Is it me or is it every year New South Wales Rugby League seems to be falling short? It has been five long hard years since the Southern State has tasted a series victory.
It’s almost long enough for some players to remember what it actually tastes like. Queensland have showed dominance, organisation and experience in the past Origin series’.
Surely if the Blues can not upset Queensland in the 2010 series New South Wales Rugby League must take a good look at itself from players right through to management. The selectors Bob Fulton, Bob McCarthy, Laurie Daley and Geoff Gerard must be shown the door.
Jarryd Hayne, one of the most dangerous attacking players playing the game, is out of position at wing. Fullback is his natural position, but instead we have Kurt Gidley, who basically handed the ball to Johnathon Thurston for Sam Thaiday to score in game one, in that place.
Craig Bellemy must feel a little hot under the collar as well, as 0-4 does not read well for any Origin coach. He can have the lack of star quality players in his sides reflecting the performance, but at the end of the day change is needed to beat the exceptional Maroons. Gus Gould is a player who springs to mind to coach NSW in 2010.
I believe the Blues are missing some really key players in their 2010 Origin side and some positional play is needed for quality players to be seeing more ball. Nathan Hindmarsh is a player that will work hard for the 80 minutes – a true workhorse that would make 50-plus a game.
And how does Ben Cregh retain his starting spot? He had a shocker in game one and will surely struggle to keep a hold of his sky blue jumper for game two.
Jamie Lyon must return to centre where he plays for the Australian side and a specalist five-eight should be brought in. Jamie Soward should be given a go and has shown a great kicking game. He’s quick and often makes the right decision.
Speaking of the halves, Kimmorely needs to show some structure and leadership around the park. Game one saw New South Wales exposed in its lack of attacking plays, with tries resulting from kicks and poor Queensland line defence. Michael Ennis tried hard for the 80 and did offer another kicking option from dummy half. Trent Barret is also a player who springs to mind after having experience in a winning Origin side. He is defensively sound and a leader when on the park.
Queensland are a quality side with a lot of stars and have proved when it comes to the crunch they have it. Led by inspirational skipper Darren Lockyer they are a tough team to beat. They show passion and that is what Origin is all about. Together for several years now they seem to have a sense of brotherhood within the team atmosphere – a true attribute when it comes to Origin. Missing Cameron Smith the Maroons went about their business as usual with Inglis, Slater, Lockyer, all their big names crossing the line.
New South Wales must return to the drawing board in what will be a very tough task to win at Suncorp. The Maroons have the chance to win their fifth straight series victory over New South Wales. Serious changes need to be made for game two. They need to play with more attacking plays and really look to muscle up in defence.
The team for game two should be:
New South Wales:
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Brett Morris
3. Michael Jennings
4. Jamie Lyon
5. Timana Tahu
6. Jamie Soward
7. Brett Kimmoerly
8. Josh Perry
9. Michael Ennis
10. Michael Weyman
11. Nathan Hindmarsh (Captain)
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Anthony Watmaugh
14. Kurt Gidely
15. Luke Lewis
16. Tom Leroy-Laz
17. Matt White
Jason Cave
Guest
The problem for NSW is that the Blues don't have a 5/8-halfback combination like what Queensland have with Lockyer & Thurston. Lockyer & Thurston are the equal to-if not better than- another 5/8-half combo of days gone by for Queensland, Wally Lewis & Allan Langer. NSW has a misson impossible in more ways than one-not only do the Blues have to level it up to take the series to the decider at Sydney, but also Game 2 will be at Suncorp Stadium (aka Lang Park), where NSW's overall record in Brisbane is not much to look at.
Stan
Guest
Good analysis Springs. All good solid players and i still say we need an X-factor in attack, at least having someone else that can be a game breaker or creative, like John Sutton as I've said before in 5/8 or off the bench early. They say Soward's defence is suspect so maybe only Pearce at some time. Bailey hasn't let NSW down before as far as I know, he should replace Perry. My best side (not all on form, but including an X-factors would be, and considering that Gidley can't be dropped completely, even though I would want him to be): 1. Hayne; 2. Morris. 3. Jennings 4. Lyon 5. Burt. 6. Sutton or Barrett 7. Kimmorley (because he is a real tryer) 13. Bird 12 Gallen 11 Hindmarsh 10. Bailey 9. Ennis 8. Weyman 14. Tahu 15. Barrett or Sutton 16. Watmough 17. Lewis
Springs
Roar Guru
No his defence is needed for Origin, notice how we didn't have any defence? And whose attack do we need? Creagh? We went great, ay? Look at the stats last night, Waterhouse made 20 tackles, Hindmarsh would double it, plus make more hit-ups and offloads and would have the heart and passion that so many incumbent players do not. I think we should look at who are our best players and build the team around them. Australia won the Four Nations last year, the NSW players in that side should be first preference, especially if they are still playing well now. 1. Hayne 2. Morris 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Hindmarsh 12. Gallen 13. Lewis 14. Gidley 15. Watmough 16. 17. Lyon was in the ANZAC test side, so he should also be there, White was in the 4 Nations side but has not played enough games this year. For the other positions, we simply need to choose the best in those positions at this moment in time, and the players that will work best with those selected. The centres for the City/Country game were Champion, Lawrence, Jennings, Tahu and Idris. Picking a left centre would be first priority. For Right Wing we should pick a right winger. If a left winger is in amazing form then maybe switch but there are not many. We have Robertson, Burt, Grothe, Minichiello, Gordon, Turner, Quinn. Five-Eighth needs to be a Five-Eighth, not a lock or a fullback or a centre. Barrett, Anasta, Finch, Soward, Campese, Sutton. Finch or Soward would be the in-form players, while Barrett is most experienced. Halfback should be between Kimmorley and Pearce, no Gidley, NO Gidley. Props just pick the best. Most metres, most tackles. Bailey, Weyman, Cross, Simpson, Mannah, Tolman, even White. Those types of players Hooker, well it seems we are stuck with Farah or Ennis. If Buderus would like to come back though that would be lovely. It's a tough selection process, firstly I think they should pick around those seven players. Halves are the most important, and I think for now we need players like Barrett and Kimmorley, but for next year I hope we go with players like Soward and Pearce, they cannot be ignored much longer.
Tom
Guest
Perry and Waterhouse were useless and both must go. As a Manly fan I am constantly baffled as to how Perry gets rep jerseys, he isn't even the best prop at Manly.
Stan
Guest
fairly close to a decent side. But if you arent picking Tahu in the centres, he either has to play on the bench or not at all. We need SPECIALIST wingers, not centres-cum-wingers. barrett a 5/8 instead of Sowie. Even though I'm an Eels supporter I think Hindie is almost past it and his attack isnt what is needed for Origin..not sure about Perry either or Waterhouse. Gallen and Bird to come in. And who is Matt White? Is he the sports presenter from Channel 10 and now on Channel 7 who was also in Dancing with the Stars? Didn't know he could be a bolter for Origin.... hahaaha
Hoy
Roar Guru
Why do you spell with a z? If you go to the bother of putting it in, you might as well spell correctly and put the s in.
Andy
Guest
The nsw forwards in general were outplayed why? I reckon it was ennis he was too slow distributing the ball to forwards meaning we were pretty slow up the middle and his kicks were gifting 20 metre restarts when someone could have done a bomb. Hayne needs to go to fullback there are no doubts about that and put someone like robertson on the wing not a bloody centre. Sowards defence is pathetic and kimmorley is out of form.
Crystal
Guest
I cant believe ur blaming Gidley for the loss! Whoze comin in twice resulted in a try? Who had the chance to be hero and score an awsome try??? hmmmmmmm....Oh thats right JARRYD HAYNE! And please dont stick up for him and say its because hez on the wing! He has so far alwayz played on the wing! Since like 2007!!!! Even 4 OZ!!! Oh and I cant believe ur still keeping Kimmorley! Hez our BIGGEST problem! Hez CRAP! i mean he alwayz playz crap!