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My New South Wales Blues team

Mitchell Pearce is not a redemption story - not yet, anyway. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Roar Guru
28th April, 2014
32

This year there seems to be a much healthier number of Origin bolters for the desperate New South Wales Blues, which no doubt makes selection a lot more interesting.

I am not a fan of squad overhauls, but some players have forced my hand. Many of these selections were no-brainers, but I will outline those that really got my brain ticking.

Sticking with incumbent James Maloney was the first big decision I had to make. It’s no secret Maloney and his Roosters have had an average year compared to last, but both look like they have been regaining their mojo over the last week weeks. Maloney is a classy a player with ball in hand, has a good running game, and will rise to the occasion again if selected for Origin 1 in Brisbane on the 28th of May.

In the hotter-than-hell no. 7 jersey I have picked Josh Reynolds. Reynolds was present on the bench in last year’s series, and this season he gets his start in a jersey that has been Mitchell Pearce’s for too long. He has the size, strength and defence necessary in Origin, especially when partnering the less defensively-capable Maloney. However concerns do arise over the lack of a kicking game required at 7 and it is on this point that he may miss out.

Boyd Cordner’s ascent to the top rung of back-rowers in the NRL should be complete when he is named as one of three starting back-rowers for the opening Origin game at Lang Park. Cordner made his debut for both New South Wales and Australia last year, and to top off his breakout campaign, he was named Dally M second-rower of the year.

Shaun Fensom has missed even City-Country representation in all of his five years at Canberra, which is extremely surprising considering what he brings to the table; great defence and a mountain of work. In just his third year in the league, Fensom broke the world record for tackles in a match, with 75 against the Bulldogs. This year he is averaging 46 tackles a game, and leads his team in total tackles by well over 100 – the kind of grunt work required in Origin.

1. Josh Dugan
2. Brett Morris
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Jarryd Hayne
6. James Maloney/Josh Reynolds
7. Josh Reynolds/Adam Reynolds
8. Paul Gallen
9. Robbie Farah/Josh Reynolds
10. Andrew Fifita
11. Greg Bird
12. Boyd Cordner
13. Trent Merrin

14. James Tamou
15. Antony Watmough
16. Shaun Fensom
17. Aaron Woods

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