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I don’t mean to sound cynical, but to anyone who actually believed Ricky Stuart would pick the exact same 17 NSW players from Game I for the upcoming Origin sequel at ANZ Stadium on June 15, there is a bridge I own in Camelot that I would like to sell you for $50.
I greeted Stuart’s proclamation that the same team would be chosen with laughter. And rightly so. This is the same man who openly vowed not to call Matt Cooper and request his availability for Game I. But sure enough, two nights before the Game I selections were announced, the Dragon’s centre received a phone call.
Not that Ricky should be held solely accountable for the changes that will be made for Game II. He openly stated his desire to ‘pick and stick’ and hopes that the same 17 would be available for selection when Game II draws near. Available being the operative word. Being ‘available for selection’ and actually being selected are two different scenarios. Stuart voicing this hope was essentially his way of saying, “I’m proud of the 17 I picked for Game I.”
But Ricky has bosses he must answer to like any other coach. And if they send the word down that some selection changes must be made with the side in preparation for a now must-win Game II, Ricky has no choice but to make them. Even if he disagrees with them entirely. And such word may have come. But Ricky also knows that losing again is simply not an option for Game II in Sydney.
Not only to keep the faith that NSW can actually beat this Maroons side, not only to prove that there is some hope for the future of NSW by getting a win on home turf, but also to ensure The Blues avoid a potential consecutive series white-wash. Let’s face it, the odds of Queensland losing what will be Darren Lockyer’s final Origin game at Suncorp Stadium in Game III are very slim.
Ricky’s revelations in his fresh-off-the-presses article “Time For A Blues Boulevard” addressing the current NSW Origin situation should not have shocked anyone:
“Before the first game, I said something that a lot of people jumped on – that I wasn’t really concerned about the result, I was more concerned with our performance. That changes now.
“The team for game one was picked for a deliberate purpose and, to a man, I believe they did what they were asked to.
“They restored a lot of what NSW Origin is about. They bought into what we were trying to achieve, and what was required to get there and, because they were so willing to buy in, they quickly became a team bonded for battle.
Game two is about winning. I’m not going to show blind loyalty and automatically pick the same players as the first game. We need to pick a different team to improve on what we established in game one.
“Not better players – there was nothing wrong with the 17 this time around. But now that we’ve had a look at Queensland and how we matched up against them, and some of the areas we fell short in, we need to choose a team that will best suit that.
“I must say, though, this 17 have a good start on that.”
Sure they do, Ricky, sure they do. Unless their name is Jason King. Or Brett Morris. Or Dean Young.
Potential changes that are being widely discussed are the inclusion of Tom Learoyd-Lahrs at the expense of Jason King. Luke Lewis in for Ben Creagh on the bench. Jamal Idris or Kurt Gidley in for Dean Young on the bench. And most prominently Jarryd Hayne in for Brett Morris on the left wing.
Yes, Ricky has said he’s not keen on putting players in the side out of their regular positions. But as has been demonstrated, Ricky says a lot of things. He also knows that Hayne has scored six tries in nine Origin games for NSW while ‘out of position’ on the wing and Darius Boyd has no trouble shifting from fullback to the wing for Queensland.
I personally think Ricky would be wise to stick with the spine of his chosen 17 for Game II; Dugan at Fullback, Soward and Pearce in the halves, Ennis at hooker and obviously captain Gallen at lock. Making changes in these key positions would cause too much disruption.
Switching a winger, a front-rower and a couple of bench players on the other hand would be merely some ‘fine-tuning’. The only way to beat Queensland is (obviously) to score more points than they do. And to do so, the NSW side needs a few tweaks to increase attacking potential.
Agree with it or not, Ricky’s words indicate that changes are coming. Let the ‘chop and change’ debate roar on!
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