We all know what happened in the 2011 State of Origin series. So how’s this for a New South Wales Origin team for 2012?
Fullbacks: Josh Dugan or Brett Stewart.
Wingers: Akuila Uate and Brett Morris.
Centres: Michael Jennings and Mark Gasnier.
Second receiver: Jarryd Hayne.
Halfback: Todd Carney.
Hooker: Kurt Gidley.
Props: Gallen and Keith Galloway.
Second row: Ben Creagh and Glenn Stewart.
Lock: Luke Lewis.
Bench: Anthony Watmough, Jamal Idris, Tariq Sims and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.
Big games are decided by the crucial 1, 6, 7 and 9 spine positions, and NSW Blues coach and selector Ricky Stuart got it horribly wrong during the 2011 series.
I cannot find a place for any of his starting spine players he chose in the deciding Origin III. All four are outclassed by their Maroon counterparts.
The selection of Minichiello was more incompetent than embarrassing, but the Blues will gain a huge boost with either Dugan or Stewart, who are both world class and arguably in the same class as Slater.
Jamie Soward and Mitch Pearce are both wonderful clubs players but can only ever be described as “handy” at the elite level. “Handy” is simply not good enough when you have to counter Jonathan Thurston.
The troubled Todd Carney has the god given talent to equal any player, and if he can get his head right and find his best form, he would be an automatic selection.
Jarryd Hayne is too good to be left out (as he was in Origin I) or put on the bench, and he certainly adds more to the Blues at second receiver than what Jamie Soward has. Importantly, Hayne and Carney are both freakish and would complement each other well and be a major worry for Mal Meninga who has not lost much sleep over the Soward-Pearce pairing.
Kurt Gidley is one of the best and fittest players in the world and could do a Cam Smith and play for 80 minutes offering an extra interchange.
Lewis is a better player than Bird and should start. I would add to the bench Jamal Idris, Tariq Sims and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs who are all impact players.
Gone would be Anthony Minichiello, Jamie Soward, Mitchell Pearce, Michael Ennis and Tim Mannah. Beau Scott and Greg Bird would also go despite the fact they both went well this year, but unfortunately there are players in their positions who offer more to the team.
So, there is my blueprint pipe dream for a winning Blues team. I would back this team to win more games than they lose, but sadly that is all it is, a dream.
As long as NSW have a dictator as a coach who wants to be sole selector and god, the Maroons will continue to have the edge.
The Maroons have lost Lockyer and probably Petero, but they will get back Shillington, Taylor, Te’o, Costigan and Crocker to consider and may introduce big Rooster prop Martin Kennedy along with future national rep player Matt Gillett.
Leading try scorer Ben Barba could be a bench consideration. The Maroons will lose young Raider forward Josh Papalii to New Zealand, although maybe the new IC will correct that dumb clause.
With a Queenslander tipped to be the new chairman of the Independent Commission, it is unlikely that NSW will get independent selectors.
johndoe
Guest
NSW will lose the origin again because the NSW selectors are a few clowns short of a circus.
Tom
Guest
You are right, Josh Morris has really developed esp after being in 2nd division for a time, he is looking awesome and B Morris at Fullback for the Dragons has been sick. I also believe Ennis is the right choice and I hope he can get under their skin he is certainly not shy in doing that he has had some practice on Mannering this year rubbing his face in after Matalino scored LOL. IMO Idris is almost a must for the bench and i agree again with what you are saying, he can play many roles and having those type of dynamic players is important - I hope you didn't get smashed by Idris in juniors ;p. Mateo is awesome and T-Williams is just a monster, I think he is the most physically strong person in the nrl right now. Mullen at Halfback this year is looking strong, i've watched almost every game from this year and last and he seems to have gone stronger this year - a classic halfback. I would be fine with any of these picks in the NSW squad this year. 1. Stewart - Hayne or Dugan (too bad he is injured maybe he can come back strong?) 2. Akuila Uate 3. Jennings or Hayne 4. Josh Morris 5. Brett Morris 6. Carney or maybe soward 7. Mullen or Carney 8. Paul Gallen (c) 9. Michael Ennis 10. Keith Galloway 11. T-Willaims 12. Luke Lewis 13. Glenn Stewart Bench options: Creagh, Bird, Kade Snowden, Watmough, Feleti Mateo, Tariq Sims, Tom L L, Idris last year was close, NSW were winning game 1 until the 72 minute or wateva and game two was won convincingly. I honestly believe now NSW can really win - the talent is right in NSW finger tips Ricky has just got to make the right selections.
Jake
Guest
Well probably it's because I haven't really seen much of Uate play this year personally and I've been watching both the Morris twins and they have both been on their game lately but I did have think about it over the weekend and in the end i probably would go Uate over J.morris but I also been thinking that Jennings is no superstar and it wouldn't hurt to try out J.Morris to replace Jennings for the centre position, I think that would be a killer line up for the backs. I've also been thinking that i would scrap Robbie Farah from Hooker he seems like he has some issues to sort out with the tigers at the moment and that he hasn't got the mentality for state of origin. Even though Ennis is an ***hole he does have the State of Origin mentality he's just got to worry about controlling the speed of the game rather than the control of speed of QLDs temper loss lol. If the NSW selectors are going to pick Carney then I'll have Jamie Soward at 5/8th for his kicking game and put Carney at halfback. I believe these two would be the ultimate combination. If not Soward then I would put Carney 5/8th and bring Mullen in at halfback. Yeah actually I agree I would have Mateo to replace Watmough and Williams to replace Idris. Idris is way too slow to be a centre, he is more of a foward. I used to play juniors against him and that he was best at doing,hitting up and running through the middle of defence. The only reason why I named him on the bench is that he would make a good subsitute for the forwards but also if any backs got injured he could comfortably fit in as centre thus still having a strong back line. So probably in the end I'll go with 1. Brett Stewart 2. Akuila Uate 3. Jarryd Hayne 4. Josh Morris 5. Brett Morris 6. Jamie Soward 7. Todd Carney 8. Paul Gallen (c) 9. Michael Ennis 10. Keith Galloway. 11. Ben Creagh. 12. Glenn Stewart. 13. Luke Lewis. Bench: Feleti Mateo, Tony Williams, Tariq Sims and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs. (if tony is suspended i'll go Idris)
Tom
Guest
I like everthing about your team except their is no Uate, any particular reason for that? Mateo - Sims - Tony Williams need to be the new guys in the squad in my opinion.
Lindz_e
Roar Rookie
1. Brett Stewart 2. Josh Morris 3. Jarryd Hayne 4. Michael Jennings 5. Brett Morris 6. Jamie Soward 7. Jarrod Mullen 8. Paul Gallen (c) 9. Robbie Farah or Michael Ennis 10. Keith Galloway. 11. Ben Creagh. 12. Glenn Stewart. 13. Luke Lewis. Bench: Anthony Watmough, Jamal Idris, Tariq Sims and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs. I would pick Carney for 5/8 but i think we need to give him one more year away from rep footy so he can concentrate on the sharks and keeping himself out of trouble, and we need to have an EXPERIENCED 5/8!!! I really liked the way Hayne has played at centre for us and he is no way ever going to be a 5/8 so that's why I had him at centre. I also think that Mitchell Pearce is overrated and that Jarrod Mullen would be the better pick.
Tom
Guest
yea they should def be in there, i also wouldnt mind K gordon from the titans, him and uate on wings they are so damn fast. Any other players u would recommend? These guys come to mind for me- Michael Gordan, K Gordan, Mateo, T simms, Idris, Farrah, B stewart
mitch(blus4lyfe)
Guest
yer like trex and him deffs should be there they must be blind if dont get picked , mateo makes space like all the time
Tom
Guest
Mateo looks like he plays for the kiwis cause he plays for the warriors. But yea Trex who did great in the recent 4 nations and meteo would be great for NSW 2012.
Mitch(blues4lyfe)
Guest
sorry :/ hes nsw , sorry i watched him play for tonga:/
Mitch(blues4lyfe)
Guest
mateo is nz not nsw he played for nz this yearm he has to wait ages to play for nsw if he wants to
Tom
Guest
Ya mateo is eligible and I think trex is too, i could be wrong. Watmough did good a couple of nights ago, can't wait for the next series.
Charles
Guest
Tom, I was just thinking the same thing about next year's NSW team. I think both Willams and Mato are ineligible as they play for Tonga or Warriors. I was looking at Anthony Watmough on Friday night and thought he would go well for NSW in the front row, where we are hurting a lot. We have abundance of 2nd rowers so it is good to strengthen the team in other areas. NSW has to do their homework if we are to get a competitive team, we need to get it right for once!
Tom
Guest
Guys who I think could make second row or at least bench for NSW are TREX Williams and Feleti Meteo, Metoe was seriously overlooked this year, next year if QLD win this so called competitiion will be a joke, NSW need to strike back hard.
Tom
Guest
BACKS Fullbacks- Hayne (if injured stewart, Dugan, or Mini) Wingers- Uate and Morris Centres- Jennings and Lawrence or Beau Scott Five eigths- Carney (if he gets back on track) or Soward (proved very good in game 2-3) Half back- Mullen or Pearce FORWARDS Hooker- Ennis (Top notch defense) Props- Kade Snowden and Tom L L Second row- G. Bird and Luke Lewis Lock- Gaalen Bench options: Glen Stewart, Kurt Gidley, Watmough. Galloway, Mannah, weyman,Trex Williams, Creagh, HUnt
Ryan Conners
Guest
Yeah true but he has long hair, acts like a girl so thats Samantha Thaiday
Ryan Conners
Guest
Charles done it
Tom
Guest
Believe Josh is QLD Beau scott at centre would not be bad, also Michael Gordon at Wing, versitile and consistent player. Im struggling to think of centres for NSW, to bad Matt Cooper discared rep footy, some that come to mind B Scott, Idris, Jennings, Gaz (also gone), Josh Morris- Any other suggestions? Beau Champion? Bench options: Glen Stewart, Kurt Gidley, Watmough, Galloway, Creagh, Tariq simms, Mannah, D Young
Tom
Guest
Ryan Hoffman is NSW man, checked it.
Tom
Guest
LOLOLOLOLOL I call sam thaiday Sam "third man in" Thaiday, love acting tough 3rd man in.
Tom
Guest
YES, insult, Hayne is sick at back positions, case in point= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnukLiLcgj4 "In the mixture of youth and experience it is silly to put two halves with little experinece together, such as Stuart did with Soward and Pearce" EXACTLY, my m8 once said they shuld put Johns on the bench LOL. Anyway "Watmough, Giddley, Stewart, Lewis, Hayne, Creagh, Scott, Gallen, Bird to name a few, as automatic selection and to build from there" Did i meantion Mullen and possibly Carney? Least there etching closer, but it has been absurd thus far as a competition.