It seems like every year about this time we hear that NSW is ready to end Queensland’s strangle hold on State of Origin. Usually we read about half of the first paragraph of a story and start rolling our eyes.
However, despite the temptation to do so again, I still think that NSW can break the six year drought this year. Ricky Stuart last year coached the side with a new approach, and in his first series, forced a decider in game three.
This was after a Craig Bellamy coached blues side went down 3-0 in 2010.
For Blues fans, last year’s Origin series was an encouraging display. This year, there have been some stand out performers for New South Wales leading into the series.
The emergence of Paul Gallen playing as a prop with the ability to go forward for a staggering 80 minutes was amazing. Mitch Pearce was declared as the long term 7 to steer the team around, providing some much needed stability in the halves.
Another positive was the introduction of prolific try-scoring winger Akuila Uate. These players, combined with State of Origin consistent performers Greg Bird, Anthony Watmough, Luke Lewis and Jarryd Hayne, will form a strong Blues team.
In the NRL over the last 12 months, Tony Williams has become dominant playing in the second row. T-Rex has even earned himself a Kangaroos jersey. Tariq Sims has been establishing himself as a young wrecking ball for the Cowboys. In his representative debut for Country Origin, he scored a double and more than handled the step up in class.
These two could be influential off the New South Wales bench. Impressive prop James Tamou looks set to be picked after playing for Australia last Friday. Tackle busting machine Josh Dugan if fit will line-up at fullback. Chris Lawrence is fit after missing Origin last year and he looks set to defend Greg Inglis. Impressive for the Tigers over the last few years, he could well finally be the man to step up against Inglis for New South Wales.
Queensland has won six Origin series with the same 1,6,7 and 9 in place for nearly all of those games. This year, Queensland’s second greatest player behind Wally Lewis will not be there.
Darren Lockyer who has for so long been the man that has come up with the big play for Queensland has retired. Cooper Cronk will take his spot. The class player will join Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston in testing the blues like they do every year.
The spine for New South Wales looks set to change again with Todd Carney to be picked at 6, reuniting him with Mitchell Pearce. This is the same halves pairing that led the Roosters to the grand final in 2010.
The good news is that Carney has been playing in the form that saw him win the 2010 Dally M Medal. He has turned around the Cronulla Sharks and was a standout in the City Country game.
If the team New South Wales could field doesn’t make you excited for this year’s State of Origin series, then I don’t know what will.
It has been 6 years of Queensland dominance and it is time for New South Wales to go to war and win. Lockyer’s retirement is huge and a talented New South Wales side will be ready to pounce. Ricky Stuart nearly got the Blues there last year and I think the team will go one better in 2012.
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