nib Newcastle Knights NRL players Bradman Best and Jacob Saifiti have earned selection for the NSW Blues ahead of State of Origin Game III on July 12.
Best will make his debut for NSW fresh off scoring his first NRL hat-trick against the Bulldogs on Sunday plus a string of strong performances in the red and blue.
Having played 61 games for the Knights since debuting as a teenager, the 21-year-old centre played at junior level for the Blues and will now make the step up to the highest level.
Bradman will run out alongside Knights teammate, Jacob Saifiti, after the forward was recalled into the State side.
Saifiti made his Origin debut in Game III of last year and will line-up on the bench for the Blues.
See the full squad:
NSW Blues Game III squad
1. James Tedesco (c) (Sydney Roosters)
2. Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)
3. Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers)
4. Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights)
5. Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
6. Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
7. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)
8. Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
9. Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta Eels)
11. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
12. Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
13. Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
14. Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)
15. Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
16. Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys)
17. Clint Gutherson (Parramatta Eels)
18. Scott Drinkwater (North Queensland Cowboys)
19. Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers)
Coach: Brad Fittler
