So it’s all at an end for Petero Civoniceva. The man of a thousand pronunciations is finally hanging up the size 15s and saying goodbye to a sparkling career.
I’m thrilled for him and would love it if he could get the send-off he deserves – a final premiership with the Broncos. I don’t, however, believe he should get an Origin send off this year.
He’s the best prop I’ve had the pleasure of watching during my twenty years – I even rate him more highly than his former brother in arms, Shane Webcke.
But his form this year hasn’t quite warranted an Origin spot.
With players like Matt Scott, Ben Hannant, David Shillington, David Taylor, Sam Thaiday and Nate Myles all in the mix (I haven’t seen enough of the Warriors to really know the form of another incumbent, Jacob Lillyman), it’s almost impossible to find a spot for him.
Scott is still the best prop in the world.
Hannant is back to his reliable best after a relatively quiet season last year. Shillington is as damaging as ever. Unlike last year, Taylor’s form can’t be ignored and a spot – probably in the starting thirteen – needs to be found for him. Thaiday is arguably the best back-rower in the NRL and can fill a prop spot in the rotation if needed.
And Myles can also cover back and front row as well as being a dangerous ball runner and tackler.
The big Fijian is an absolute piston up front for any team but, nowadays just lacks that edge that his younger counterparts possess. The only way he should get selected is if the team decides to leave Corey Parker out. Obviously, they don’t play the same position but, with Matt Gillett a “must-pick” this year, leaving Parker out would free up a spot on the bench opening up a space in the rotation.
To be honest though, my argument will fall on deaf ears.
This is because A) I think it’s safe to say Big Mal isn’t spending a lot of his time worrying about, or even glancing at, the opinions on The Roar, and B) After six consecutive series wins and boasting a dominant side basically across the park, the Maroons probably feel they can afford to have one selection based on reputation and loyalty.
Don’t get me wrong, I wish he could get that dream Origin farewell and he would, and will, do a fine job if and when he’s selected. His form this year, though, is just a little behind that of his contemporaries.
Injury or mis-selection is the only way he will get picked.
Onto the probable Queensland selection of another old hand in Brent Tate.
I’m firmly of the opinion Tate should, and will, be selected in place of Jharal Yow Yeh. The thing that’s baffled me is the amount of debate about it of late. I’d like to look at the prospects of four players I’ve heard mentioned in the running for the wing spot: Ashley Graham, Dane Nielsen, Ben Barba and Daniel Vidot.
Graham is a serviceable winger who can find the line, but is a fair way off Origin standard.
He’s only two years younger than Tate and not as reliable in defence.
Nielsen is an out-and-out centre. He’ll be a regular in the maroon jersey in the years to come but should never – unless he drastically changes his play – be selected on the wing. To play on the wing, particularly in defence, feel and positional play is vital.
We’ve seen Greg Inglis and even the great Billy Slater struggle with this at origin level in the past. Luckily for them, their attack was so devastating it covered their deficiencies. This is not something Nielsen is likely to do at the moment.
While I’m well aware Tate has been playing in the centres, not on the wing at the Cowboys this year, he has enough experience out wide at both club and representative level to wing it (that is some gold-class wordplay).
Barba on the wing is a ridiculous prospect. He’s a devastating fullback and, to a lesser extent, five-eighth. What he is not, however, is a winger. His lack of size and experience in the position are factors too great to overcome.
Vidot is the only one of the four with a legitimate claim. He’s young, big, strong, quick and plays in that position at club level. He’ll be a contender in the future and with a few more injuries might even see the field this year but I think, right now, Tate’s experience and defensive ability get him over the top.
A misguided selection in the form of one of these other prospects would be more damaging to Queensland’s cause than selecting Petero, but neither would help us.
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