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It seemed like there were a thousand players mentioned as potential New South Wales Origin selections this year, but considering only 17 players can be named, it meant that there were a lot of disappointed players on Sunday afternoon.
MORE:
* Analysis of the NSW Blues squad
* Queensland Maroons team announcement
Here we comb through the wreckage and analyse those players that missed out on selection for Origin 1 on May 23rd:
Anthony Watmough:
Whilst he has tendency to ‘crab’ across the park at times, Watmough’s toughness, leg power and passion would have been vital weapons in the Blues armoury.
He’s a strong, hard player, and NSW were counting on him to create impact on the Maroons in both attack and defence. Sadly, a telephone call with Ricky Stuart indicated he won’t be able to train before Origin 1, and he was effectively ruled out. He’ll be back for game two, one would think.
Ryan Hinchcliffe:
A versatile player and excellent defender, Hinchcliffe may have been a bolter in some people’s minds, but I think it would have been an astute selection. If anyone is in a position to know what Cam Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk are likely to do, it’s their Melbourne teammate. Of course, knowing what they’re going to do, and actually stopping it, are two totally different things.
But Hinchcliffe is a good player in his own right, and I would have had him as the starting hooker, or utility bench player, if one was required.
Brett Morris:
After a scintillating start to the season at fullback for the Dragons, Morris has tapered off a touch in recent weeks. However, his early season form, pace, and ability to finish, means he was pretty unlucky to miss out on selection, even accounting for his mistakes in last year’s series.
Michael Weyman:
He’s been one of the form props of the competition, and I think he’s performed better this year than Dragons teammate Trent Merrin. However, it was his fellow prop that heard his name called out, leaving Weyman to wonder what else he could have done to be selected. I would have picked him.
Josh Dugan:
Even when the enigmatic Canberra Raiders fullback is fully fit, he’s a risky selection due to his gambling instincts in attack, and occasionally poor defensive positioning. But picking Dugan when he’s less than 100 percent healthy and not in great from is beyond risky.
There is no question he’s a match winner, but selecting him could have back-fired dramatically in Ricky Stuart’s face.
Tariq Sims:
Sims was actually mentioned as a bolter for last year’s series, but this year his selection should have been automatic in my eyes. His physique and mentality are well suited to Origin football, and he would have been the perfect impact player off the bench, eager to get on the field and make his presence felt.
It’s a baffling decision to overlook Sims. Especially for Tony Williams, who won’t have played for nine weeks.
Tim Mannah:
If you’re going to select a player from the worst team in the competition – a team that is dominated every week – then said player better be setting the world on fire. Can that really be said about Mannah?
Losing is contagious, yet the Blues had already selected far too many players from sides that have been struggling, and couldn’t really afford another one infecting the NSW camp.
Anthony Minichello:
The Count was sensational in game two last year when he received a surprise call-up to the NSW team. Playing under questionable health, he had a poor game three, but he was hardly alone there.
He’s been solid for the Roosters again this year, and would be somewhat of a safe option for the Blues. But after six straight series loss, can NSW really afford to play it safe?
Michael Ennis:
Whilst his toughness and ability to get under opponents skins have been well documented, players should be picked on their form first and foremost, of which Ennis has been well down this year.
He’s also cost the Blues dearly in the past with some dumb plays and penalties, so it wasn’t a complete shock to see the Blues go with Farah.
Jamal Idris:
Yes, he’s a big boy. Yes, Queensland would prefer not to tackle him. But he simply hasn’t done enough this season to force his way into the side. His selection would be merely rewarding mediocrity. Of course, you could argue that that should have made him an automatic selection this year…
Jamie Soward:
He was solid for the Blues last year, and his kicking game is absolutely brilliant. It’s a skill that you can build a game plan around. But Carney adds a more dynamic flavour at 6, and after years of losing, NSW need to roll the dice. That’s not quite Soward’s game.
Chris Lawrence:
Lawrence has been far below his best this season, and whilst the campaign for him to be selected gained momentum over the last couple of weeks, I think it’s a wise decision to leave him out when he’s not in great form.
It’s one thing to select Origin veterans when they’re not setting the world on fire, but selecting a debutant who is out of form is asking a lot, and setting a youngster up to fail.
James Maloney:
Maloney was close to a shoe-in for selection just six weeks ago, but some alarming missed tackle statistics, and the logjam for the number 6 Blues jersey, meant that Maloney justifiably fell from grace and down the pecking order.
Josh Reynolds:
His selection would have classified him as a real bolter. He’s been in great form for the Bulldogs, and has a lot of skills and versatility in his game. But considering Farah and the halves should all play 80 minute, what exactly would Reynolds’ role have been?
Aaron Woods:
His selection would have been a case of leading lambs to the slaughter. Woods is young and inexperienced, and struggled early in the year for the Tigers.
Whilst he’s been impressive of late, it’s worth noting that the three teams the Tigers have beaten in recent weeks are the three teams at the bottom of the ladder. To say Queensland would have been a tougher proposition is the understatement of the year.
Jarrod Mullen:
The Knights half was right in contention for an Origin berth, but his form has fallen away and he was completely over-shadowed in the City vs Country match, effectively ending his chances of being selected.
Beau Scott:
Can the fans asking why Beau Scott was not selected really be labelled fans? The Dragons forward was ruled out after he dislocated his elbow; an injury I’m reliably informed is one of the most painful you can endure.