Cook benched in big Blues call, snubbed star gets surprise start

NSW Blues make seven changes to team for Origin II

Brad Fittler has dropped Cameron Murray and Jake Trbojevic and recalled Matt Burton and Jack Wighton for Origin II.

New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has sprung a selection surprise by recalling Matt Burton and Jack Wighton for State of Origin II, while benching Damien Cook and leaving Cameron Murray and Jake Trbojevic out of his 17-man squad. The Blues will make seven changes for the must-win clash in Perth on Sunday week, with Burton to start at five-eighth and Wighton to join Nathan Cleary in the halves. Cook has been dropped to the bench after struggling with a shoulder injury in the Blues' heavy Origin I loss in Sydney. Murray and Trbojevic have been axed altogether, with Parramatta prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard and South Sydney lock Cameron Murray recalled to the starting side. Penrith winger Brian To'o has also been recalled after recovering from a knee injury, while Kotoni Staggs has been included on the bench after making his Origin debut in Perth last year.