Ricky Stuart’s arrogance could ultimately prove to be the catalyst of his own downfall. The Blues coach doggedly insists that Jarryd Hayne is a specialist five-eighth, claiming the Parra player has the credentials to become the Blues attacking lynchpin in this year’s Origin series.
To my mind, the notion is preposterous, an April Fool’s joke running a few weeks late. Surely, Sticky is pulling our collective legs or he’s setting up some madcap smokescreen hoping to mask the serious contenders for NSW’s No. 6 jumper. I hope the latter is the case.
Hayne has been tried at pivot before and failed dismally. He has hardly played for his struggling club team this season and contributed next to nothing in last Sunday’s Sydney-Country game at Mudgee. He ended up out on the wing for City which looked to punch a canyon-like hole in coach Stuart’s crazy plan.
Phil Gould suspects Hayne is carrying a knee injury and if that’s the case, how can be carry NSW hopes into battle at Etihad Stadium on May 23?
A fit and firing Hayne could be a powerful weapon for the Blues but his injury-plagued output this year over the first two months has been negligible. There is too much on the line in this series to tackle those marauding Maroons with hoped-for miracles, coaching whims or fancies.
Look, I realise we are in the midst of Stuart Season. He will say practically anything for a headline in a bid to whip up local fervour for the upcoming contests. But if he is fair dinkum and presses on with his Hayne brain idea, he is flirting with danger. Origin suicide – perhaps.
I say he should make a public declaration that he will sink or swim on his selection gambles. If they work, he’s in. If they don’t he’s out.
Origin football is rarely won by coaching master-strokes. It’s the toughest league series in any given season and it is won by simple tactics, straight-forward team selections and generous lashings of good old fashioned grit and grunt.
The Queenslanders have the formula down pat and their ever-increasing dominance tells the story.
Let’s take a quick look at Stuart’s possibilities for the six jumper – apart from Hayne.
The incumbent is Dragon Jamie Soward whose form this year hasn’t been exceptional but it has been sound. The coach spoke of ‘loyalty’ when he took on the NSW job but if Hayne is seriously in the picture, it seems that loyalty only refers to a couple of core players such as Paul Gallen and Kurt Gidley.
Sharks star Todd Carney has done plenty of good things to be a five-eighth front-runner but he is not nearly as dangerous as we saw in his Dally M year. Hopefully, he will be pulling the strings and dictating play for the full 80 minutes in the games ahead.
Newcastle’s Jarrod Mullen is another said to be in the frame but even though he has abundant skills and one game of Origin experience, week-to-week consistency is holding him back. He could do a solid job for the Blues if called upon but can he be counted on to win a game with a solitary flash of brilliance? Maybe not.
Warriors’ playmaker James Maloney is another Origin chance.
But however gifted he is in attack, he can be a shaky isle in defence when the big pressure is applied. Carney rarely misses his man and I firmly believe he should get the nod.
If Hayne somehow hits a purple patch and strings together back-to-back-to-back blinders, by all means pick him for the series opener but as a fullback or utility ace, not at five-eighth.
Please, keep it simple Sticky. Or step aside and let ‘naturals’ take their course.
steve b
Roar Guru
Do you really think he is going to play 5/8 ..... come on !
Tiger Tez
Guest
If NSW are to win, they need to get rid of Stuart. His style of coaching doesn't work at Origin (let alone club).
Roy
Guest
Mate, you really need to use more punctuation.
Jimbo
Guest
I think Hayne at no' 6 could have worked - provided he was in form & playing on 2 legs (as oposed to 1). He has great attacking ability which could have worried Qld. But he's not at his peak ... perhaps Ricky was testing the waters & hoping to give Hayne an opportunity to see how he'd handle it, & attain some confidence. And I think Carney off the bench would have been good too (he can cover several backline positions). 'Dan' is right ... still a long way before selection time. Regardless, Qld's main core is too strong - Smith, Thurston, Cronk, Slater & Inglis ... I'd argue it's the best RL team ever (not to mention Lockyer of recent years).
evan
Guest
Il think Sticky is too stubborn, as was C Bellamy for the five/eight department. I get the feeling he'll fall on his sword as well. Seven nil anyone?
Calvin Shoddy
Roar Rookie
Stuart is an idiot, Hayne is a fullback and the most dangerous player the Blues have. He's a proven Origin player and with him at 1 and Carney at 6 the Blues will finally have the firepower to challenge QLD.
M-Rod
Guest
The problem the Blues players have is they all try to satisfy their superstar egos and play like they have something to prove each time they get the ball, and want to make the next heroic line break etc... too much emphasis on individual brilliance and less on cohesive, supporting play that builds attack momentum that is the hallmark of the Maroons. The Blues must first conquer themselves...leave the egos at the door, adopt a more expansive and supporting culture & style of play, then we can be a chance in the series... until then all the issues of who plays where are just background noise...
Dan
Guest
Everyone knows the side isn't picked for another three weeks right? Anything could happen! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Mickren69
Roar Rookie
If NSW have any chance of winning the state of origin....than playing players out of position i feel is not the way to win im a coach myself if i was to pick a team to beat queensland than ill be picking my team on form and consitancy lets pick our half back and five eight and intrust them to play their natural games for the 3 state of origin games and lets stop this swapping and changing teams we need to pick a squad that will be there for years to come so they can gel as a team pick them on this seasons form and consitancy and leave them to play the 3 games or qld will dominate for years to come nsw selectors need to and should of years ago picked a young squad that will be together and perform together as queensland have done their domenance as a winning force will be hard to match unless we pick a team and intrust in there talents playing in there natural position the way Ricky Stuart is thinking he may as well pick paul gallen at half back and danny buderus as full back its just not the way it is just because u want a certain player on the team y play them in a position that there not comfortable in and a player that should b playin in that position misses out a rep side can only have that winning formular if the team is picked in my eyes it should be like qld has its winning streak and success over the years is because the team stays the same no matter what nsw has nothing to lose lets pick our team beleive in them and if Jarrod Hayne plays five eight when carney or mullen should be up for the position than myself as a true blue BLUES supporter will honestly be discusted and seriosly dissapointed in the nsw selectors ability to pick a winning team to bring qlds winning streak to an end......
Johnno
Guest
Sticky also has to confess what is he going to do with T-REX. The fans want answers if he will play in game 1. And still no 100% confirmation yet from Sticky . Not good enough.
AndyMack
Guest
Qld'ers are loving this. What a rabble the Blues have become.