The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

The Blues won't win with just strong defence

Roar Pro
26th May, 2011
9

Although I thought that State of Origin this year would be a fizzer, I’m happy to say that this premonition was obliterated. I loved every minute of game one, it was high-intensity, it was unpredictable and best of all, it was a contest!

I have certainly had my contentions with Ricky Stuart’s coaching and selection processes over the years.

The first seed of doubt was sewn when he refused to let Jamie Soward play in his first grade team and consequently booted him from the Roosters.

The irony is not lost on me that Stuart has come out and claimed Jamie is the foundation of the Blues’ hopes for a victory this year … but didn’t you try to ruin his NRL career, Sticky? I digress.

I don’t feel I am alone in expressing the sentiment that NSW can win the series this year, we appear to have a team buzzing with more talent than it has in quite some time.

I, like many of my fellow statesmen, have watched on in cold frustrated sweats at our lack of creativity and potency in previous years.

But 2011 feels very different, it feels like this team may not be waiting for Queensland to lose the game, but rather attempting to win it. The old strategy is still the most valuable, the best form of defence is attack.

The Blues have lacked creativity and variety of late, and I think the idea of trying to pick a team based on defence against a team of superstars is always thwart with danger.

Advertisement

A team must attempt to outgun them, a team must be chosen where players have the ability to attack in structured raids and spontaneous acts of flair.

Game two will see the blues in our home territory, hungrier for victory than ever before, perhaps even more ravenous for the quest of triumph than Steve Mortimer was when he famously kissed the turf of the SCG in 1985.

What makes Rugby League great? It’s simple really, its passion. I’m really looking forward to sitting back on the couch for game two, ripping open a tinny of Tooheys New and watching NSW claim back their rightful throne.

My team for game two would be as follows:

1 Josh Dugan
2 Jarryd Hayne
3 Mark Gasnier
4 Michael Jennings
5 Akuila Uate
6 Todd Carney
7 Jamie Soward
8 Michael Weyman
9 Dean young
10 Kade Snowden
11 Luke Lewis
12 Tim Mannah
13 Paul Gallen

14 Beau Scott
15 Greg Bird
16 Anthony Watmough
17 Jamal Idris

close