Jaime Lyon captain? NO! I was appalled when i read an article about Jaime Lyon wanting to be the New South Wales captain. This guy should not even make the Origin squad.
Time and time again he has shown he is not up to Origin level, nor is he worth the pay-packet that he is getting.
The ideal captain that New South Wales needs is Nathan Hindmarsh, a workhorse who sets an example and standard that every other player should look up to.
Hindmarsh would be a captain that would lead from the front, make tackle after tackle, and put in a 80 minute performance every Origin game. He is a role model, a rough round the edges type of character.
A player that is not afraid to get his hands dirty.
With players such as Morris, Jennings, Tahu, and Soward around, there is simply no room for a player like Jaime Lyon. I will admit he has been in some good form, but even this is not going to be enough when he comes up against the likes of Greg Inglis or Darren Lockyer.
The New South Wales side should read:
1. Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels)
2. Brett Morris (St. George Illawarra Dragons)
3. Michael Jennings (Penrith Panthers)
4. Josh Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs)
5. Timana Tahu (Paramatta Eels)
6. Jaime Soward (St George Illawarra Dragons)
7. Mitchell Pearce (Sydney City Roosters)
8. Justin Poore (Paramatta Eels)
9. Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
10. Michael Weyman (St George Illawarra Dragons)
11. Nathan Hindmarsh (C) (Paramatta Eels)
12. Anthony Watmaugh (Manly Sea-Eagles)
13. Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans)
14. Kurt Gidley (Newcastle Knights)
15. Brett Kite (Manly Sea-Eagles)
16. Willie Mason (North Queensland Cowboys)
17. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Canberra Raiders)
18th Man: Luke Lewis (Penrith Panthers)
The Back Three: Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris and Timana Tahu
This back three is exciting, dangerous and defensively sound, if you take a player like Jarryd Hayne, he has to be playing in the right position and that is definitely fullback.
This is where he will be at his most dangerous.
Brett Morris finishes from anywhere, and with the inside backs, you can count on this man dotting down at least once a game. Tahu is a player who has hit the ground running, back from Rugby Union, he has picked up exactly where he left off.
The Centers: Josh Morris and Michael Jennings
These two players are well developed centers in the modern game. Josh is big and quick, and he runs great lines. If anyone saw the Bulldogs Vs Roosters game, he showed you there and then what he is capable of.
Jennings is quick, lightning quick in fact, and will be a handful for any team he comes up against. He is also good at putting his outsides away.
The Halves Combination: Jaime Soward and Mitchell Pearce
Jaime Soward is a player of the future for New South Wales, and if he keeps his form going, he should be the leading playmaker for NSW this year. He will be assisted by Mitchell Pearce or Brett Kimmorley.
The Back Row: Nathan Hindmarsh, Anthony Watmaugh and Greg Bird
This is a no nonsense type of back row, three hard men that will go out and do the business. Hindmarsh, the tackling machine, will lead from the front. Greg Bird is the enforcer, the guy who goes in to ruffle the feathers of the likes of Thurston and Lockyer. He is also a player who can be used in the playmaker role, which would add value to the New South Wales side.
The Front Rowers: Justin Poore, Michael Weyman
These three players are hard: they run hard and their defence is solid. They don’t do anything flash other than front up with one job and that is to gain meters.
Hooker: Robbie Farah
He is an exciting player, who is in rich form. He is dangerous around the flanks and his kicking game is exceptional. He has the confidence to take this side to a winning series, demanding his troops around, and he gives good service from the ruck. He will take pressure off Soward and Pearce on last tackle options and defends full-heartedly.
PuntPal
Guest
Luke Lewis, Aiden Tolman etc.. all of these guys are better locks than Bird
PuntPal
Guest
Why would everyone have Bird in their team??? The bloke has been uselesss this year. Give me Sutton, Gallen, O'Donnell, Joel bloody Thompson even! Bird is crap!
MoJo
Roar Rookie
1. Hayne 2. Brett Morris 3. Josh Morris 4. Lawrence 5. Jennings 6. Soward 7. Pearce 8. Douglas 9. Farah 10. Weyman 11. Hindmarsh 12. Creagh 13. Bird 14. Tom L Lahrs 15. Galloway 16. Watmough 17. Beau Scott (he can play backrow and centre) 18. Luke Lewis Of course the incompetent NSW selectors will pick the wrong players AGAIN.
Davo
Guest
Soward being a speed bump in defence is a myth. Too many people just recall the Inglis fend and believe the gospel according to the Daily Telegraph. NRL stats, most number of missed tackles per game in 2009 and top 5 is Sandow, Kimmorley, Thurston, Ennis and Lockyer. Soward is not in the top 20. Soward makes a lot less tackles than those guys, but when comparing misses to actual tackles made his percentage is lower than those other four halves and lower than Prince and Campbell's. Peter Wallace and Mitchell Pearce appear to be the most effective tacking "small halves" and Pearce is not exactly tiny. The only truly awful defender in the NRL is Sandow whose technique is so poor he even tries to shoulder charge the tackle bags at training. I wouldnt like Jamie Soward having to make a tackle to defend my life, but he is no worse than a lot of others. The comment about him requiring depth I agree with, but he would still get depth at Origin level because he makes his own. He is able to stand back and extra few metres because he kicks the ball farther than anyone else. He's also quick enough on his feet to generally beat a sole defender who rushes out of the line to put pressure on him.
Michael Vella
Guest
My Team would be: 1. J. Hayne 2. B. Morris 3. T. Tahu 4. M. Jennings 5. J. Morris 6. J. Soward 7. B. Kimmorley 8. M. Weyman 9. M. Ennis 10 K. Galloway 11. N. Hindmarsh 12. A. Whatmough 13. B. Creagh Bench: 14. L. Douglas 15. J. Poore 16. T. Leroed-Lahrs 17. P. Campbell 18th Man W. Mason I really rate Preston Campbell as the utility of the bench, you know he is going to give 100% in attack and defense. No Gallen because he constantly gives away stupid penalties. Ennis over Farah because Robbie put himself before the team last year in Game 2 and we all know it. Mason as 18th Man just to let him know what he is missing out on, if Mason can taste the arena he may get back to playing his best footy at nrl level. Josh Morris on the wing because i think he fills that role better then Tahu. Soward has to be picked, out and out the best 5/8 in the game. Kimmorley over Pearce because of how Kimmorley played in last years dead rubber. Leroed-Lahrs i reckon was born to play this game, he's just the right mould for the enforcer job of the bench, if he can get the mentality right he will be a good pick. As for Captain, maybe Hindmarsh maybe Hayne, Hindmarsh = short term Hayne = Long term. Definite players left out: G. Bird (over-rated) J. Lyon (useless) A. Lafranchi (good but not great) M. Cooper (injury prone i'm afraid) T. Carney (try-hard whoes playing fullback for the inconsistent Roosters - maybe next year).
rj
Guest
People who put Willie Mason in their Origin squads can't be fair dinkum. Also Soward would get destroyed at Origin level. He needs depth and time to do things and would not get either against Qld. Carney is ten classes above him.
Andrew Watson
Guest
nice post...
Andrew Watson
Guest
They stole all the talent for years, and now they want to bleed about team selections? The answer is simple. Its not about where he played, its about who he wants to play for... If it was about where, they would of selected Lyon last year...
Andrew Watson
Guest
nice option.... Are you registered with the Blind Society of NSW? If so, you might get a job as a selector. You know....the guys who always picks a team whom the coach cant get to win anything... Let look further into the Blues Ball of Failure...you live in southern NSW, and still have a black and whie TV?!!!
bhtumai
Guest
Dont think Ben Cregh should get a look in over Hindmarsh or Watmaugh. I think an Enforcer like Bird or Gallen is needed. I went with Bird as he offers another playmaker role into the side. I am against Jamie Lyon making the team as he simply isnt good enough to be playing Origin Footy. Dont get me wrong if they pick him i'll support him but would much rather have a Jennings, Morris or Tahu in the mix. If Willie can find some form of old and become the wrecking machine he once was he should make the side - bring a bit of mongrel if he can find any. If he doesnt then someone like Cregh could come in. Luke O'Donnell and March Minichello are players that could make it but wont because that's the type of selectors NSW has. Laurie Daily and Co pick a team that the bosses want to see not a team capable of taking the series out over Queensland.
bhtumai
Guest
Picking Jaime Lyon is your first mistake, he's overpaid and under plays. He is not the force everybody in Manly think he is. Jamie Soward is a far better 6 than Lyon and there is simply no room for Lyon anywhere else. I agree with the swap on Tahu and Jennings I'd imagine that would be what Gus Gould would do in a game given that he was coaching.
bhtumai
Guest
Gallen is no Nathan Hindmarsh. Do you not watch rugby league? Hindmarsh is a workhorse that needs no break through an 80 minute game nor does he seek any reward goes about doing the hard yard and making the tackles. Gallen is aggressive i will give him that be too much of a hot head is not what you need. i tossed up between Bird and Gallen but Bird offers more of a attacking game.
bhtumai
Guest
Hornby no longrt plays rep football. Soward steered the Dragons to be the Minor Preimers last year would like to think he gets his shot this year after Barret hasn't performed. Carney is playing Fullback and i dont think he's hard enough to be playing Origin he has got lucky in the roosters side.
Andrew Watson
Guest
Some names that I believe are Origin players that the selectors wont even look at: Beau Scott Luke Douglas Willie Mason Anthony Tupou Luke O'Donnell Mark Minichello Chris Lawrence Josh Perry Cory Paterson Beau Champion Todd Lowrie Why, NSW always pick glorified players rather find a balance between thier stars and workers...
M1tch
Roar Guru
If Josh Morris gets a go it has to be on the wing as he is a terrible defender.. Jennings will be there so other has to be Tahu
Rob of Wollongong
Guest
Guys, if I had to pick a team at the moment based on form it would be as follows: 1. Jaryde Hayne 2. Brett Morris 3. Josh Morris 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Michael Jennings 6. Todd Carney 7. Mitchel Pearce 8. Keith Galloway 9. Robbie Farah 10. Michael Weyman 11. Paul Gallen 12. Anthony Watmough 13. Greg Bird 14. Aiden Tolman 15. Luke Douglas 16. Ben Creagh / Beau Scott / Kurt Gidley 17. Luke Lewis I have three for the one bench spot cause I believe the utility role is fillable by Luke Lewis. I believe Kurt Gidley would struggle to get into the team given he has been injured for a while (depends on selectors views here). Ben Creagh or Beau Scott could challenge for the other position. They are both strong defensive and attacking players that can play multiple positions. All that I can say is that competition for spots is big and a few big names will miss out this year. Look for front row to through up some big new names.
Andy
Guest
Your selections are not very good.Michael Jennings- liability in defence and no passing game. Jaime Soward- code name the speed bump, massive liability in defence. Justin Poore- useless in all the games he has played this year. Jamie lyon is good defensively, has a good long kicking game, and is pretty good in attack with his passing game as well he is not the worst selection in the cetres or at 5/8 and i would prefer him over Gidley as captain given the way gidley played in the last origin series anyday.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
i am astounded that discussion of SOO is underway after jsut 3 rounds of the NRL. be careful that it doesnt become a let down before it has even begun...........
soapit
Guest
get outta here canetoad 'fore i fetch my golf club! not much else i can say at this point, we really need to get a win this year so i can get a bit of credibility into my interstate gibes.
Mushi
Guest
Ah the empty bleatings of a cockroach, must be around 5 nil time