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If New South Wales coach Laurie Daley had his way Tommy Raudonikis would still be captain of the Blues, Immortal Andrew Johns would have never played for his beloved state and rising superstar James Tedesco would be edged for the fullback role by ‘The Wombat’ Graham Eadie.
You see, Daley wants to stick solid with the guys that have done the job for the Blues in the past. Obviously Daley is referring to 2014 – a Queensland hiccup which saw NSW win their first series in nine years.
The coach hinted to The Daily Telegraph previously that he was leaning toward former Canterbury halves partners Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds.
That’s one series victory since 2005 and let’s not even talk about Game III last year where the Maroons destroyed the Blues at Suncorp Stadium 52-6.
‘Joey’ Johns wants Canberra duo Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer in the halves, but Daley all but ruled that out on a recent episode of NRL 360 on Fox Sports.
“You have to realise these two guys have never played in a big game,” Daley said.
“They’re 25 years of age and they haven’t taken their teams to semi-finals, so we can’t judge them on the big stage, all we can do is judge them on what they’re doing at the moment and that’s a critical component of the make-up of your Origin team.
“You can’t pick someone in a critical position and be hoping they’re going to get it right on the night.”
Daley is right.
Austin and Sezer haven’t played in a big game and they won’t either if nobody ever picks them.
The same can be said for South Sydney pivot Adam Reynolds, who returns from injury this week and an immediate acid test against the North Queensland Cowboys and Johnathan Thurston. The following week he’ll come face-to-face with another Origin candidate in Queenslander Ben Hunt.
Why wouldn’t the premiership-winning Rabbitoh be a hot chance if he can find form?
While the Raiders were smashed by Parramatta on the weekend, Sezer and Austin’s return a week earlier against Canterbury at Belmore was impressive – especially given not many gave the Raiders a chance in a hostile environment against the Dogs.
It’s crazy to think Daley may go back to Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds just because they won a series for the Blues a few years back.
That’s not what representative footy is supposed to be.
The Blues need points and a whole truckload of creativity. Neither Hodkinson nor Josh Reynolds really provides that. By publicly backing the pair, Daley has shown his hand to the Maroons and now we’re sitting ducks.
You can’t win the future by banking on the past but that seems to be exactly what Daley wants to do.
Johns, who played 23 games in the sky blue, said Austin and Sezer are the perfect fit.
“For NSW we’ve always played best when we’ve had a big body at five-eighth,” Johns said.
“Fittler, Daley, Anasta, Barrett, those kinds of players.
“Austin’s a running five-eighth and I’ve picked Sezer for his kicking game, he’s a left footer and he’s cool under pressure.
“The big thing for me on these two guys is they play at club level so they know each other’s game.”
But more importantly, Johns said it was time for fresh blood.
“It’s an important year if we can get a head start on Queensland and blood some of these young guys.”
Then there’s Tedesco, who hasn’t just been the form fullback of the NRL thus far but arguably the form player of the competition.
Just imagine if Phil Gould never picked Brett Mullins or Frank Stanton never selected Garry Jack.
The funny thing is the first year after Jack was picked the Blues claimed their maiden Origin series win after four years of torment. Mullins debuted in ’94 under Gould and do you think NSW lost that one?
Nope, they beat the Maroons at Lang Park in Mal Meninga’s final match.
Imagine that.
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