Phew! Blues pick a better side than last year
Roar Guru By Steve Kaless, 18 May 2010 Steve Kaless is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Anthony Watmough, Ben Creagh, Brett Kimmorley, Brett Morris, jamie lyon, Jarryd Hayne, Josh Perry, Matt Cooper, Michael Ennis, Michael Weyman, NRL, NSW Blues, Rugby League, Timana Tahu, Trent Waterhouse
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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May 18th 2010 @ 11:13am
Steve Kaless said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:13am | Report comment
The selection of Idris also makes the selection of Lewis a bit odd. You have the beef of Learoyd-Lahrs and White to cover the forwards, so Lewis is your utility player in the backs, so why have a specialist centre?
As you say Brett, seeing he hasn’t played a minute in the backrow for the Dogs surely they aren’t going to toss him in there.
May 18th 2010 @ 11:19am
Brett McKay said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:19am | Report comment
exactly my point Steve, having both Lewis and Idris on the bench seems a luxury I’m not sure NSW can afford in Game 1…
May 18th 2010 @ 11:44am
Michael B said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:44am | Report comment
My read on the selections:
Gidley can cover in the halves and hooker and will likely move there during the game.
Lewis will move into the backrow or 5/8 throughout the game
Hayne will be shifted to fullback at some stage in the game with Tahu shifted to the wing and Idris or Lyon moving into the centre position
TLL will play front row and back row
Gidley has been selected at fullback, but will prob play utility role during the game
May 18th 2010 @ 5:35pm
john said | May 18th 2010 @ 5:35pm | Report comment
I think the whole point of Lewis there is that he wont be the utility back but rather the utility forward. He can cover anywhere bar prop and gidley can cover anywhere in the backs. Add to that the aggression of White and Larhs and the fact that Idris will be keen to make an impact off the bench and its a pretty strong bench. Three forwards and one big back, whats wrong with that?
May 18th 2010 @ 11:21am
M1tch said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:21am | Report comment
I hope there arent too many chefs – ie: Gidley will be a roaming lock player- which is what Lewis’ will be off the bench, Idris will play in the centers when he comes on
May 18th 2010 @ 11:30am
Chris said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:30am | Report comment
Too many chefs, at least the food will be good!
May 18th 2010 @ 11:33am
M1tch said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:33am | Report comment
From what NSW has plated up in the past im not hopeful, boom boom
May 18th 2010 @ 11:45am
Brett McKay said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:45am | Report comment
you blokes are watching way too much MasterChef….
May 18th 2010 @ 2:42pm
BigAl said | May 18th 2010 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
.
.
NSW to be done like a dinner
May 18th 2010 @ 6:18pm
Tom said | May 18th 2010 @ 6:18pm | Report comment
They will be eaten alive out there.
May 18th 2010 @ 11:43am
Gob Bluth said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:43am | Report comment
With Idris in the team there would unlikely to be any leftovers.
May 18th 2010 @ 11:50am
M1tch said | May 18th 2010 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Hope Jamal doesnt serve up a Dogs Breakfast of a game…last one I promise
May 18th 2010 @ 12:25pm
TammyS said | May 18th 2010 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
I like the this team and I agree its much better than the team the blues threw up last year but you’ll still get thrashed
May 18th 2010 @ 12:47pm
Brett McKay said | May 18th 2010 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
Steve (or anyone, for that matter), here’s a question I’ve been wondering for years now. Why are we still stuck in the same old, same old “tradition” – that dates back to 1980, as far as I can tell – of NSW naming their side first, and then Queensland following a day later??
May 18th 2010 @ 12:58pm
MyGeneration said | May 18th 2010 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Brett, my first reaction to your question was that maybe it’s a relic of pre-Origin days when NSW picked their side first, and then Queensland were welcome to the Queenslanders NSW didn’t want. Actually, I meant that as a joke, but it raises the question: pre-Origin, could Queenslanders in the NSW comp, who weren’t wanted by NSW, still get picked for Queensland?
May 18th 2010 @ 1:14pm
Brett McKay said | May 18th 2010 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
MyGen, I’m quite sure it’s a pre-Origin relic, which just underlines my question further..
As for your question, well yeah, you’d assume they could, but I guess the question would then would be were any picked from NSW? Does David Middleton operate under a nom de plume on The Roar by chance??
May 18th 2010 @ 1:00pm
Gob Bluth said | May 18th 2010 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
My Generation,
Re: Luke Burt. “Has he even been selected at City/Country level?” Yes, this year was his first City jumper, but I agree, probably long overdue.
May 18th 2010 @ 1:07pm
MyGeneration said | May 18th 2010 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
Thanks, GB. I missed the game this year, so I hadn’t picked that up, but I’m still surprised that was his first.
May 18th 2010 @ 2:18pm
Springs said | May 18th 2010 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
You mean first country jumper.
May 18th 2010 @ 2:45pm
Gob Bluth said | May 18th 2010 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
Ah yes, of course I do. Well spotted.
May 18th 2010 @ 1:30pm
Worlds Biggest said | May 18th 2010 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Another conservative team selected by the untouchables. Where are the points going to come from. Josh Morris, Carney, Jennings and Soward should have been picked to provide the zip. Instead we have a 33 year old halfback, two 30 year old centres, a winger who should be fullback and a fullback who should be on the bench. White, Waterhouse & Idris are very lucky while Lewis should be starting. He is not a bench player. Hard to get excited about this team.
May 18th 2010 @ 1:54pm
sunshinecoaster said | May 18th 2010 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
And they pick a tradesman over a star to play at fullback
Sports of all codes have been littered with this senario,you have a player who is possibly the best in the world in his position but selectors decide to shift that player because hes so talented he should make an impact anywhere he plays,it rarely works out that way