NSW’s State of Origin I team takes place on Sunday evening, but we thought we’d give you the opportunity to become Laurie Daley (just for a minute!) and pick the Blues team. So tell us, who should line up 1-17 for NSW in State of Origin I?
Who do you think should be the side to run out at ANZ Stadium on June 5 and finally end Queensland’s seven-year hoodoo?
We’ll do the number-crunching and come out with a Roar NSW State of Origin team against the side who is picked by NSW selectors on Sunday night.
How do I get started?
To begin, scroll down the page and select a player at each starting position, plus the four bench spots.
We’ve gone ahead and provided you with three options at each position, but if you disagree with us and think a bolter might get into the lineup, select ‘other’ and let you know who you want in.
We’ve given you a handful of choices for the four bench spots, but ultimately the decision rests with you – temporary Laurie Daley.
Want to adopt a bash-and-barge strategy with four bulking forward? Go for it. Think NSW need an x-factor utility player or two? Your call!
Current NSW skipper Paul Gallen hasn’t played since picking up an knee injury against Newcastle earlier this month, but is expected to be fit to face the Maroons in Game I.
Question is, do you put him at the coalface as a prop, or will he be better served as a backrower?
If he does, as expected, come into the front row, will it be alongside James Tamou, or does Tim Grant deserve to keep his spot after last year?
Could Willie Mason come back in for one last tilt, and has Glenn Stewart played enough football to stand up to the demands of Origin football?
He might have been club-less a fortnight ago, but Josh Dugan certainly made us sit up and take notice in a dominant performance for the Dragons against the Eels on Saturday night.
Was it enough to earn a shock recall, and could his former partner-in-crime Blake Ferguson also take his spot in the Blues’ backline?
Just considering the makeup of that backline is giving us a headache. And who will steer the ship at five-eighth, James Maloney or Todd Carney?
Now over to you. Give us your thoughts and enjoy putting together the NSW State of Origin team for Game I.
Ak97
Guest
1. J Hayne 2. B Morris 3. B Ferguson 4. J Morris 5. N Merrit 6. T Carney 7. A Reynolds 8. J Tamou 9. R Farah 10. A Fifita 11. G Bird 12. P Gallen(c) 13. L Lewis Interchange 14. K Gidley 15. T Merrin 16. A Watmough 17. A Woods
Troy Vayanos
Roar Rookie
I'm not a NSW fan but I would be putting in James Maloney as 5/8 and definitely having Blake Ferguson in there somewhere. They weren't that far off Queensland last year and don't need to make many wholesale changes.
Ben
Guest
1. Hayne 2. Uate 3. Jennings 4. Morris 5. Ferguson 6. Maloney 7. Pearce 8 Gallen 9. Farrah 10. Tamou 11. Lewis 12. Bird 13. Grant 14. Gidley 15. Fifita 16. Watmough 17. Mason/Woods A big fan of uate. Arguably the best winger in the game. Extremely potent in attack and has improved his defensive abilities. If city/country does mean anything then he'd have to be picked
Tru Blu
Guest
1 Hayne 2 Uate/Taufua 3 Jennings 4 Morris 5 Fergusson 6 Maloney 7 Pearce 8 Grant 9 Farrah 10 Tamou 11 Lewis 12 Bird 13 Gallen 14 Fifita 15 Merrin 16 Watmough 17 Mason
Meesta Cool
Guest
Farah whinges too much. Gidley should be put out to graze and not sure that Robinson is a better full back than hayne, jury out on this one.
Sideline Commentator
Guest
South Sydney fan? Typical.
manly80
Guest
On form for the blues. Thier big 3 is minichello pearce and malony.. Have jemnings on the centers thats a good chance right there on current form... How ever id like to see renyold/renyolds.... Possible with merrit at fullback.
Devout Saint
Guest
1 Hayne 2 B Morris/Taufau 3 J Morris 4 Ferguson 5 D Williams 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Pearce 13 Watmough 12 Bird 11 Tariq Sims 10 Tamou 9 Farrah (c) 8 Gallen 14 Merrin 15 Luke Lewis (cover utility role if needed) 16 Grant 17 Glenn Stewart
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Nothing doing for the Queensland team ??? I'm sure the NSW's supporters would love to chance their hand at that ...
Maroon Blood
Roar Rookie
There would be nothing NSW would love more than to stick it to Queensland with a Big Willie...
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Oh Griffo :) The idea is we collate, interpret results, and then tell Laurie how wrong - or right! - he is.
Luke
Guest
Not sure how anyone can leave Woods out as he can play more minutes than any other prop mentioned and has played very well in a poor club side. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Chris
Guest
Haha agreed and well said. Not a page on the net is safe from someone naming their blues side
dubblebubble
Guest
Or next year.
Griffo
Guest
This article is a complete waste of time. It's perfectly obvious to anyone following rugby league on the roar that NSW supporters, given half a chance, will name their blues team in the comments of any article that makes the slightest mention of SOO. To dedicate a column to this is like having a column called," What's wrong with Mitchell Pearce? Have your say." Redundancy in its purest form.
Mango Jack
Guest
I'd forgotten about Hoppa, good call. Nice thought.
Pete
Guest
Hayne Uate Ferguson Jennings B.Morris Carney Reynolds Tamou Farah Gallen Bird Watmough G.Stewart Sutton Mason Lewis Grant Sutton off the bench! can fill any role If Farrah is injured can chuck Carney into Hooker
The Spectator
Roar Guru
And we get hoppa back, maybe after a season IMO he will go on to be the best centre in the game, natural freak. Poor kid has to play at Parra while they rebuild, imagine if Parra got falou as well, Hoppa, Falou and Hayne in one back line.
Mango Jack
Guest
Yep, they'll probably get Folau back next year, just in time for Tate to retire.
Mango Jack
Guest
As a 1 eyed maroon, I thought you would have picked Big Willie!