A NSW selection dilemma looms for the second State of Origin match, but Blues coach Laurie Daley insists Mitch Moses will be back in the team if fit.
For a second time in three Origin matches, five-eighth Moses needed to be replaced at the 11th hour after injuring himself during Blues camp.
Elevated from the bench with only two days' notice, debutant Ethan Strange was integral to the Blues' comeback from 20-0 down and eventual 22-20 win against the odds.
Most notably, Strange put Stephen Crichton into a hole down the left side and then backed his centre up to cross for the first of the Blues' three second-half tries.
Strange finished with 134-run metres and flaunted his wonderful left-foot step to constantly threaten Queensland's right edge on Wednesday night.
He appeared a leading contender for man of the match, until halves partner Nathan Cleary capped a superb night putting James Tedesco in for the winning try.
But Parramatta captain Moses is a chance to recover from a hamstring issue and shapes as a selection option for Origin II on June 17.
Moses has endured a patchy season at club level, but was the Blues' halfback for their last victory in a game-three decider and has won his last four Origin matches.
Daley indicated Moses would play some part at the MCG if fit.
"Mitch is a big part of our team. He's a big part of our team," the coach said.
"It's not a bad hammy (injury), either. We expect him to play. He'll be a part of the squad for sure."
As he deliberates whether Moses's role is from the bench or the starting side, Daley was more concrete on his immediate plans for Casey McLean.
When Kalyn Ponga's shoulder charge knocked Tolu Koula out of the game, Penrith young gun McLean came on from the six-man bench for a surprise Origin debut.
At left wing, McLean's first Origin involvement was to leap high and take a Sam Walker bomb, setting the Blues up for a brisk counterattack that ended in Strange's try.
Daley said McLean was "outstanding" but would not keep Koula out of the starting side for Origin II.
"No, is the short answer," the coach said.
"He was great, but I think this group can be a lot better ... We felt like we picked the right team. I haven't lost faith in anyone."
McLean said he was "100 per cent" fine to revert to the bench if required.
"(But) if I'm able to stay in camp, it'd mean the world," McLean told AAP.
"This is such a special arena to be a part of and getting a taste of it, hopefully, moving forward, if I just keep sticking my head into my club footy and moving forward (more chances) will come."
Australian Associated Press
