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The knowledgable rugby league minds of The Roar have spoken and if the results are anything to go by, NSW selectors have some difficult decisions to make before naming their side at 5.00pm AEST on Sunday.
>> EXPERT REACTION to the NSW Blues team for State of Origin 2013 Game 1
Responses
We’ve received, tallied and analysed a fantastic 314 responses in just over 24 hours, which has blown us away. We know we’ve got some of the best opinions in the country when it comes to NRL, and a big thanks to all that have responded.
The walk-up starts:
Fullback – Jarryd Hayne
His commitment to the Eels might be questioned at times, but it seems nearly everybody wants to see Jarryd Hayne at fullback in Origin I after he received nearly 79 percent of the vote.
Hooker – Robbie Farah
Wests Tigers might be going like the proverbial busteds, but that hasn’t stopped Roarers flocking to Robbie Farah at dummy-half. Farah received nearly 90 percent of the total vote, with no other candidate even getting near double figures.
Prop – James Tamou
After his performances in the blue jersey last year, James Tamou looks a good thing to be given the nod again this year. 87 percent of you thought he was a runaway selection for one of the starting prop spots, and we’re thinking the selectors will agree come Sunday night.
Lock – Paul Gallen
It wasn’t ever going to be a question of ‘yes’ or ‘no’, simply ‘where’. Paul Gallen also picked up 87 percent of the votes as the number 13 nomination, and providing the Sharks captain continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury he’ll be there on June 5. But will it be at lock?
The likely selections:
Winger – Brett Morris
He might be facing a race against the clock as he tries to recover from knee surgery in time to be fit for Origin I, but that didn’t stop Roarers piling in to select Brett Morris on one of the wings, and he picked up nearly half of the total votes for the position.
Centres – Josh Morris and Michael Jennings
There was a few other contenders, but by and large the only two that Roarers wanted were these. Jennings received nearly 60 percent of the total votes in one centre spot, and Morris 43 percent on the other. Blake Ferguson was the only other contender for one of the centre spots and while there was some love for the Raiders flyer, it wasn’t enough to earn him a spot.
Halfback – Mitchell Pearce
Adam Reynolds might be steering the Rabbitohs toward the NRL Minor Premiership but it wasn’t enough for him to earn the nod ahead of Mitchell Pearce, who picked up 60 percent of your votes.
Prop – Tim Grant
His form for the Panthers might have been indifferent at times in 2013, but Tim Grant’s breakout performance in Origin II last year hasn’t been forgotten by Roarers, and he’s picked up only half of the votes for the other starting prop spot, with the Tigers’ Aaron Woods the only other contender who received support.
Second Rowers – Greg Bird, Luke Lewis
Roarers decided to go with what they know in the second row, choosing experienced heads Luke Lewis and Greg Bird, and with a combined 24 games’ experience between the pair, who can blame you? Glenn Stewart received just under 20 percent of the total vote for one of the positions, but it wasn’t enough to get him into the side.
The coin flips:
Winger – Nathan Meritt
He might not have gotten the nod so far in his career, but Roarers believe that Nathan Merritt is ready for Origin, and he picked up nearly a third of the votes for one of the starting wing positions ahead of Akuila Uate and Michael Gordon.
Five-Eighth – Todd Carney
It’s been the most contentious position for NSW for years, and this year seems no different. After appearing in all three games in 2012, Todd Carney has just done enough to earn the number six jersey this year, edging James Maloney by one solitary vote.
Bench:
There’s no place for any backs or utilities in the team, with Roarers selecting four forwards – Anthony Watmough, Andrew Fifita, Trent Merrin and Ryan Hoffman – to pound the Queensland pack into submission in game I.
Of course after narrowly missing out on a spot in the second row, Glenn Stewart could be also be a contender for one of those bench spots. Or would the archetypal utility, Kurt Gidley, be worthy of a spot in there?
Team for NSW State of Origin I, as selected by Roarers
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Nathan Merritt
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Brett Morris
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. James Tamou
9. Robbie Farah
10. Tim Grant
11. Greg Bird
12. Luke Lewis
13. Paul GallenInterchange
14. Anthony Watmough
15. Andrew Fifita
16. Trent Merrin
17. Ryan Hoffman
| Jarryd Hayne | 247 | 79% |
| Josh Dugan | 28 | 9% |
| Anthony Minichiello | 21 | 7% |
| Other | 16 | 5% |
| Akuila Uate | 74 | 24% |
| Michael Gordon | 47 | 15% |
| Nathan Merritt | 97 | 31% |
| Jarryd Hayne | 30 | 10% |
| Other | 63 | 20% |
| Josh Morris | 83 | 27% |
| Michael Jennings | 182 | 59% |
| Blake Ferguson | 39 | 13% |
| Other | 5 | 2% |
| Josh Morris | 146 | 47% |
| Michael Jennings | 100 | 32% |
| Blake Ferguson | 59 | 19% |
| Other | 5 | 2% |
| Jarryd Hayne | 15 | 5% |
| Nathan Merritt | 60 | 19% |
| Akuila Uate | 34 | 11% |
| Brett Morris | 150 | 48% |
| Other | 52 | 17% |
| Todd Carney | 127 | 41% |
| James Maloney | 126 | 41% |
| Josh Reynolds | 11 | 4% |
| John Sutton | 39 | 13% |
| Other | 8 | 3% |
| Mitchell Pearce | 185 | 60% |
| Adam Reynolds | 111 | 36% |
| Peter Wallace | 4 | 1% |
| Other | 10 | 3% |
| Robbie Farah | 273 | 89% |
| Michael Ennis | 22 | 7% |
| Kurt Gidley | 8 | 3% |
| Other | 4 | 1% |
| James Tamou | 266 | 87% |
| Aaron Woods | 16 | 5% |
| Tim Grant | 20 | 7% |
| Other | 5 | 2% |
| James Tamou | 31 | 10% |
| Aaron Woods | 75 | 25% |
| Tim Grant | 160 | 53% |
| Other | 38 | 13% |
| Luke Lewis | 107 | 35% |
| Glenn Stewart | 61 | 20% |
| Greg Bird | 117 | 38% |
| Other | 22 | 7% |
| Luke Lewis | 71 | 23% |
| Glenn Stewart | 48 | 16% |
| Greg Bird | 149 | 48% |
| Other | 40 | 13% |
| Paul Gallen | 265 | 87% |
| Trent Merrin | 11 | 4% |
| Glenn Stewart | 18 | 6% |
| Other | 11 | 4% |
| Kurt Gidley | 112 | 9% |
| Tony Williams | 49 | 4% |
| Anthony Watmough | 233 | 20% |
| Trent Merrin | 142 | 12% |
| Willie Mason | 97 | 8% |
| Jamal Idris | 36 | 3% |
| Ryan Hoffman | 115 | 10% |
| Tariq Sims | 110 | 9% |
| Aiden Tolman | 30 | 3% |
| Andrew Fifita | 155 | 13% |
| Other | 113 | 9% |
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