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I was impressed with the Blues team selected for Origin One next week. It reflects a realisation that NSW are going to have to score a lot of points to beat Queensland.
There’s been a lot of discussion around a few of the more contentious selections: notably, the recently demoted Michael Jennings in the centres and the out of form Jarryd Hayne on the wing.
But both are attacking machines, very dangerous with the ball. And Ricky knows that the match is not going to be won by the Blues 8-6 or 10-8.
There will be a lot of points scored. So he needs players with attacking instincts to do the job.
There’s a lot of pace in this Blues team. It’s exciting.
One of the things I most admire about Ricky is his willingness to go out on a limb and take a chance.
His decision to move Paul Gallen to the front row last series made everyone sit up. It was a Stuart masterstroke, and with his big calls this time around, let’s hope he’s done it again.
The other thing about Ricky is that he rewards loyalty.
Jennings performed well for him last year, and while Hayne, by his own admission, is not playing great, he’s a proven Origin player and should rise to the occasion.
Having worked with Phil Gould as his assistant for an Origin series, I know first hand the value Gus places on ‘Origin players,’ those guys who seem to lift in intensity whenever the occasion calls for it.
Certain types of people perform really well at Origin level, even though they may not be best player in their position in the NRL.
Greg Bird is one of them. He’s a great player, but when he pulls on that Blues jumper, he just grows another leg.
Ricky Stuart has spent many years playing under and working with Gould and has absorbed many of his theories around the game.
He recognises that the intensity and the attrition rate in State of Origin is significantly harder than it is in Test football.
What I think Rick has done is, firstly, work out a game plan on how to beat Queensland, and secondly pick the best team to execute it. Not the other way around.
There’s no point in picking a player in form in a certain position if he isn’t the right guy to do the job against the Maroons.
Ricky’s side is quick on the edges and will be able to shift the ball laterally from the halves, both of whom have played together – with success – at club level.
I’m not concerned about the perceived lack of size in the Blues pack. The critics were saying the same thing last series, and the boys came within a whisker of winning it.
The addition of Tony Williams, probably on the bench, resolves most of those worries anyway.
He’s a huge guy, and surprisingly agile. He gives the side that extra size to compete against the likes of Dave Taylor. In form, he’s almost unstoppable, and Ricky will have him running directly at the smaller Maroons defenders.
No wonder William’s been the most sought after player on the market this year, along with Cooper Cronk.
This NSW side should give supporters some hope and belief that they can go out and beat Queensland this time, something that hasn’t always been the case in previous State of Origin series’.
I’m going to go out on a limb and tip NSW to win.
Former Dragons coach and player Nathan Brown writes an exclusive weekly column for The Roar. Brown, who played 172 games for the Dragons and coached them for a further 142 games, is currently the head coach at the Huddersfield Giants in the UK Super League.
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