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There has been a lot of conjecture related to the NSW team coach Ricky Stuart has selected to take into Game One of this year’s State of Origin series, which starts next Wednesday in Queensland.
Ricky Stuart has a proven record at representative level, coaching NSW to a series victory in 2005 and winning 10 out of 11 games at the helm of the Kangaroos.
Ricky also played 14 and nine games for respectively for NSW and Australia.
The team Ricky has selected for Game One has the mix of youth and proven Origin performers, which are needed to upset Queensland’s reign of five successive victories.
Ricky Stuart has revealed he did not consider selecting players out of position. This will be a major factor is the team being successful and highly competitive this year.
The omission of Jarryd Hayne, who has been a leader of the NSW team during his 11 Origins, has caused confusion. Stuart feels Hayne plays more like a five eighth, consequently selecting Josh Dugan.
Dugan, 21, was a standout for the All Stars this year, winning man of the match against an Indigenous team which comprised of 10 Queenslanders. Dugan will fit the team structure and deliver on the big stage.
NSW boast two of the most exciting players in the game on each wing. Akuila Uate was the NRL’s top try scorer in 2010 with 21. Brett Morris finished the season with 20. The NSW team need not worry about the ability to finish out wide.
The omission of Jamal Idris also caused debate. This selection fits Stuart’s strategy of not selecting players out of position. Mark Gasnier is the form right centre of the competition, and a proven Origin performer. Left centre Michael Jennings, while struggling in the earlier part of the season, will pose threat to Queensland’s edges with his footwork and pace.
While Jarrod Mullen was extremely lucky to not get selected, The NSW halves are exciting. Jamie Soward’s game is suited to Origin. He has the best long kicking game in the NRL and will compliment incumbent Mitchell Pearce. The NSW outside backs are sure to see lots of quality ball.
The NSW back row is the team’s most obvious strength. Captain, Paul Gallen, backing up from his man of the match performance in the Anzac Test, will provide the team with aggression they desperately need. Combined with proven hard men Greg Bird and Beau Scott, it will take a lot to unsettle this team.
Incumbent Michael Ennis is known to be a favorite of Stuart. Ennis has the ability to put opposition players off their game, demonstrated in the Hindmarsh incident earlier this year.
Dean Young, who has the ability to play hooker or back row, will complement Ennis nicely from the bench.
Aiden Tolman, along with a number of others, can consider themselves unlucky. However, the front row of Snowden and King, playing to their potential will provide Soward and Pearce a solid platform.
Kurt Gidley’s injury has resulted in NSW going into the match without the game’s premier utility. Stuart has selected four forwards on the bench. The starting 13 will be supported by young front rowers Trent Merrin and Tim Mannah, who have been in great form for their clubs. Ben Creigh, who has been outstanding for the Dragons, is a valuable inclusion as he can play anywhere in the forwards, while also shifting out wide to cover an injuries.
Stuart has indicated he will be sticking solid with this team throughout the series, something NSW has not done over the last five series’.
While there are a number of high quality players missing from the squad, Stuart has selected the team he is confident will do the job for him.
With two games in Queensland this series, the team faces a huge challenge. It is for this reason every supporter needs to get behind the team and stay solid throughout the series, as Stuart has indicated he will do.
It should be remembered that it wasn’t long ago that NSW won three consecutive series and the concept of Origin was thought to be struggling.
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