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Who should Laurie Daley pick as his wingers for Game 1 of this year’s State of Origin? Dragons and Kangaroos winger Brett Morris has one spot to call his own. The other is up in the air.
It’s safe to say last year’s wingers Blake Ferguson and Nathan Merritt won’t be anywhere near selection. The way I see it, it is between the Sea Eagles’ Jorge Taufua and the Tigers’ Pat Richards.
Taufua isn’t your typical Origin winger. He’s built close to the ground, but very powerful when running the ball – similar to Akuila Uate.
Pat Richards is big, strong and a good finisher. Before the start of the season he wouldn’t have been Daley’s plans but now finds himself a realistic prospect.
32-year-old Richards has been playing in England for the past 8 years, where he was the leading point-scorer four years running from 2007 to 2010. He won a grand final with Wigan in 2010, picking up the Man of Steel Award for the Super League’s Player of The Year.
One thing which is in his favour is his goal kicking and ability to torpedo his kick offs, which leaves the ball spiralling on its way down, and can take a turn at the last second. This is a trait no other player possesses.
If the out-of-form James Maloney isn’t selected at five-eighth, then the team has no obvious selection to take the conversions. Daley can kill two birds with one stone by selecting Richards. He’s an excellent winger, as well as a goal kicker, and he can strike the ball off the tee like no other.
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