Mitchell Pearce is on the cusp of NSW State of Origin selection after winning the contentious battle for the City No.7 jersey for the annual grudge match with Country.

The teenager was named alongside Sydney Roosters teammate Braith Anasta and will go head-to-head with maligned Parramatta half Brett Finch at WIN Stadium next Friday.

Pearce, 19, and Brisbane youngster Peter Wallace (interchange) were handed City debuts while Manly skipper Matt Orford was snubbed for the fourth year running and his chances of a NSW debut appear distant.

Finch will be partnered in the halves by Todd Carney, however Country coach and Blues selector Laurie Daley essentially ruled the Canberra star out of the NSW No.7 running by declaring the Raiders star more a five-eighth than half.

“When I look at Todd Carney I see a good ball runner and good support player and I think they’re key areas or indicators for a five-eighth,” said Daley.

“Being his first rep game I didn’t want to throw all the added pressure on Todd. I think Brett Finch can handle that a lot better … and at this stage of his career is more suited to directing the team around the park.”

Newcastle’s Kurt Gidley remains the joker in the halfback pack, but he was ineligible for a Country berth after being named on the Australian bench for the Centenary Test match.

City coach Tim Sheens would not explain why selectors continue to snub Orford, but said youth and the NRL combination with Anasta had served in Pearce’s favour.

“There’s an element of club football played between the two Roosters boys and an element of youth,” said Sheens.

The Roosters combination could also serve Pearce well at the Blues selection table as Anasta’s brilliant club form is almost certain to lead him back into a NSW jumper.

But aside from halfback there appears to be few Blues positions up for grabs at the Wollongong clash with eight NSW players included in the Test side and Country skipper Danny Buderus a certainty to retain his hooker position and captaincy.

Ryan Hoffman, Paul Gallen and Greg Bird form the Test back row, while Brent Kite (prop), Willie Mason and Anthony Tupou (both interchange) are all likely to stroll into the NSW side.

Centre Mark Gasnier is the only NSW backline player in the Test backline, but is likely to be joined by Country fullback Brett Stewart (Manly) and City winger Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta) after both were dumped from the Test side.

This leaves just one wing, one centre and two bench positions for forwards to be decided as well as halfback.

Gold Coast second rower Anthony Laffranchi narrowly missed Test selection today and was surprisingly named at prop for Country as the entire back row is made up of former Test stars Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan and Craig Fitzgibbon.

But the move may enhance Laffranchi’s NSW chances as there are plenty of Blues backrowers in the Test side and now he can show his versatility at rep level.

“For the mix and balance of our footy team I think he is best suited up front,” said Daley.

“His form has been irresistible.”

City named Feleti Mateo (Eels), John Sutton (Rabbitohs), Brett Delaney (Titans), Corey Hughes (Bulldogs) and Ray Cashmere (Cowboys) for their debuts while Country picked Carney, Glenn Stewart (Sea Eagles), Chris Heighington (Tigers) and Brett Kearney (Sharks) for the first time.

Snapshot of round seven of the NRL

THEY SAID IT: “The three games we’ve lost I don’t think the other teams played better than us.” Sharks skipper PAUL GALLEN after his side’s 20-16 loss to Wests Tigers saw the former frontrunners fall back to eighth on the NRL table.

STAT THAT MATTERS: 15 out of 15. St George Illawarra delivered a faultless completion rate in the first half of their 26-6 win over Sydney Roosters. If only coach Nathan Brown could get that level of discipline from his team every week.

MAN OF THE ROUND: Dragons prop JUSTIN POORE was simply outstanding in his side’s upset of the Roosters. Not only did he flatten Mark O’Meley with a thundering shoulder charge but he led the way with 30 tackles, 10 hit ups and 159 metres gained.

MAGIC MOMENT: Manly fullback BRETT STEWART continued his freakish tryscoring spree to run 40m and catch Matt Orford’s cross field bomb to score in the Sea Eagles victory over the Bulldogs.

TALKING POINT: Tigers star BENJI MARSHALL made his return after five-weeks out with a knee injury but obviously lacked confidence and was a virtual passenger all game. Needs a better performance next week against Brisbane or is likely to be overlooked for the New Zealand Centenary Test team.

JUDICIARY WATCH: None.

KEY INJURIES: Manly: Jason King (ankle); Bulldogs: Brad Morrin (ribs), Willie Tonga (shoulder), Danny Williams (ankle), Luke Patten (back); St George Illawarra: Jarrod Saffy (rib cartilage); Brisbane: Steve Michaels (knee), Justin Hodges (shoulder) Manu Vatuvei (leg).

UNDER PRESSURE: Jason Taylor. It has now been 245 days since South Sydney last won an NRL clash. The bid to break the drought does not get any easier when Johnathan Thurston and his North Queensland Cowboys ride into Sydney to play the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium next Sunday. At least the Bunnies have the bye the following week for a guaranteed two competition points.

© AAP 2012

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