'Point to prove': Coach's Josh Addo-Carr warning after Origin snub

Defending premiers Penrith have been warned to expect backlash from Josh Addo-Carr in Friday night's NRL showdown, after the Canterbury winger was sensationally overlooked for the NSW Origin side.

Addo-Carr's omission was arguably the biggest shock from Brad Fittler's Blues Origin squad announcement this week, with the NSW selectors opting for the added height and form of Roosters flyer Daniel Tupou.

'IT GOES A LOT DEEPER': Legend exposes Wests Tigers' grim reality

NOT TRUE: NSW coach responds to claims about Josh Addo-Carr

'UNTOLD DAMAGE': Payne Haas under fire over 'disgraceful' act

The Bulldogs winger's form has been indifferent this season after moving from powerhouse Melbourne Storm to the NRL's bottom team.

However, Bulldogs interim coach Potter hopes the Blues loss will be his side's gain as the Dogs take on a table-topping Panthers side missing six stars on Origin duty for NSW.

"You can sense the disappointment but on the exterior he's (Addo-Carr) upbeat. I think he'll have a point to prove," Potter said on Tuesday.

"I'm disappointed for him but you're only as good as your last game and let's see if he can get out and prove that he's a good State of Origin player and there might be an opportunity there in the short term. You never know."

There have been suggestions that Addo-Carr is more or less a victim of the Bulldogs' struggles, but Blues advisor Greg Alexander insists Tupou was simply in better form.

“No, no. Look the Foxx (Addo-Carr)... is out of form,” Alexander said on SEN radio on Monday.

“Plenty of players have been picked when they’ve been in bad form or not great form but they’ve done the job (at Origin level) before.

“With in mind what Queensland will be picking, we just decided that we’d go with Daniel Tupou on the wing instead of Josh Addo-Carr.

“Daniel Tupou’s been in great form as well, he’s also been there before. He did a great job for us in 2020, I thought he was one of our better players in 2020.

“He’s a great carry out of his own end, he’s tall, he’s a target for our kicks but he can also defend kicks.”

Potter stopped short of saying Addo-Carr had been hard done by.

Addo-Carr and Bulldogs face under-strength Penrith

"I haven't got the knowledge that the selectors have got and what all they look at," he said.

"But I just look at Josh as a quality player and he could be one of those State of Origin players, without a doubt.

"Josh is a quality player and he makes our team better and I'm only too happy to have him but just a little bit disappointed that he didn't get picked."

The Bulldogs interim coach admitted facing the Panthers without a host of Origin players was "handy" but said it would be foolish to underestimate the premiers.

"That would be a stupid thing to do and I don't think we can afford to be in any way like that," he said.

"Most of the players coming up have played a bit of first grade. There's a plethora of them out at Penrith. They keep coming.

"So they're going to be tough regardless. We'll just be fighting for our lives to get a win up."

Addo-Carr won't be the only Bulldog out to impress, with Matt Burton facing his old club for the first time since leaving Penrith after last year's grand final triumph.

"Matt will appreciate the event and being back there," Potter said.

"He might get a little bit of stick from the crowd but that's expected and that's all part of the game, part of the theatre, and he'll want to have a big game for sure."

with AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.