Maroons legend backs Blues’ latest failure to pick and stick:
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Matthew Johns says Cook-Walker combination is the key to game two comeback
Matthew Johns says the attacking combination of Damien Cook and Cody Walker is the most lethal pairing in rugby league, and has urged New South Wales coach Brad Fittler to build the side for Wednesday's second State of Origin clash around the Rabbitohs hooker.
The Blues are coming off a shock 18-14 loss in Adelaide last week, with Fittler making three changes ahead of the second match in Sydney.
Walker comes into the side at five-eighth, with Luke Keary dropped altogether, while Boyd Cordner (concussion issues) and Cam Murray (hamstring) have both been ruled out through injury.
Keary and Nathan Cleary were both singled out for heavy criticism late last week after going missing in the second half of the four-point defeat.
Eighth Immortal
Andrew Johns initially called for Keary to be dropped, before suggesting
Cleary should make way for Walker, with Keary moving to halfback.
Matthew Johns agreed that both New South Wales halves faded out of the game last week, but said Cook and Walker could be the duo to turn things around.
"I thought Luke (Keary) was really strong in the first half and I thought Nathan Cleary was strong in the first half, but they just lost their way in the second," Johns said on
SEN on Monday morning.
"The ship lost its way and they couldn’t get it back on course.
"What Cody will give us, is if you look at all the players who have gone back into this side, they’re all brilliant at playing up-tempo football.
"I maintain that if you’re going to play a certain style, the player who’s going to be the most important one, you plug all the important parts around him.
"The most important player for New South Wales is Damien Cook.
"When Cook gets out of dummy half, things start to happen."
Like many of his Blues teammates, Cook had a solid first half, but struggled to have the same impact when Queensland mounted a comeback after the break.
The South Sydney rake scored the opening try of the match off a trademark sniping run, and was busy around the ruck.
Johns backs new inclusions Issah Yeo and Nathan Brown, but says Walker's promotion to the starting side will have the greatest impact.
"The players who’ve gone in, Yeo’s very good at high-tempo football," he said.
"He’s big, he’s fast and he’s got good footwork, he’ll compliment Cook. Nathan Brown packs a punch, he plays high tempo football.
"But the bloke who will compliment him the most is Cody Walker.
"Damien Cook triggers Cody Walker. I think they're the most dangerous combination in rugby league at the moment when Cook gets out of dummy half."
After giving up a 10-0 halftime lead in game one, Johns predicts a turnaround for game two.
"I think we level the series," he said.
"We win by 11 or 12 points. We’ll have a big comeback."
