Once again, we got a rousing response to this year’s ‘Pick your own’ State of Origin team for the New South Wales.
As such, we’ve assembled who you, the Roarers, think should don the blue jerseys to try to defend the State of Origin Crown in 2015.
The big questions around the team were always going to be around loyalty – do you pick those who aren’t necessarily in form but got the job done last year, or do you go for those in form but haven’t tasted success in the Origin arena?
More State of Origin:
» State of Origin News
» State of Origin team news
» The Roar’s Queensland Maroons team for Origin 1
» Pick your own NSW Blues team for Origin 1
» Pick your own Queensland Maroons team for Origin 1
The injury to skipper Paul Gallen put a spanner in the works, but
The emphatic answer from you was a mix of both – with James Maloney being just one example of a player in form being the pick of the bunch at five-eighth ahead of Blake Austin and incumbent Josh Reynolds.
Without any further delay, and before we get into too many specifics, here is the team you guys picked for the State of Origin opener.
1. Josh Dugan
2. Alex Johnston
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Daniel Tupou
6. James Maloney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah
10. James Tamou
11. Beau Scott
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Trent Merrin
Bench
14. Josh Jackson
15. Luke Lewis
16. David Klemmer
17. Andrew Fifita
Starting from the top, and Josh Dugan replaces Jarryd Hayne for the 2015 opener. He always appeared the natural replacement, though issues about his playmaking ability were brought up, his attacking flair proved too much of a lure.
Alex Johnston and Daniel Tupou were safe choices on the wings with Brett Morris out injured, as were Jennings and Josh Morris in the centres.
An interesting turn sees the Roosters’ halves reinstalled as the Blues pair ahead of last year’s winners Hodkinson and Reynolds. Will the NSW selectors mirror this change?
Aaron Woods, James Tamou and Trent Merrin play props and lock respectively in the absence of Paul Gallen, with Robbie Farah likely to take the little ‘c’ in the absence of the inspirational captain.
Beau Scott and Ryan Hoffman both retain their positions in the second row from last year.
Dependable Blues Luke Lewis and Andrew Fifita are on the bench.
The players selected to make their debut are Josh Jackson and David Klemmer, both from the Bulldogs.
A solid season last year saw them both make their debut in green and gold, and they have been among Canterbury’s best in the opening part of the season.
Here is the full summary of the votes you guys submitted for NSW’s side for the opening game of State of Origin in 2015.
| Josh Dugan | 124 | 59% |
| Brett Stewart | 32 | 15.2% |
| Matt Moylan | 46 | 21.9% |
| Other | 8 | 3.8% |
| Brett Morris | 75 | 36.4% |
| Will Hopoate | 34 | 16.5% |
| Pat Richards | 37 | 18% |
| Alex Johnston | 73 | 35.4% |
| Daniel Tupou | 131 | 63.6% |
| Josh Mansour | 22 | 10.7% |
| James Roberts | 16 | 7.8% |
| Other | 17 | 8.3% |
| Josh Morris | 171 | 83% |
| Michael Jennings | 167 | 81.1% |
| Will Hopoate | 14 | 6.8% |
| Josh Dugan | 40 | 19.4% |
| James Roberts | 9 | 4.4% |
| Other | 4 | 1.9% |
| James Maloney | 73 | 35.8% |
| Josh Reynolds | 38 | 18.6% |
| Blake Austin | 69 | 33.8% |
| Other | 24 | 11.8% |
| Mitchell Pearce | 91 | 44.2% |
| Adam Reynolds | 35 | 17% |
| Trent Hodkinson | 70 | 34% |
| Other | 10 | 4.9% |
| Robbie Farah | 180 | 90.5% |
| Michael Ennis | 14 | 7% |
| Other | 5 | 2.5% |
| James Tamou | 112 | 55.2% |
| Aaron Woods | 175 | 86.2% |
| Paul Gallen | 23 | 11.3% |
| Andrew Fifita | 70 | 34.5% |
| Tim Mannah | 4 | 2% |
| David Klemmer | 14 | 6.9% |
| Other | 3 | 1.5% |
| Luke Lewis | 34 | 16.8% |
| Ryan Hoffman | 127 | 62.9% |
| Tony Williams | 11 | 5.4% |
| Anthony Watmough | 23 | 11.4% |
| Boyd Cordner | 61 | 30.2% |
| Beau Scott | 113 | 55.9% |
| Ryan James | 5 | 2.5% |
| Josh Jackson | 25 | 12.4% |
| Other | 4 | 2% |
| Paul Gallen | 70 | 35.5% |
| Trent Merrin | 102 | 51.8% |
| Glenn Stewart | 18 | 9.1% |
| Other | 7 | 3.6% |
| Tony Williams | 27 | 13.5% |
| Anthony Watmough | 35 | 17.5% |
| Trent Merrin | 75 | 37.5% |
| Ryan Hoffman | 33 | 16.5% |
| Tariq Sims | 42 | 21% |
| Aiden Tolman | 19 | 9.5% |
| Andrew Fifita | 105 | 52.5% |
| Boyd Cordner | 64 | 32% |
| Beau Scott | 16 | 8% |
| Luke Lewis | 110 | 55% |
| Josh Jackson | 65 | 32.5% |
| Tyson Frizell | 52 | 26% |
| Beau Scott | 16 | 8% |
| Ryan James | 22 | 11% |
| David Klemmer | 83 | 41.5% |
| Other | 30 | 15% |
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