BROWNIE: Hayne at 6 for NSW could be a masterstroke

Fair enough, the way I see it NSW does not have a gun half back and what we need is somebody to provide good clean ball to the likes of Carney, Jennings, Uate and Hayne and who better than the guy who played in the Grand Final with Carney. Peter Wallace, Mitchell Pearce and Jarrod Mullen are all hard working no frills halves. None of them are going to be a Joey Johns, Peter Sterling, Ricky Stuart or even a Brett Kimmorley and we can't expect them to be. Mitchell Pearce is the clear choice for me because he has the experience, had a great combo going with Carney at the Roosters and umm did any one watch the City Vs Country game. He is years ahead of Mullen if only because of his rep experience but I also rate his skill level much higher aswell...

I understood you perfectly Charles and I appreciate you taking the time to write such a long response, we just have different opinions, that's all...

I think you misunderstand what I am saying and what Ryan was trying to point out in saying they have to earn their jumper.What we seem to be doing is handing the jumper every time, to a potential who happens to have a few good games. Players like Idris and Dugan for example. What I am saying we need the experienced player until such times that we have a player ready to take over. When we had Jamie Soward come in he should have had an experienced 1/2 back to guide him along. The same applies to Pearce in fairness, it would have been helpful if had an experienced 5/8 with him. This is why QLD is so successful they have experienced players and then they blend in the potential players. NSW did better last year in some aspects by choosing some of the more regular players such as Gallen, Bird, Giddley, Watmough, Stewart and Lewis. For example if you give me Dugan or Minichello I would pick Minichello because I know what he can do and I know he has the experience in Origin not to let us down in both attack and defence. I also know Dugan has a lot of potential therefore I would him on the bench to groom him for the future. His defence is suspect and he gets injured a lot so choosing him would be a risk. This is the way I look at it and the reasons in my comments! However NSW are on a rebuilding period so hence I understand your point of view too In regards to Jarrod Hayne I would like to see him in the right centre rather than play 5/8 because I feel it would strengthen the team more. I would give him freedom to roam and attack at random and I also have him keeping Greg Inglis, quiet in defence.

Mac, your reply in saying that it's too broad to simply say "his general play was terrible" is fair enough. I watched the games live, and then watched them again all soon after. However, if you have watched them more than that, and noticed more than I did, then it would be arrogant of me to disagree with someone that has spent more time watching Pearce's performances. From my memory, Pearce's kicks all too often landed straight down Slater's throat, or out on the full, or didn't get enough distance, or were not tactically sound. If that is being harsh, I bow to your extended viewing of the games. Quite simply, he didn't perform, play or execute the way I'd prefer my number 7 to. That is subjective and an opinion, so I agree I can be called into question for how Pearce played. But in my humble opinion, he played poorly. His organisation lacked authority, and he didn't marshall his troops the way I'd like to see a halfback play. Nor did he didn'attack the line nearly enough, and his fifth option kicking was poor. I really can't be moved from that line of thinking. It's true, saying his rep jersey was handed to him was hyperbole. I take that back. But I still feel that he has been given an easier ride/journey than his actual performances deserve. I personally wouldn't have him as my NSW halfback, but that's just my opinion.

Charles you don't seem to have a crux to your argument and giving me your perceived definition of how a 7 should play doesn't do much to prove your point. Did you not notice that we lost miserably with all the old heads like Barret and co in recent times and the closest we have come to winning a series was last year with Pearce and Soward. I too think Ricky is too Hasty is resigning Jamie Soward to the scrap heap and I do see Carney as the best option at six along side Pearce but the reason we keep loosing has nothing to do with loosing our old heads as you put it. I think it's a given that anything I say is only my opinion and the last thing I aim to do is offend you but I do think you are being a tad romantic pretending that the old halves would make a difference when previous results suggest something very different...

Mac, I appreciate your opinion but to say my opinion is romantic rhetoric indicates you want to push your opinions onto people and not have the courtesy to respect other opinions, rightly or wrongly to your thinking! The fact remains the 1/2 back role is being the general, the organiser, the one that can steer the team around the paddock, thinking a few moves ahead, as Ryan has also indicated. Mitchell Pearce makes too many wrong options for my liking and he is not a thinker! As I said NSW has a big problem for the ½ back position, for now and the future, with perhaps the only two genuine ½ backs, Peter Wallace and Luke Walsh. To my mind they do not impress me enough therefore I feel Todd Carney, although a 5/8 may do the job, as he seems to do that something special that NSW needs. I also think Ricky Stuart really needs to think deeper in giving Jamie Soward the flick. He has all the skills and with the right encouragement to what he wants out of him, he can certainly be in the squad for years to come! This is the very reason why NSW keeps losing; we don’t have any old heads left, hence my comment about Hornby!

Saying his general play was terrible is a little broad for my liking. I'm guessing if NSW had defended better at the back end of game one and closed out the series in game two no body would be questioning his position. Go back and watch the entire series as I have done numerous times and you'll discover Mitch Pearce actually did very well. I also reject the notion that he ever had his Rep Jersey handed to him on a platter. Nothing comes that way in first grade Rugby League, whether your a fan or not it comes on the back of alot of hard work,,,

I don't believe that Mitch Pearce was "very good last year" at all. Yes, he had some moments, that you listed, but his general play was terrible, and his kicking game was woeful, and put too much pressure on the NSW side. If they're picking halfbacks because of their support play, the Blues are in big trouble. Pearce needs to be a conductor out on the field, and control the entire game with his talk, and more importantly, his kicking in general play. Whilst I don't doubt he has the talent to do that, he hasn't done enough (this year, or in last year's series) to warrant selection this year. You need to earn your rep jersey, not have it continually have it handed to you on a platter.

Sorry Charles but your romantic rhetoric doesn't stack up in the face of results. Mitch Peace was actually very good last year and was involved in almost every try NSW set up. Did you fail to see the deft kick he put up for Luke Lewis to score in game two or the beautiful cut out pass to put young Hoppa over in the corner. What about the support play he showed when Greg Bird made a break and Pearce went over in game one. We came as close to winning the series last year as we have since 2006 WITH YOUNG HALVES and I'm tipping us to go one better with Peace and Carney at the helm this year. Truth be known I would select Ben Hornby if that was a possibility but it's not so it's not even worth entertaining the idea...

Mac, that is the very problem why NSW has failed miserably over the years We continue to put young blood in and discard experience with the notion they are too old The most experienced and probably the best half back for NSW is Ben Hornby He would be in my side without a doubt but I am told he has stepped down from Origin So we put up with Mitchell Pierce and clearly he is out of his depth The beauty of experience you gain timing and need less energy to do the same job

I totally agree with dan Jarryd's unusual facial structure that consist of a snarl gives the perception he's arrogant. Not pretending to know Hayne's game but gee i don't believe any other fullback has versatility similar to Jarryd. Fullback, 2nd row, wing, centre & the halfs there aren't to many positions other fullbacks can cover. Apart from Locker In real time which fullback has had success in other positions? Greg Inglis, Darius Boyd & Jarryd anyone else?

Agree Mac, dont understand the anti-Hayne bias. He does much more for his team to win games than any fullback in the NRL bar Slater. Even in quiet games he throws the last pass in most tries. I think its a tall poppy thing to be honest, people not liking Hayne because he appears a bit like an arrogant jock. But as a NSW fan, he has to be in the side...

I have to agree wholeheartedly with Cool. That Grand Final was his stand out game, I watched every storm game and Greg had some very ordinary outings. believe me!

Jamie Soward should not be anywhere near Etihad Stadium come kick off time for Origin 1.

3 good games?? The storm won the comp in 2007 and Greg Inglis was the clive churchill medalist playing in jersey number 6.

No it's the players around him that don't put in the effort. He is the sole reason parramatta have been competitive in any of there games and the only reason Parra fans bother turning up to watch...

No he can't

Yes he's injured, it's kind of obvious and people like you who jump to the conclusion that he is "having a sulk" based on nothing really make no sence at all...

@ shybluemoon Watch Hayne when Parra have the ball. Its not just about stats, its the effort he puts in compared to what other players do. Compare Hayne to Slater and Thurston then get back to us. If Hayne put as much effort into his game than those 2 he'd be unstoppable.

If Hayne is lazy how come he has been amongs the highest metre makers in the comp every year? Or that he racked up 24 try assists and 18 line break assists last season? Or that he has spent the last three weeks playing 80 minutes of footy for his team on one leg?