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Laurie Daley has stated he wants NRL club halves combination to represent the Blues, but who will he pick? Who will play halfback Trent Hodkinson, Mitchell Pearce or a bolter?
Trent Hodkinson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
The incumbent halfback was one of the main contributors to the Blues’ dethroning of the Maroons in last year’s series. Scoring the try that won New South Wales their first State of Origin series in eight years, Hodkinson continued to show his brilliance at the top level by guiding his team to the NRL grand final against the odds, playing with a knee injury for three weeks in a row.
Trent Hodkinson has raced ahead of the pack in 2015 and has proved to be one of the best halfbacks in rugby league. Can Hodkinson keep his spot in the Blues camp?
Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)
The 12-game Blues representative is Hodkinson’s toughest competitor for the New South Wales No. 7 jersey over the weeks leading into Origin alongside his halves partner James Maloney, who will also want to remain in contention for Origin selection.
Mitchell Pearce has been criticised for his performances at State of Origin level before, however Pearce is one of the most experienced halves and knows how to handle the big occasions.
Mitchell Pearce has shown brief glimpses of form that could catch Daley’s eye, but also has displayed form that would make the Blues coach and his assistants turn their heads. If the golden point period of Friday’s match against the Broncos was anything to go by, Pearce can forget about playing for his state in 2015.
Bolters
Peter Wallace (Penrith Panthers) seemed to be in the main race for his fifth Blues jersey alongside his partner Jamie Soward, however a knee injury now sees Wallace sidelined until Round 12, a week after State of Origin Game I.
One of the stand-outs of Game I in 2008, Wallace has since been riddled by injuries and been overlooked. At 29 years of age, it looks as though an injury to the man Daley chooses to wear the No. 7 jersey could be his only opportunity at returning to the Origin arena.
Luke Keary (South Sydney Rabbitohs) was in the driver’s seat for a State of Origin jersey but now it appears he could be out of the Origin frame due to an injury to his South Sydney halves partner Adam Reynolds. Having helped Souths to a premiership in 2014 and become a regular in the emerging squad, Keary is one of the hottest young halves in rugby league.
Having played 28 games since his debut in 2013, Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers) could fight his way into the Blues camp. The 2014 Dally M Rookie of the Year has helped coach Jason Taylor to make Wests a competitive team again.
Luke Brooks is made for big games like State of Origin and shows assets similar to that of the eighth immortal Andrew Johns. The 20-year-old could be a serious bolter if he continues to find form at the joint venture.
Tyrone Roberts (Newcastle Knights) was in the running for a New South Wales debut in 2015 just a fortnight ago after helping steer Newcastle to their best start to a season in years. However, over the past two weeks the Knights have slowed down and Roberts and his halves partner Jarrod Mullen have failed to perform.
The 2014 Country Origin representative’s name could now be thrown completely out of Laurie Daley’s vision for the Blues if he shows another bad display next week against the Eels.
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