7th Tackle: Why Daley won't pick Leilua for NSW

Raiders powerhouse Joey Leilua might be the reigning Dally M Centre of the Year, but he's long odds to finally crack a spot in the NSW State of Origin backline this year.

Leilua did his selection chances no favours by failing to show up for the annual Emerging Origin camp in January.

Blues officials organised return flights for Leilua from Canberra for the day and were mystified by his absence.

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Other players later informed Laurie Daley that he stayed at home ill, and the coach was not impressed that Leilua hadn’t called him directly.

Relations between Leilua and the Blues were already strained thanks to the Raiders preventing him from joining last year’s Game II squad as a development player.

Leilua then publicly declared NSW had "picked the wrong team" for the opening two games.

Incumbent centre combination Josh Dugan and Michael Jennings are entitled to be favourites for the upcoming series, although Jarryd Hayne could blow the race wide open should he explode back to form when he returns from injury in a few weeks’ time.