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There are not many serious options open to the NSW Blues selectors as they consider who will replace the in-form Morris twins, Brett and Josh, for Origin 2.
I have run my eyes over the short list of candidates and picked the pair I think we’ll see at ANZ Stadium on June 18.
Parramatta’s Will Hopoate looks to have done enough to snare the vacant centre position, while Penrith’s Josh Mansour is making an exciting charge for the wing spot.
After a long time away from the game, ‘Hoppa’ has been steadily growing in confidence for the Eels and is showing the class and composure that won him a Blues jumper in 2011. NSW is going to need a rock-steady type at right centre to keep Greg Inglis in check. Hopoate can do the job but he’ll welcome any help he can get.
I originally thought Manly’s Jorge Taufua would be the frontrunner for an Origin wing spot, but in recent weeks Mansour has raced past him with some irresistible football. His club stats are extraordinary.
He is the NRL’s leading tackle-breaker this season and has scored nine tries. Last weekend against Parramatta, Mansour came up with 26 carries for 268 metres, 1 offload, 9 tackle busts, 7 tackles, 2 tries and no handling errors.
I realise it’s often dangerous to compare player stats from one game to another but Taufua, playing against Brisbane, had 11 carries for 75 metres, 2 tackle busts, no tries and 2 handling errors.
Time and again, Mansour has shown incredible hunger to get himself involved in the game. He works hard early on and is just as energetic at the death.
I really like what he is doing at NRL level. He is a guy who does his own job well and then rolls up his sleeves to help his forwards out if needed.
It will mean another Blues debutant in a game of extreme pressure but Mansour is the man NSW should call up.
Suggestions have been made that NSW could shift Jarryd Hayne from fullback to the centres but I’m not having a bar of that. There is no sense in changing the complete team and game structure because one or two men have run into injury problems.
Hayne must stay at fullback so that the Blues can maintain their successful 1-6-7-9 combination from Game 1.
Key Blues forward Greg Bird is returning from suspension and we might see a few alterations in the Blues pack. I’m no selector but I’d like to see Birdy play at lock, with Paul Gallen shifting up to the front row and Aaron Woods moving to the bench.
I am already counting the days until this game in Sydney. You just know the proud Queenslanders will fight back with a vengeance. League fans are virtually guaranteed another classic.
Before closing, I wanted to give the Penrith and New Zealand clubs a special pat on the back.
Penrith was spectacular in their demolition of the Eels at the weekend and I can only see great times ahead for the mountain men. Depending on what happens with Mansour, they could go through the next six weeks virtually untouched by the Origin series – they might even be leading the comp by the end of the series.
Andrew McFadden has done a terrific job with the Warriors. My contacts tell me he has drawn a firm line about team discipline and match goals and the players have bought into it. They look incredibly dangerous, especially if they can keep their completion rate somewhere around the 32 from 36 they achieved against the Knights on Sunday.
Like the Panthers, they aren’t likely to be bothered by Origin call-ups. They have the chance to build some frightening momentum.
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