SYDNEY Roosters star James Maloney is one of three Blues debutants in the State of Origin side to be announced tomorrow night, beating his arch rival Todd Carney for the NSW No. 6 jersey.

The entire squad from 1-17 has been finalised and leaked to The Daily Telegraph with Canberra winger Blake Ferguson and Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita joining Maloney as first starters for the Blues.

Maloney got the nod ahead of Carney on the strength of his outstanding form alongside Mitch Pearce at the Roosters this year, and the fact he's been the regular and highly successful goal kicker.

Coach Laurie Daley is an old NSW five-eighth who has been tossing and turning for weeks over who should wear his old jersey.

FULL NSW SQUAD

In the end Maloney got the nod - but only by a whisker.

There are seven players missing from last year's Origin campaign because of injuries and stars who are out of form - Carney, Beau Scott, Tony Williams, Glenn Stewart, Brett Stewart, Tim Grant and Ben Creagh.

Manly second-rower Glenn Stewart declared himself unavailable, telling Daley he needs more work on his fitness when they spoke on the phone yesterday. Stewart missed the opening eight rounds of the competition and feels he's still a couple of games short of reaching the level of strength required for Origin.

He will continue playing for the Sea Eagles and hopes to be ready for game two in Brisbane on June 26, three weeks after the series opener.

Daley has applauded Stewart's honesty in putting the team before his own aspirations. Stewart would more than likely have passed a fitness test but believes game time is more important at this stage.

With Paul Gallen to play at prop, Greg Bird, Luke Lewis and Ryan Hoffman will fill the back row.

The NSW side will be officially confirmed by Daley at NRL headquarters tomorrow evening.

Only injuries over the weekend round could force changes.

Dragons winger Brett Morris has missed several weeks but has been chosen on the wing and is confident of proving his fitness.

The selection of Kurt Gidley on the bench will create controversy. Given he can play fullback, five-eighth, half-back, lock and hooker convinced Daley his versatility was required on the bench.

The fact not one player from South Sydney was chosen will anger Rabbitohs fans.

Winger Nathan Merritt, five-eighth John Sutton and halfback Adam Reynolds have been banging on the door of selectors for 10 rounds.