If New South Wales have any chance of winning the 2012 State of Origin Series, then playing players outside their usual club position is not the answer. As a coach myself, the only way to pick a team to beat Queensland is to pick on form and consistency.
We must pick our halfback and five-eighth, and give them the responsibility to play their natural games throughout the series. New South Wales needs to stop swapping and changing teams so quickly.
NSW need to pick a squaf that will be there for years to come, so they can gel as a team. Pick them on this season’s form and once selected, leave them to play the three games, irrespective of the result.
Otherwise, Queensland will continue to dominate for years to come.
Years ago, New South Wales selectors should have selected a young squad that would perform together, much like Queensland have done through their period of dominance.
We cannot match Queensland unless we pick a team in their natural positions and give them the confidence of knowing they will not be dropped after one match.
Ricky Stuart’s out-of-position selections leave much to be desired – he may as well pick Paul Gallen at halfback and Danny Buderus at fullback the way he has been going.
If you want a certain player on the team, why play them in a position that they are not comfortable with? The player who should be playing in that position misses out on a representative jersey. This is the only way to select a winning team.
Queensland’s success is largely due to their team selection consistency over their period of dominance.
After six long years, New South Wales has nothing to lose. We need to pick our team and believe in them.
My last piece of advice for Ricky? If Jarryd Hayne plays five-eighth instead of Carney and Mullen, true Blues supporters will have every right to be disgusted.
Brett
Guest
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WILLIE MASON IN ORIGIN better then the crap props we have
ShyBlueMoon
Roar Rookie
Wing or not....leaving out NSW's most prolific try-scorer the last few years would be just plain stupid.
ShyBlueMoon
Roar Rookie
Hayne wasn't injured...he was just out of posiition. He's a running back, not a five-eighth
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Correct, when i coached junior rep teams the country selectors told me they look at FB and Wingers as being able to fill the same position. However after yesterdays game i think Jarrod Hayne is not in good enough form to oust Morris or Uate for a wing spot.
Carlos
Guest
Hayne was injured during city country, he should not have been playing.
Charles
Guest
Well said Shy Blue Moon, you some good thoughtful comments about the game!
ShyBlueMoon
Roar Rookie
This article is a waste of time. Hayne will not be NSW five-eighth, that issue is over with....Hayne must be in the NSW backline somwhere however. Andrew Johns played Hooker for NSW, Darius Boyd plays on the wing for Queensland, Billy Slater played on the wing for Queensland, Brett Mullins played on the wing for NSW, Paul Gallen at Prop for NSW, ....there is nothing wrong with picking players out of their regular spots as long as they are calculated decisions. We tried not playing a single player out of position in Game One last series...and it didnt work. We then played with players 'out of position' in Game Two and WON.
Jayden
Guest
Nsw need to pick aggressive origin built players like t-Rex Tariq sims and TLL and stop picking players like Ben creagh who is a very good club footballer but not an origin player my NSW team to smash the maroons Stewart,Morris,hayne,Jennings,uate,carney,Pearce,Gallen,buderus,Tamou,Lewis,Bird,stewart-TLL,Sims,Watmough,williams. Luke Lewis can be the utility
Pot Stirrer
Guest
its not rocket science, qld have been together for at least six years changing there squad only out of necessity likke an nrl club. not only do they have 4 ot the top five players in the world they are team thats been playing together on a regular basis. That is what NSW need to understand. I think ricky stuart does, he wanted carney last year becuase he is the best option only Carney ruined his plans. but leading into this series nsw's team is starting to take shape, I think brett stuart is a must for fb but the side overall is taking shap 1-Stuart? 2-Uate 3-Morris 4-Jennings 5-Morris 6-Carney 7-Pearce 8-J.Tamaou 9-Farrer? i agree with Tim Sheens the Aust Coach 10-Gallen 11-G Stuart 12-?? 13-Luke Lewis
Big_Marn2000
Roar Pro
"Ricky Stuart’s out-of-position selections leave much to be desired" You mean like his selection of Paul Gallen at prop (not his regular club position) in games 2 and 3? Yeah, that was a real flop.....
steve b
Roar Guru
Hayne will not play 5/8 going on the display of city v country but he must be in the side . And yes if we are to win Ricky has to pick a side and stick with it,, and yes putting players out of position is crazy ..And players should only be selected on season form not just one game . I really believe this is the year the blues can turn it around we have the players and with no locky,, this can only increase the chances .. If the blues can stay on top of the play makers Cronk,,Smith,,Thurston keep the mistakes down regardless of what all the so called experts say we can beat the Cane Toads... GO THE BLUES !!!
Haz
Guest
Craig Bellamy also played Greg Inglis at five-eighth as well. Melbourne still won games, but clearly Greg Inglis is a better ball-runner than ball player, and so he's a better centre or full-back than five-eighth. I'd say the same goes for Hayne. He's an okay ball-player, but a great runner. Play him at centre or fullback or wing.
SpartanSM
Roar Rookie
No way hayne gets picked at number 6 for origin, injuries and lack of form suggest otherwise. stuart would be stupid to put him there; there are a number of good halves the NSW team have available Mullen, Carney, Pearce, Soward thet just need to pick a combination and stick with it.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Darren Lockyer was once a fullback and turned into a brilliant 5/8. Maybe Stuart sees Hayne being able to make the move as well. Maybe not straight away but i think he was trying to pressure his club coach into moving him.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Darius Boyd has been playing wing for QLD, cooper cronk has been playing the bench utility role, inglis played plenty of games on the wing. Karmichael hunt played a few games at 5/8
Johnno
Guest
Be flexible, if Paul Gallen is the best prop in NSW pick him at prop end of story, if hayne is our best centre we msut put him at centre or at 5/8. NSW are bigger than QLD this year, Gallen, Tamou, T-rex, Tariq sims, TTLARS, Luke Lewis , all big men, throw in Jamal Idris too and size to burn in this NSW side . Heck bring back willie mason if you want even more true size. I'd prefer big willie mason to Weyman or Snowden.