’re talking about a player who - when he’s at his peak – is the most destructive force in the game.

He wins matches almost single-handedly through brute force and skill, lifting every single player around him.

I wish to God he was playing in next week’s Origin.

Latrell deserves the big bucks he’s been paid in the past but needs to take a haircut next time around.

Look at Tom Trbojevic.

He offered to take less at Manly when he was going through his wretched run of injuries.

It’s the right thing to do.