This Maroons star beat Casey McLean cold. It set up his rise to Origin’s toughest role

June 11, 2026 — 4:02pm

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Like everything in Casey McLean’s rugby league emergence, it has happened in rapid time.

Twenty-three minutes of jaw-dropping bomb defusals and power-running out wide announced his Origin arrival last month.

The 20-year-old’s swift defensive improvement for Penrith now posits him into the NSW starting side in the game’s toughest position to defend.

He has sat out the Blues’ first two training sessions this week to rest an ankle impingement from last weekend, but is expected to take his place on the left-edge in Saturday’s hit-out.

McLean replaces Stephen Crichton – the NSW mainstay who has made shutting down attacking play sexier than ever, even marking two Queenslanders at once in last year’s series opener.

McLean marks up on Rob Toia, the Queensland and Roosters........

© Brisbane Times