Laurie Daley named a 21-man NSW squad for Game II of the 2026 series on Monday evening, but the final team was still not locked in as injury reports were awaited. Mitchell Moses stayed in the frame after missing the opener with a hamstring injury in training, keeping alive his push to reclaim the No.6 jersey.
It is the sort of selection call that matters because NSW still has a live chance of heading to the MCG with the series on the line, and the balance of the side could change in several key spots before kickoff. Daley said he expected clarity soon, saying the team should be in a position within hours, but also noted there were players carrying niggles that had to be checked before anyone could be certain.
The squad was listed in alphabetical order, a sign the final shape was not yet set, and the names in the mix made the stakes obvious. Moses had not taken the field for the Eels since his injury and was left out of his side’s clash with the Dogs on Monday afternoon, but his place in the NSW group suggests the door is open for a return. Ethan Strange, who impressed on debut, could slide back to the bench if Moses starts, while Jacob Saifiti and Blayke Brailey dropped out of the squad altogether.
That turnover also reflects the return of Payne Haas, who missed Game I with an MCL injury and whose presence could push Addin Fonua-Blake to the pine. Api Koroisau is also in line to join Reece Robson in the hooking ranks, while Dylan Lucas could be elevated to the six-man bench after serving as 20th man in the opener. Young playmaker Isaiya Katoa is expected to fill that 20th-man role for Game II and will remain available for his club side in Round 15 before leaving camp mid-week.
Daley’s next step is straightforward: settle the injury checks, confirm the final team and send NSW into Tuesday with the line-up it will actually back. If Moses is passed fit, the shape of the side shifts again. If he is not, the squad he named on Monday evening already shows where the pressure points sit.
