New South Wales’ recent history is nothing to be proud of, but that hasn’t stopped the selectors opting for those who have felt the pain of defeat in past seasons and also the joy of victory in Game Three of last year’s series. The Blues selectors are clearly pinning their hopes on club combinations to get this year’s series off to a winning start on Wednesday week.
One side of the backline comes from St George in Matt Cooper and Brett Morris, while the other does it for the Eels in Timana Tahu and Jaryd Hayne.
The two men whose hands will touch the ball most often, Brett Kimmorley and Michael Ennis, know each other’s game well, plying their trade together at the Bulldogs.
Ennis leads a pack full of grunt and beef, despite missing noted hardman Paul Gallen, who must feel hard done by having represented Australia only a few weeks ago and being replaced by a player who normally plays second row.
It’s a tough side and the selection of Jamie Lyon at five eighth shows the selectors want cool heads in the heat of battle.
The only selection that really surprises me is that of Jamal Idris. Sure, he has looked great for the Dogs in the past few weeks, but he still makes some ‘rookie’ errors in attack. And while he can monster blokes in defence, he can also makes some bad reads and isn’t the most mobile of backs.
He also has no experience anywhere but centre, which is an odd position to have on the bench.
Apparently, Phil Gould thinks he is quite big. In his defence, he’s looked good when pumped up and pulling on a blue jersey in front of a packed Homebush Stadium should certainly do that.
I think it’s a better side than last year’s opener and is, importantly, a team full of Origin-style players.
What do you think?
New South Wales Blues team : Kurt Gidley (capt), Brett Morris, Matt Cooper, Timana Tahu, Jarryd Hayne, Jamie Lyon, Brett Kimmorley, Michael Weyman, Michael Ennis, Josh Perry, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Creagh, Anthony Watmough. Interchange: Jamal Idris, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Luke Lewis, Brett White
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adrien66 said | May 18th 2010 @ 5:01am | Report comment
Im a bit disappointed because i’m a big fan of greg bird and i love the agressivity of paul gallen…let’s see what will happen!
Brett McKay said | May 18th 2010 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
agressivity?!?
MyGeneration said | May 18th 2010 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
That’s what Gallen has tattooed on his chest, I believe.
Brett McKay said | May 18th 2010 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
must have went to the same tattooist as Jarred “Justify Your Existance” Sammut….
Dogs Of War said | May 18th 2010 @ 5:23am | Report comment
Kimmorley has been off his game at the Dogs. Hopefully SoO helps light his fire, we really need that to happen if the Dogs are going to turn around whats been a poor start to the season.
Nicholas R.W. Henning said | May 18th 2010 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Dogs of war, Kimmorley has played two games of Origin for two wins (2007 and 2009). He’ll step it up for NSW and come back to the Bulldogs more determined than ever!
Why do they keep overlooking Luke Patten? He’s a solid player, and a much better choice than Kurt Gidley. Although Hayne is solid too, but Luke Patten is an unlucky man with the selectors!
Al said | May 18th 2010 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Kimmorley lost us an origin game a few years ago with an intercept pass to Matt Bowen so I dont think he is two from two
Nicholas R.W. Henning said | May 18th 2010 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Yes Al that’s true, but he has participated in two winning games since then for no losses. Kurt Gidley dropped the ball in his own danger end last year, and he humbled a ball coming out of his own 10-metres, and he still gets a run. I was angry at Kimmorley for years following that intercept pass, but that happened in the early 2000s. Frankly, we don’t have a lot of choice in that position, but he deserves this opportunity.
Springs said | May 18th 2010 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Kimmorley played in 2007 game 2. We lost 10-6.
Nicholas R.W. Henning said | May 18th 2010 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
Springs, you’re right.
But didn’t Kimmorley also play in game III, which was a win, hence two wins from his last two games.
Springs said | May 18th 2010 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
Yes that’s right. I was responding to where you said Kimmorley played in two games since 2005 for no losses.
Hoy said | May 18th 2010 @ 6:18am | Report comment
Aggressivity Adrien?
Some odd choices I thought.
Why do they keep picking Gidley? What does this bloke bring to a team that any other fullback doesn’t? Is it because they think he has versatility? Is it his name? Does he have naked pictures of selectors? Seriously? This bloke hadn’t started a game, yet was named captain. Followed that up by doing nothing for several games. I have never known how he keeps making rep sides. Other fullbacks should feel hard done by. Or feel they have a great chance to nail down heaps of games for a rep side.
Cooper, Morris, great side, Tahu, Hayne? I am not so sure about. I think Tahu’s star has dulled a bit since shifting and coming back, and Hayne on the wing for Aus was terrible I thought. He made several big errors. He has produced in the past though, and I thought he was the only thing keeping NSW in any of the games up until game three last year, when the whole of the NSW team put it together.
Jamie Lyon is a solid 5/8, but not creative. Does this give insight into their game plan? I know he has played 5/8 before, but he is a centre mainly, and I don’t think he likes playing 5/8 does he? Of course this is origin, and he will play anywhere, but if you don’t like playing 5/8, you don’t like playing 5/8.
Kimmorley was great last year. A bit off this year, but one of the old guard who may actually remember when NSW dominated. His kick chases and defense are fantastic when on song. NSW would obviously be hoping he plays into form.
The front row is good, although Perry is another than stuns me a little. I don’t know how he made Australia, and now NSW? I haven’t seen much of his club form, though, so please correct me if he is on fire. I didn’t think he did much for Aus. Ennis should have been there over Farah from the start. Ennis is perfect for Origin. He is in peoples ears, he is tough, he is good. Farah is like a robot for me. He is good, there is no doubt, but he just never seems to fire up. He goes through the game in monotone.
Creagh and Watmough are good, but Waterhouse? Again, another one who is an odd selection. There are several backrowers that stand out more for me than him. Gallen should be pissed off.
Idris on the bench is an odd one. Particularly seeing as they have Lewis, who can play anywhere on the field. So Lewis can cover centre. They could have had another forward on the bench. Perhaps they are blooding Idris. He could go good, but I think he is rather lazy. If he can’t work hard for Origin, not much will get him going.
I have said before this series will probably go to NSW. 5 on the trot is almost too much you would reckon, plus the Maroons have had some injuries to key players this year. I can’t see them carry on the dominance. Last year, it is fair to say that NSW where their own worst enemies. They gifted QLD about 4 tries through poor mistakes. Can’t see it happening this year. Hope I am wrong.
GO QLD!
oikee said | May 18th 2010 @ 6:36am | Report comment
Hayne should be NSW fullback. Last nite he proved he has one of the best passing games i have seen. Gidley at fullback? i am confident QLD can take this series to 5-0.
Something funny going on with the selection of Idris. Why not just pick him at centre, the only position he can play? NSW has got themselves in a pickle, Gidley as captain is doing damage to the selections.
Perry was the best forward last nite. Warrents selection.
Mate, QLD are going to monster this team, we are bigger uglier and more talented than ever. Bring it on baby.
Make sure you bring some pepper with that cattle-dog.
QUEENSlanderrrrr!!!!!
Nicholas R.W. Henning said | May 18th 2010 @ 9:32am | Report comment
Hoy, I am the number one member of the Anti-Kurt Gidley Foundation as captain and fullback for NSW! He made critical errors last year in that position and for me Luke Patten and others deserve the position more than he does!
If you examine Newcastle selections over the last four years, I call it the Newcastle Nightmare. The selection of McManus last year still has me scratching my head!
josh said | May 18th 2010 @ 10:34am | Report comment
My personal favourate was Steve Turner, was it the year before.
Steve Kaless said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Following on from my column yesterday in regards to Nathan Merritt, its not so much that I think he deserves a spot but when he looks at other wingers like McManus, Turner, Quinn (!), Williams who have been given a Blues jersey he must feel hard done by.
Nicholas R.W. Henning said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:25am | Report comment
The NSW Blues selection of wingers in past years has given me the Blues! The two Melbourne players must have received support from the coach, and McManus will remain an unsolved mystery, but Williams was okay (in part). Although, others like Merritt have showed some excellent form over many seasons, and I think Luke Patten could do a job on the wing or fullback too. This whole argument that you need “special tough” origin wingers, which was what justified Quinn’s selection, has clearly been unsuccessful, and both Patten and Merritt have the skill and toughness, which they don’t seem to receive enough credit for.
M1tch said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Turner replaced somone (forget) 2-3 days before the game, there were other Storm players in the team as well so it was a combination selection..McManus was found out in Origin 1 no doubt but he was pretty good at start of 2009
MyGeneration said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:49am | Report comment
Hazem el Masri is Exhibit A for wingers being selected on some mysterious formula in NSW selectors’ minds rather than performance over a sustained period. Luke Burt gave another example last night of what a little bit of nous can do, with his contribution to Parra’s winning try. Once again, he’s never been the biggest or the quickest or the strongest, but he’s been doing this for years. Has he even been selected at City/Country level?
Nicholas R.W. Henning said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Josh, I agree! Steve Turner was lost on the Origin field.
Some blame Gasnier for part of Turner’s weak performance, i.e. Gasnier left him isolated at times. But simply said, Turner should not have been selected in the first place!
Tom said | May 18th 2010 @ 6:16pm | Report comment
Agreed on Perry, I’m a Manly fan and as far as I’m concerned he is our third prop at the moment – both King and Kite are outplaying him most weeks. Even George Rose was playing some good football before getting injured.
Chris said | May 18th 2010 @ 9:17pm | Report comment
This reporter doesn’t seem to have watched much footy this year and yet is very critical of the selection. Why is he even writing on the matter if he doesn’t know much about it?.. Plus some realy bad spelling and gramar errors.
Briolex said | May 18th 2010 @ 7:50am | Report comment
Gidley should be on the bench, Hayne at fullback and Kimmorley as captain, wanted Barret at 6 though with Cooper and Lyons at centre
Paul J said | May 18th 2010 @ 8:19am | Report comment
Lyon has been great at centre all year and has stated he does not want to play number 6, so they pick him at 6.
Hayne is a great fullback so they pick him on the wing.
Gidley is the best interchange player in the series so they put him at fullback.
When Indris comes on he’ll be at centre, so Tahu goes to the wing, Hayne to fullback and Gidley to half back. So this means they waste a substitution on a halfback (Kimmorley) and make Indris mark Inglis in his first SOO?
Qld have better props so only 1 specialist prop on the NSW bench?
Otherwise a strong team. Imho, Qld win 2-1.
Ken said | May 18th 2010 @ 10:50am | Report comment
The subsitution won’t be the halfback, Gidley will move to dummy half and Ennis will be substituted. I don’t really have a problem with that part, Gidley can provide a spark from there and give Ennis a rest. It just would have been much simpler to simply have Gidley on the bench for this purpose. With Idris there you’ve got to move half the team around to make it work
M1tch said | May 18th 2010 @ 9:11am | Report comment
I like the backrow, the bench is good…Idris has to come on the field after 30mins otherwise he is a waste bench player
Morris/Copper combo will do well and Tahu is quality and we know what Hayne did last year..Come on Blues!!
LK said | May 18th 2010 @ 9:19am | Report comment
I’m slowly getting used to selection shocks. Like others I don’t know why there is a specialist centre on the bench, why a form centre is selected at 5/8th, and why the state’s 2nd or 3rd best fullback is capt. My fearless prediction is if NSW lose the fallout will be SPECTACULAR – more entertaining than a City v Country game.
Brett McKay said | May 18th 2010 @ 9:31am | Report comment
the bench looks light to me Steve, and Idris looks wasted there too – they’re hardly going to pitch him into the backrow in Origin, are they? Are they?!? I would have thought if Idris was to be picked, put him straight in the centres and put another prop on the bench…
Chris said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:05am | Report comment
How the the hell is Gidley still in the team?
How the hell was he ever in the team?
How the hell is he captain?
Jamie Lyon does not deserve to be within 5 miles of Origin. Just last year he was telling anyone who would listen that he didn’t want to play.
Just about the only positive about this team is the omission of Bird and Gallen. I’m sure Gallen would be a great player – if he could last 5 minutes without given away seven penalties.
Hayne, Campbell, Dugan, Minichiello and Carney would all be better FB options than Gidley. Hell – I’d even pick William Zillman ahead of Gidley. Stop picking bloody Novobloodycastrians.
soapit said | May 18th 2010 @ 6:35pm | Report comment
hear hear!! oh well its done now. time to get on board. not a perfect team but much closer than i’ve seen for a while.
JP said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:10am | Report comment
Dislike;
Brett White Selection.
Waterhouse in starting side.
Gallen being overlooked.
Changes;
Waterhouse on the bench for White.
Gallen replaces Waterhouse in backrow.