NSW Blues legend Paul Gallen has revealed his shock over Spencer Leniu's absence from the Origin II side with Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu set to debut off the bench.
Leniu has been discussed as a potential bench option for the Blues but failed to gain selection again on Tuesday morning.
The Panthers forward played with plenty of aggression against the Roosters on Saturday night after he was sin binned for a melee with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
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Gallen said Leniu's big game nous, having won two grand finals, would've been a benefit to the Blues. ?
"I? would've picked Spencer Leniu, I would've picked him coming off the bench," he said on 2GB's Wide World of Sports Radio.
"I love Utoikamanu ?as a player, I honestly think he's brilliant, he's a really good young player (but) to send a young guy up there to the cauldron of Suncorp Stadium in what is a decider for NSW is a very, very big ask for a bloke that hasn't played in any big games before, I don't think he's played a semi-final game."
"You've got Spencer Leniu ?who's an absolute a weapon, who's played in multiple grand finals, I can't believe he wasn't picked but that's just the way it was.
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"I'll be supporting this team no end."
Utoikamanu isn't the only debutant for the Blues with Reece Robson selected on the bench for a hooker rotation with Damien Cook.
Keaon Koloamatangi is 19th man and could also debut if any of the starting side succumbs to injury.
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