The New South Wales Blues have made two changes for Origin II, with Anthony Watmough returning to the side, and Tim Grant earning selection.
Jamie Buhrer has been left out of the 17, but was named as the 18th man, and Tony Williams was ruled out due to the injury he sustained in Origin I.
The team, and reaction to it, follows:
Brett Stewart
Whilst he struggled to have his anticipated impact in attack in Origin I, his defence was solid, and he positioned himself well at the back. The Blues would love to see him get more opportunities to test the Queensland defence, and I think his support play will be much improved for Origin II.
Akuila Uate
Much was made of the mistakes Uate made in coming off his defensive line too early. But upon reviewing the game, on a couple of occasions he actually had little choice. He was simply attempting to cover bad reads inside him, particularly from Todd Carney. He looked dangerous in attack, and Stuart will have his right hand side better prepared in Sydney, so expect Uate to bounce back.
Josh Morris
I thought Morris had a very solid game in extremely difficult circumstances. Despite the Blues well documented issues done their defensive right hand side, Morris held his own. He would love to see more ball in game II to show off his real talents: size and speed.
Michael Jennings
Whilst it’s hard to overlook his costly brain snap that earned him 10 minutes in the sin bin, Jennings actually had a terrific game in Melbourne. He defended well, and made plenty of threatening runs in attack. I’m sure he’ll be keen to repay his teammates and coach.
Jarryd Hayne
There are three certainties in life. Taxes, death, and Hayne performing at Origin level. Consistently the Blues best over the years, Hayne was once again in game I. Has earned automatic selection for the rest of his career. Ok, that’s hyperbole, but you get the point.
Todd Carney
Carney was completely and utterly overawed in his Origin debut. Looked nervous before the match, and played nervous during the match. Nothing highlighted this more than his poor kicking – both in-play, at goal, and kicking for the sideline off a penalty. He did settle down late in the game, and will be better for the experience. Or so the Blues hope.
Mitchell Pearce
Surprisingly received some criticism from certain quarters after the opening match of the series. I thought he played pretty well, and I was especially impressed by his decision to take control of the team once it became apparent that Carney was struggling. However, as the executor of the Blues attacking strategies, I would suggest not kicking down Tate’s throat.
Paul Gallen
Despite his running battle with the referees, Gallen put in another typically brilliant performance, tackling and running hard all game long. Would be keen to concentrate on simply doing that again, rather than arguing with officials.
Glenn Stewart
Queensland did a brilliant job of pushing up on him when he received the ball, taking away his ball playing ability, something the Blues were relying on. He still got thought a mountain of work, but will be looking to have a greater impact in attack at Homebush.
Greg Bird
Forced the odd pass, and depending on which side of the border you’re from, he directly or indirectly started the melee. But he was otherwise sensational. Hit hard in defence, and was very dangerous in attack, particularly when stepping off his left foot. The Blues will simply ask for more of the same from the Titan.
James Tamou
Wasn’t exactly overcome by the occasion, was he? Despite playing in his debut Origin, Tamou was one of the best players on the park. Strong, athletic, and with a thirst to get involved, Tamou will be wearing the sky blue jersey for many years to come.
Robbie Farah
Despite all the question marks and doubts, Farah was absolutely brilliant in Melbourne. He supplied his usual potency and options in attack, but also worked hard in defence. He had his momentum halted when he was taken off, and should play the full 80 minutes in game II.
Tim Grant*
I thought Grant might be a victim of unfortunate timing, with the Panthers bye on the weekend meaning he would be unable to make a last minute bid for selection. However, the Blues need for some added size sees the young prop get the call-up. He’s been in very good form for Penrith, and provided he can control his nerves, he’ll add some toughness to the NSW pack.
Interchange:
Luke Lewis
Got through a tonne of work, and often found himself playing a little more in the middle of the park than he’s used to, primarily due to the Blues lack of props. However, it seemed to slightly diminish his effectiveness, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him playing a little wider in Sydney.
Anthony Watmough*
The Manly backrower should have been in the team for the first encounter, but belatedly gets his chances due to the injury to teammate Tony Williams. Whilst he never suffers for motivation in Origin, he’ll probably play with a slight chip on his shoulder. That’s bad news for the Maroons.
Ben Creagh
Wherever he’s keeping the photos of the NSW selectors in compromising situations, it’s clearly a very secure and safe spot. Creagh has been completely ineffective at Origin for some time now, yet keeps getting picked. I’m actually being unfairly harsh on a good player. In all fairness to Creagh, he can be very effective running out wide. Yet Ricky Stuart keeps using him as a prop.
Trent Merrin
Still yet to establish himself in the Origin arena. It’s not that he played bad in game I, it’s just that he had such little impact. He needs to either have his role more clearly defined, or needs to study some video and decipher how he can best contribute to the Blues cause, because he’s been little more than a passenger in two games.
Those missing out:
Jamie Buhrer
It’s still a head scratcher trying to figure out why Buhrer was selected for Origin I, and why he even made it onto the field. He clearly didn’t have a role, and whilst not his fault, it’s therefore a sensible decision to drop him from the 17. He was named as the 18th man, somewhat surpsingly.
Aaron Woods
Woods has done everything but demanded to be picked, despite his relatively young age. The Tigers resurgence is due to many factors, but none more so that the form of their young prop, who has tightened up his defence, whilst showing plenty of talent in attack. Both qualities could have been used by the Blues, and Woods would have also provided NSW with some much needed size on their bench.
Ryan Hinchcliffe
I rate Hinchcliffe very highly, but a utility player was proven to simply not be required in game I. Changing who that utility player is, therefore makes no difference. Farrah and the halves play 80 minutes, so there is zero need for a utility player on the NSW bench. The Blues selectors seem to have finally learnt this from game I.
Keith Galloway
The Blues were found to be lacking a bit of bulk in game I, and Big Keefy from the Tigers certainly provides that. He would have also helped the Blues match Queensland’s bench behemoths. However, Galloway is not the most mobile big man, and selectors may have been wary of the Maroons targeting him when the game opens up.
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs
If the Blues want size, then look no further than Big Tom. Surprisingly athletic despite his enormous frame, Learoyd-Lahrs and Tamou could form a dangerous combination for the Blues. I would have selected him in Creagh’s position.
Feleti Mateo
The Blues need to do something different, and need to look more dangerous in attack. Mateo is the type of x-factor player that can win you a match. He also would have also provided five-eighth cover should Carney struggle again.
MORE ORIGIN COVERAGE: State of Origin 2012
chicken do
Guest
that was morrises job, to stop gi, and he did a good job, he had a way beter game than uata, in attack and defence, uata may have scored the first try, but that was the only good thing he done, and thats rubbish anyway, uata shouldnt have come off his wing, when defending on the wing against queensland, you must never leave it unguarded.
NSW aus rugby league birthplace
Guest
Agreed, he stunned our attack and destroyed momentum for us with his stupid decisions and kicks, he also went missing in defense and i rememberat one stage Buhrer was looking for him on a 5th tackle to find T-Rex hahahahahaha, even Sticky said he needed improvment after that game.
pete
Guest
The Lahrs things is a joke right? He has been one of Canberras worst, and that is saying something.
Ceebow
Guest
Everyone questioning Uates defensive game is wrong and is not the main problem. 1ST TRY - Morris was the one that left Uate isolated defending Slater and Boyd, Carney and Stewart had the decoy run from GI covered but Morris got involved anyway instead of covering SLater, had he trusted Carney and Stewart and focused on Slater this would of slid Uate over to Boyd. If Uate didn't run in, Slater would of got on the outside of MOrris to score anyway. 2ND TRY - Once again Morris is too busy worrying about the decoy from GI even though GI's line was running toward Stewart again, you can see morris change direction and stepped back inside against the flow of the sliding defensive line which once agin left Uate on his own, had Morris left GI who was already covered by Stewart and slid with the defensive line, Uate would of left Thurston to MOrris and concentrated on Boyd. If you watch the replays you will see that Morris is easily sucked in by GI whhich was a huge weakness and the reason they kept attacking that edge instead of the left hand side even with a missing Jennings. Simple centre defensive errors from Morris which left Uate gambling on running in to shut down the set plays.
Gary McDonald
Guest
Woods is to young I would go with Bryce Gibbs. He is now in his prime and yes I am a tiger. Creagh is in the team because he plays for St George and I am suprised there are not more dragons and roosters in the team like previous years. Who runs the NSWRL people which two clubs???? Tim Grant I am not suprised with Phil Gould invloved with Penrith and is a NSW Legend. Origin is not a place to blood young footballers especially forwards. Put men who are in their prime.
jdubya
Guest
Have you been living in a cave since 2004 or something? Anasta has been horrible for the Roosters for a long time, his only good season was in the back row in 2010, and Pearce has been leading that team by himself for years (look at what happened when he had a competent 5/8 outside him). It makes me sick that people are slagging off on Mitch and keep promoting Anasta, the man is a pretender as the Tigs will find out.
Michael/Brisbane
Guest
It doesn't really bother me whether Hayne's there or not, as long as pierce is your halfback then we're (QLD) sweet.
Charles
Guest
As you rightly pointed out in your comments Barry, it indicates the selection process and having a full time coach has not met expectations. To my mind we could have done so much better and a lot earlier then what we have done so far. I support the right for any coach to nominate the team he wants but I believe he should not have the final decision and for many reasons, for example it could lend to favouritism and so forth. Perhaps we need to have something like a panel of three experts to make the final decision. The coach submits his team and his game plan to the panel outlining as to the reasons why he needs those players. The panel examines the game plan and the team list and comes back to the coach who they believe should be the team. The coach can appeal before the final decision is made! Perhaps then we may have a more consistent approach.
Mac
Guest
Your from Brisbane Michael, of course you wouldn't want to see Hayne in the NSW team. Duh..
Charles
Guest
Hayne is a type of player that gets thrown from pillar to post with everyone having great expectations of him. His team is not functioning at the moment so it would be unfair to judge him on their performance. Sometimes he does switch off so needs to be in the thick of things. Teddy Goodwin was like that, on his day he could turn a game at the click of his fingers and Hayne can be like that.
The Barry
Roar Guru
For the record I actually think it's a good side and better balanced than the Game 1 team but with the ONE change it dramatically alters the make up of the side. It's not just the one change in personnel, it's the flow on effect to the structure of the team that goes against what Stuart did for Game 1. I'm not playing down the significance of Williams' injury - he was a 'must have' for mine for Game 1 as was Watmough. Stuart has replaced a utility with a 6th backrower and an impact bench player with a toiling prop. You don't think that shows any sort of inconsistency? That's on top of Stuarts pre-Game 1 comments about not picking an injured Watmough. Buhrer is only a utility if you count not being able to play any position particularly well as being a utility.
Michael/Brisbane
Guest
That may be true, although I try not to let my personal feelings cloud my judgement - I hate Greg Bird but still think he's a great player. It's just that I remember Hayne when he burst onto the scene and have followed his career thus far, and I have found him to have not lived up to the hype. Fantastic talent, but lacking the effort and drive.
Charles
Guest
I am not sure Michael if you are disputing his talent or his personality? I have no time for Justin Hodges personality but he certainly is one of the best centres around in the NRL!
Michael/Brisbane
Guest
Still, I think your drawing a pretty long bow. Hayne for mine is a better version of Hodges. Great talent, but at the end of the day he's just a show-pony who's all about himself.
eagleJack
Guest
Never said Buhrer is similar to Gidley. It's just that he is a utility and we seem to have a fascination with having one on our bench. QLD didn't go with one. That selection was a mistake and is our ONE change. With that one change and losing T-Rex to injury we have had a small re-shuffle and as such the team is slightly different. We lost a big impact player, the likes of which cannot be replaced. Idris? Please. You cannot play down the significance of the T-Rex injury. Watmough may very well have been brought in regardless for Buhrer even if T-Rex was available. His injury has improved since the Broncos game. Atleast now they know what they are dealing with. Ricky made a blunder with Buhrer and he has admitted as much. Yes, Grant has done plenty since Game I. He took the field for starters after being injured for most of the year. In the Cowboys and Manly match he proved his mettle. No doubt he will step up.
Charles
Guest
Michael, I think you need to read what I had said before making the comment you did. I had said Hayne potentially is one of the best and that he reminds me of a Langlands. Potentially is what he may be able to do and not that he is doing it!
Mac
Guest
He is without doubt the key factor for mine and if he fires NSW win..
Charles
Guest
You are correct Barry that the Morris and Stewart brothers have not performed to their best but these four have Origin stamped all over them. Take the Morris boys, who are big, strong and fast and hard to contain given room to move! Both along side Hayne have yet to hit their peak therefore would be automatic slection in my view. Brett Stewart is the best all round full back for NSW and the combination with his brother are what NSW needs. Providing Ricky Stewart keeps these players and builds on it we will be in striking distance.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think they will be competitive - is that enough though? It's not just one change at all. 2 props to 3. Gallen - prop to backrow. Lewis onto the bench. Watmough not wanted for numerous reasons, now in the side. No "utility" on the bench No impact forward on the bench In what way is Buhrer similar to Gidley? If you want an impact player off the bench who will only play a few miuntes - what about Idris? What about Mateo? I'm ok with Grant being selected but has he done that much more since Game 1 to play himself into the team? Has Farah done anything more to prove that he was an 80 minute player than he'd done before Origin 1? One change???
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
What I see as NSW's biggest problem with their selections over the past few years is an apparent lack of team style. It would appear that the selectors are simply trying to choose the best 18 players from NSW and shape them into a team (thus playing many players out of position) rather than decide first on a style of play that could defeat QLD and then choose the best players in each position to suit that style of play. In about 1986 the NZ All Blacks did just that - they created a team with a particular style of play in mind and choose players they thought could do this. In some instances the selections were unpopular as some of the most popular players missed out based on the selection criteria, however this was soon forgotten when the team won the 1987 RWC.