Knights skipper Mitchell Pearce will be named at halfback for NSW in Origin ll with prop bolter Daniel Saifiti to make his Origin debut against Queensland in Perth on Sunday week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Newcastle duo were told of their selection by Blues coach Brad Fittler on Saturday night in the aftermath of the Knights' 34-4 drubbing by the Storm in Melbourne.
Pearce's selection comes as no surprise with speculation mounting over the past week he would be recalled to the Origin arena after the Blues' loss to the Maroons in Origin l.
He was hampered by a cork against the Storm and struggled behind a forward pack that was out-gunned by a dominant Melbourne but his form over the past seven weeks has been outstanding and ultimately could not be ignored.
It will be his 19th Origin appearance, his first since 2017, and will be the ultimate redemption story if he can lead the Blues to victory and level the series in Perth.
Saifiti's selection will be seen by many as a shock and comes after injured Knights teammate David Klemmer urged Fittler to strongly consider him after injury robbed him of a jersey.
No-one will be more surprised than the 23-year-old Fijian international, who made his NRL debut for the Knights back in 2016.
On Thursday, he gave himself little chance of being picked.
"I'm a realist - I know it is unlikely but if I did get picked, I'd take it with both hands and put my best foot forward, that's for sure," he said.
His dominant performance against South Sydney's Burgess brothers last weekend no doubt weighed heavily in his favour.
The Knights could have four Origin representatives in Perth with Kalyn Ponga a certainty for the Maroons and forward Tim Glasby a strong contender following an injury to Jai Arrow.
