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In this series of articles I’ll be diving into the future of the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons, predicting their teams in 2020.
Today we start with the New South Wales Blues’ backline.
In this backline only one currently has Origin experience, which points to the amount of talent that the Blues have coming through the ranks.
1. Matt Moylan (Penrith Panthers, age: 23, age on January 1 2020: 28)
Moylan is one of the most exciting talents going around at the moment. He has really had to stand up this year so far with injuries to the Panthers’ two key playmakers in Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace.
He is being talked about to make his State of Origin debut for New South Wales this year, but if it doesn’t happen it is only a matter of time.
2. James Tedesco (Wests Tigers, age: 22, age Jan 1 2020: 26)
Tedesco is a fullback by trade but will probably have to settle for the wing spot as long as Moylan is performing.
Tedesco represented City on the wing in this year’s City versus Country match and did a fantastic job. This would also give the Blues extra versatility, being able to switch between Moylan and Tedesco at the back. Won’t make his Origin debut this year it would seem, but he like Moylan is not too far away.
3. James Roberts (Gold Coast Titans, age: 22, age Jan 1 2020: 26)
James Roberts has already established himself as one of the fastest players in the game but he seems to be developing into more than just a speedster.
He seems to have moved on from his off-field issues and found a home on the Gold Coast. He is an incredible weapon in attack and another year of maturity and he should be well on his way to playing Origin.
4. Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons, age: 24, age Jan 1 2020: 29)
Dugan will be one of the older players in the team by the time 2020 comes around but he will be in the team somewhere, likely at centre with Moylan at fullback. He is explosive in broken play and when he played centre last year for both NSW and the Dragons he was excellent in defence. Wing won’t be the answer for Dugan after what we saw when Australia played New Zealand last weekend.
Having already played five games for the Blues, he will also be very experienced in five years’ time.
5. Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs, age: 20, age Jan 1 2020: 24)
Johnston is one of the most exciting youngsters in the game, bursting onto the scene last year for the Rabbitohs. He has ambitions to play fullback, however is performing brilliantly on the wing.
Could be in line for an Origin debut this year and if not it is only a matter of time. Expect him to play Origin for many years to come.
6. Jack Bird (Cronulla Sharks, age: 20, age Jan 1 2020: 24)
Jack Bird might have only made his first-grade debut this year but he has burst onto the scene in a big way. His positional flexibility almost meant he was a bench selection, but he has performed in the halves for the Sharks very well so far this year and with just a handful of games to his name has even been thrown up for an Origin debut this year after making his City vs Country debut. He will be a cornerstone of the Blues for years to come.
7. Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers, age: 20, age Jan 1 2020: 25)
With 31 first-grade games to his name, Brooks does have elements of his game he has to work on, with consistency and defence standing out. However, he is freakishly talented and will undoubtedly play Origin during his career, and in fact has already been listed as a bolter in various parts of the media.
A halves combination of Brooks and Bird could be deadly.
Honourable mentions
Waqa Blake (Penrith Panthers, age: 20, age Jan 1 2020: 25)
George Jennings (Penrith Panthers, age: 21, age Jan 1 2020: 26)
Sione Mata’Utia (Newcastle Knights, age: 18, age Jan 1 2020: 23)
Euan Aitken (St George Illawarra Dragons, age: 19, age Jan 1 2020: 24)
Dylan Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs, age: 20, age Jan 1 2020: 25)
Robert Jennings (Penrith Panthers, age: 19, age Jan 1 2020: 23)
Jackson Hastings (Sydney Roosters, age: 19, age Jan 1 2020: 23)
Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders, age: 22, age Jan 1 2020: 26)
Do you agree? Have I missed someone? Tomorrow we take a look at the Blues’ forward pack and bench.