Although I’ve long been an advocate for pulling the plug on the wheezing, tottering old mule that is the annual City-Country game, there were some edifying moments to come out of Sunday’s match.
These were in relation to the makeup of the 2012 New South Wales squad.
The NRL is the best rugby league competition in the world, therefore we certainly don’t need a contrived, lower-level representative fixture to ‘assist’ in the selection of the Blues team (there are more direct ways to grow the game in the bush).
That said, certain players made me review my recent suggestions for the 17 to wear sky blue this year (Ben Barba no longer among them, for my regular readers), while other men ruled themselves out.
One of the standouts for me was BJ Leilua, not having been on my radar at any stage to this point. He reminds me of Justin Hodges – big and skillful, a handful for the opposition.
Reliability is a question mark but right now Josh Morris is the only man to have sewn up a centre position; he was strong again on Sunday. It’s Michael Jennings v Leilua at this stage for the other spot. Chris Lawrence still looks two yards slower in 2012.
I had Brett Morris on the wing with Uate, but Blake Ferguson is making me think twice. Morris is a superb finisher but Ferguson has him beat for that touch of brilliance which can be the difference in a tight game. I’ve said before that New South Wales needs to prioritise attack over reliability, so Ferguson might get a look.
Jarryd Hayne confirmed what I’ve been saying for some time now: the man is slow and hurt, providing none of his former spark. He’s been living on reputation, with the media and fans eager to affirm a talent that is currently absent.
Todd Carney buried him for five-eighth, and he doesn’t have the speed to play fullback right now.
One of the big stories from this game for me was Mitchell Pearce. Finally this man showed me why others have been lauding him for so long. He completely outplayed my pick for NSW, Jarrod Mullen, with superior kicking, crisp passing and even an occasional dart at the line.
Overall, he displayed presence at halfback, an intangible quality which seems necessary at Origin level. He doesn’t appear to have a challenger for the No.7 jersey at this stage.
Tariq Sims is a monster and now is pressing intensely for a spot. If he cracks it, it should be as a starter; New South Wales needs to assert itself early against the reigning champs.
Tim Mannah, a man not in my 17 before Sunday, is one of the few props going around who returns kickoffs at full intensity, something strangely missing from the game this year. He was bruising in Mudgee and might change my mind, completely outplaying my pick Michael Weyman, who looked flat.
Having said all that, it’s hard to assess players’ performance when they’re simultaneously trying to impress selectors, avoid injury, and play for a team to which they feel no allegiance, whatever they might say.
The biggest development was what appeared to be the beginning of Bill Harrigan’s crackdown on the 10 metres and the wrestle, putting Leilua on report for an ugly arm twist. May the referees continue to blow the whistle and be the new sheriffs in town when hostilities resume in the NRL this week.
Trent Kyle
Roar Rookie
Josh Morris can't handle it defensively....Lawrence is the man to play on Inglis with Jennings the other center
Charles
Guest
An excellent question that deserves to be looked at more closely! Jarrod Hayne has never let NSW down yet we have shifted him from pillar to post and some bag him to boot. With all the shifting in positions, it is hard for him to be a great defender and therefore he can be caught out at times. Despite that he should be the first in Origin he is a freak when he is allowed to roam It is for the coach to work out how to utilise his ability, which must be running with the ball in his hands and having the freedom to move. Fullback will allow him to do that and he has already proven that he is hard to contain when he does. Yet, the best position for Jarrod Hayne to my mind at this stage of his career is the centres for the simple reason that he can work on his defensive skills much more. Irrespective if he is in the centres or fullback for NSW, I would let him roam anywhere he wants to go and let him run on his instinct. He is wasted as a winger, despite having played well there! In regards to 5/8 he would have to do a lot more defensive work and therefore sap up too much of his energy for his running game.
Dan
Guest
"he's got everything Ben creagh has without the baggage of being Ben creagh" haha that's gold I will be using this line! :) -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Gareth
Guest
Still not convinced on Pearce. He did some good things yesterday, but was barely sighted in the second half - and he also threw in a flashback to his famous "forward pass ten metres out from his own line" from Origin 1 last year. I wouldn't say that either team looked particularly well organised either. He *was* leaps and bounds ahead of Mullen though, so I think we can safely scratch him off the list. The big surprise for me was Josh McCrone. He didn't get many minutes, but his service from dummy half was superb, and most importantly fast. If we hadn't just lost Campo for the season leaving us scratching for halves, I would have liked to see him have a run in the 9 for the Raiders. Tariq Sims looks ready. I would have had him last year anyway. He's got everything I used to like about Ben Creagh, without the baggage of him actually being Ben Creagh.
Gareth
Guest
I have to agree with that. Even in the couple of games where the Raiders have absolutely diabolical, Ferguson has always put in 100% and is playing with a lot more maturity than previous seasons. Most surprising for me has been how often he's been involved in lead up play, given his role as a finisher. I think he's worth a chance. Granted it's a risk, but it's not like the "safe" options have ever really worked.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Been giving it some more though and i think we could end up with Gidley at F/B with Morris and Hayne on the wings. I hope Hayne can get fit becuase i thought he looked the worst on field yesterday and he is so much better than that. Hes prob got to many ppl in his ear telling how to play and its confusing him.
Damo
Guest
I think Hayne might be under real pressure to make the Origin team now. Not only is he carrying an injury but he seems to suffer from not having a definitive position. It's pretty unfair on him in some ways. Is he a fullback? Winger? Centre? Five eight? He needs to play one spot so he can settle/grow into a role.
Haradasun
Guest
It seems with the pace of origin these days, you need to have someone who can come on and take some pressure off the dummy half role and Farah can also fill that utility role at a pinch if one of the backs gets injured. With Gallen/Watmough/Lewis/Sims/scott/Creagh/Stewart/Williams all capable of playing 80 mins, do we really need that many back-up backrowers? Though lets not pick Creagh again, please! My best guess was that they were looking at Hinchcliffe v Farah for the bench role and that Farah would be in pole position for it
Will Sinclair
Guest
You wouldn't think they'd go with two specialist hookers (although Farah can play in the halves if they're desperate). You'd be better with a Hinchcliff as backup wouldn't you? He can play in the back row as well as hooker.
Ticker
Guest
As an avid Raiders fan I can tell you that Ferguson has been sublime this year. He has managed to curb those errors in his game, particularly under the high ball. He is reaping huge benefit from playing outside Shaun Berrigan - they have forged a good partnership out wide, especially in defence. I was disappointed to see Daniel Vidot leave last year, mainly because of his carries coming out of his own 20. Never mind, because Ferguson has stepped up and killed it in that role this year. Blake Ferguson v2012 is a far more balanced winger, and has vastly improved his game in all aspects of wing play, without losing that outrageous element to his style that people pay to watch. If NSW want help to snap out of their funk they could do worse than pick him.
Haradasun
Guest
Will they go with Buderus to start and Farrah off the bench? I doubt whether Buderus can go 80mins these days in origin and Farah could certainly bring something off the bench. I'd love to see Brett Stewart back at fullback, but he only has 3 weeks to get form back after injury. Will the selectors gamble on Brett Morris at fullback considering his form this season? With the injured Hayne out on a wing? What is the matter with hayne, he looks like he can't even run? You would have to think at this stage Josh Morris and Jennings are the centres?
Renegade
Guest
At the moment Will, i personally think his behind the pack of possible selections i've listed and isn't in contention. He didn't have a great start to the year obviously due to the injury....i've also left Jason King and Merrin off my list who are getting thrown around as possibilities but i wouldn't opt for either of them as i don't think they can handle the pace of rep footy.
Jason Cave
Guest
If NSW selected Hayne at 5/8 it would be a big boost to Queensland, who have Thurston and Cronk to deal with him. Hayne is not another version of Brett Kenny.
Will Sinclair
Guest
Yeah - thought Douglas was very good too Renegade. And I ultimately agree that Woods is not ready... His time will come (and you can see why the Tigers let a couple of props go to Cronulla so they could keep him and Groat - who was dominant in the U23s SOO.) Interesting that you left Galloway off your list of potential props? Surely he's in the top 8 props in NSW?
Will Sinclair
Guest
Nice post, Barry. And I agree with most of what you say. Despite his great performance, I agree that Woods is not yet ready for Origin. Maybe it would be a good idea to pick him as 18th man though, so he can get into camp and start to experience the Origin build up? Pearce and Carney pick themselves - agree. Hayne is not a No. 6 - agree. Sims must be there - agree.
Renegade
Guest
If that's the basis for the selection - than Luke Douglas wins hands down as he was the best prop on the field yesterday. Only played 40 minutes...almost 20 minutes less than Aaron Woods yet Douglas made 12 hitups for 125m and 25 tackles and we know he can play close to 80 minutes if needed. Woods isn't ready just yet, he gets out played by other props on a weekly basis in the NRL. I think he is a year or two away from Origin but will certainly be a blue and maybe even a kangaroo by the end of his career. The first prop picked will be a backrower and captain - Paul Gallen. I think Tamou, Douglas, Weyman, Mannah, Lars, Woods and Snowden will fight out for the rest.
Renegade
Guest
I'd rather Hinchcliffe than Farah....his not upto the level past City-Country.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Pearce and Carney have locked up the halves positions. You can't do more than play what's in front of you and Pearce was outstanding. I've been saying for a few weeks that he's been playing a lot better than he's been getting credit for. Hayne cannot be picked at 6 for NSW. End of story. Woods was outstanding although I'd hesitate to throw a 20 year old prop into the Origin cauldron. He'll be something else in a few years. At 20 he's still got a lot of filling out to do. I'd have no complaints if he was picked though. Tariq Sims must come off the bench for NSW. Hinchcliffe must now be regarded as a back rower who can occassionally fill in at hooker rather than a starting number 9. I love the City v Country game. I think some of the performances above shows the value of this fixture in terms of NSW selection. While it's not a genuine selection trial (ie selection is not solely determined by performance in this game but by a combination of factors such as playing style, NRL form, etc) it's cleared the waters a lot in terms of fringe players. Plus it was a bloody exciting game. It certainly looked like it meant a lot to the players out there.
The Barry
Roar Guru
There were more than just Tigers players out there Will. Pearce is the son of one at least... Lawrence has had dreadful luck with the timing of injuries.
Dan
Guest
Who would you pick at the back big marn? Stewart, Dugan both injured -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.