New South Wales Origin coach Laurie Daley says he has been impressed by the recent form of fringe Blues like Paul Vaughan, Jack de Belin and Jordan McLean.
But the reason the latter two are in the extended squad rather than Vaughan comes down purely to showing good form over a longer period.
Dragons sensation Vaughan is arguably the form prop in the NRL; the impact he has had on an already-strong Dragons pack in a short period has been nothing short of phenomenal.
His complete transformation from reserve-grader under Ricky-Stuart at the Raiders last year to game-breaker at the Dragons under Paul McGregor in 2017 had plenty of Blues fans demanding his inclusion.
Speaking at the launch of the 2017 Game One team at The Star on Monday night Daley said Vaughan's recent efforts had been noticed but the Italian international needed more than 11 weeks of hot form to break into the Origin arena.
"All those guys have played really well for their clubs and that's what we want to see," Daley said.
"A couple of those guys (McLean and de Belin) that have been rewarded in this extended squad have played well now for 18 months and that's what you want to see.
"Guys that don't just play well for a period of time, you want to see them play well for a year, 18 months.
"Once you know they're consistent at clubland by doing that then you know they're ready for the next level and that's why those guys have been included [ahead of Vaughan]."
In defence of Daley's decisions, two of his three props in Klemmer and Fifita starred for Australia in the recent Anzac Test while the other – Woods – would have played for the Kangaroos in that game had he not been ruled out with injury.
Of the only other two men who could theoretically have been ousted for Vaughan, Frizell demanded inclusion after starring for the Blues last year while Trbojevic has also been in irresistible form.
