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They say forwards win matches but I have no doubt the upcoming State of Origin series is already boiling right down to halves.
And I am not talking about Queensland’s champion pairing of Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.
The mighty Blues, defending champions, are literally at sixes and sevens about their attacking hub, their axis. It should be a given, but a few weeks out from the biggest rep games of the year and it’s a lottery.
Here’s a tip: star this week – and the next – and you’re likely to be Lozza’s dream come true.
There are simply no standout candidates in 2015. No dead-set, pick-me-pick-me scrum base players who should be wearing the Blues jumper on opening Origin night, Wednesday, May 27.
Loyalty is fine, providing the incumbents are in reasonable form, but if we are being fair dinkum, last year’s heroes – Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds – are a long way from that.
Daley has to go with Hodkinson, not for loyalty, but pretty much because Adam Reynolds is injured and this guy has been playing ‘reasonable’ footy. And, perhaps more importantly, he can kick goals.
The Blues need a standout goal-kicker, as the Maroons will probably have a choice of three.
Hodkinson’s main threats for the No 7 NSW jumper come from Mitchell Pearce and maybe Luke Kearey, but Pearce’s tactical kicking is ordinary and Keary has on-going injury dramas with a foot.
Five-eighth is the position that will cause most angst for the Blues selectors.
James Maloney from the Roosters can be a big-match performer at No 6 but this year he has been a bit hit-and-miss, especially in high-pressure games.
He was good last week in the City-Country game but can he do it in the big weeks ahead? I have major doubts.
I’d be taking a long, hard look at two other five-eighth prospects between now and Origin 1.
Aidan Sezer, from the Gold Coast, is a classy and consistent operator who looks ready for a jump in class.
And should we ignore the claims of Canberra’s surprise packet No 6, Blake Austin? He appeals as a player who looks and gets even better with star quality around him.
Coach Daley is a heavy stickler for players who have done the job for him and I believe he will choose Hodkinson as his halfback, but there is zero chance of him naming Pearce as his 6.
That leaves us with Austin and Sezer for the critical five-eighth spot. I’ll run with the established Sezer, who has been firing for the past three seasons.
The half and five-eighth positions for NSW are clearly the most contentious, even though some outside backs are in doubt with injuries, and several key forwards – such as Paul Gallen – are little or no chance of competing.
Daley, a former champion five-eighth, knows what the team wants and needs. He and the selectors have some very big decisions to make in the next couple of weeks. The Origin series will swing on what they decide for Origin 1.
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