NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley cannot afford to risk any player in the key position of fullback. This is regardless of whether or not Jarryd Hayne says he is right to play.
Hayne is battling the clock with a minor hamstring injury suffered in the Eels’ loss to the Roosters.
Ideally, Hayne should be in contention to be right for the game, given the gap between his injury on the weekend and Origin 2, but the team is selected this Sunday. Hayne will not get a chance to prove his fitness under game conditions.
Whoever is in the final NSW 17 as fullback must be 100% fit.
Given that Josh Dugan is arguably a better fullback than Hayne, Daley is in a great position. It would be too risky to start with Hayne and see him break down, with only have Josh Reynolds on the bench.
Looking at the injury itself, the question must be asked: why did he play for his club side after such a gruelling Origin I when he had a history of tight hamstrings?
Ricky Stuart and the Eels physios elected to gamble and play him off the bench which turned into an unmitigated disaster. Daley cannot make that same mistake.
If Hayne says that he is right to play then he should either play his normal right wing position replacing Blake Ferguson or be the utility on the bench replacing Reynolds. This will strengthen the Blues into Origin 2.
Hayne was wonderful in Origin I as he is in every big game and it is certainly worth giving him some slack, but not at the expense of the team.
To have the exciting Josh Dugan playing fullback and also have Hayne in the team is what I would have done upfront.
If Hayne plays on the wing and suffers a recurrence of injury, he can easily be replaced and the team’s structure will not be impacted. Don’t forget Reynolds was not even used in game one.
If Hayne played from the bench, he can actually cover more positions than what Reynolds does.
This is going to be tough a call by Daley.
The easy decision is to make Dugan the fullback, but if he also wants to play Hayne then he must sack either Ferguson or Reynolds after he told everyone they would be “sweet” for Brisbane.
What he cannot do is to leave the team exposed and not have a genuine fullback.
The incredible depth in NSW is evident with a world class player like Dugan being available for Hayne and if bad boy James Tamou is dropped after being caught drink driving in Townsville, Andrew Fifita will come straight in and many believe he is the best prop.
His figures are certainly superior after only playing 29 minutes and making 75m from nine hit ups and 20 tackles, while Tamou only made 52m from 42 minutes from his eight hit up and 21 tackles.
Despite all the fanfare, the Blues should be stronger for game two.
The eye
Guest
Changing the topic ever so slightly ScottW,what statistically or otherwise would stop Laurie from pencilling in Raider Fensom as Tamous replacement.Personally I think he'd really complement the side.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
bbqer FYI Laurie Daley had Dugan penciled in as the first choice fullback before he cut into the breezers
bbqer
Guest
Hes only a kid ay? Hes 23. Hayne is 25. At Dugans age Hayne had already one a Dally M, played for Australia and in a gf and over 10 times for nsw. So in my opinion Hayne is the future of nsw in the number 1. So you might as well get with the program, because dugan is more likely to get a run on the wing than fullback while ever hayne is around.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Dugan this year is averaging 183 metres per game and made 26 line-breaks in five matches (four for the Dragons).
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Obig The problem is we will never know 100% as he has a history with this injury and ideally it needs time. It is a risk to play him.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
bbqer Thanks for your question and happy to answer; Dugan IS world class in my opinion and I make a living from rating players. He is only a baby and never really had a top coach. I will repeat that peter OSullivan offered him over 500k almost 3 years ago and he is as good a judge as I know. I totally agree with his rating. He is a genuine fullback and when happy he is very consistent and can do things few players can do. I dont have the space here to go into his key stats over the years especially line and tackle breaks but he is the future for NSW at 1 so I suggest to get on board.
Obbig
Guest
Case closed. All have agreed for Hayne to don the No. 1 jersey. Let us pray he is fit before game time. Discussion should be based on 'if' he is not fit come game time. Then you can toss up the othe 1's.
bbqer
Guest
Please excuse my ignorance but how the HELL is Dugan world class? Because he's played 2 good games in a month? one of those being against Parra who has a team full of reserve graders?get real, He has played 1 game of origin and was pretty average. when he can stay on the park for a season without injury or breezers and push for the Dally M medal then maybe you could call him world class. But he is not a team man, he all about himself, that's the Raiders players wanted him gone. He is half the player Hayne is and has really done nothing in the game. Hasn't played finals footy, for Australia or in any big games except that one state of origin game. I think if your going to pick Hayne it must be at Fullback as that's where he is the most dangerours. Paul Gallen said hes the leader of the team. Thats pretty tough to do from the wing. As everyone saw in the first game is was one of the best on the field so there no way hell you would replace him with a bloke that shouldn't even get a look in for what he has done off the field or on it for that matter. Id pick Gordon over Dugan for sure. Better player, better bloke and better team man. But thats just my opinion.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
sledge I agree mate, NSW have some good options at fullback. Let me say the Raiders have a future star who doesnt play fullback but can. I noticed u like Robinson well Jack Wighton is a much better player as history will show.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Fellas, Let's be very clear; I am a big Hayne fan and I have no problem with him playing fullback when he is 100% fit and I am confident that he will not break down. I get it that many of you do not have the same high opinion of Dugan as I do and that is fine, but you have your head in the sand if you do not think he is in the top 13 players in NSW. Peter O'Sullivan is clearly the best recruitment guy in the NRL and he offered him over 500k 3.5 years ago when he was not that well known. To beat QLand and continue to stay on top NSW MUST have their best players when possible. Dugan is one of them and unlike Hayne, he can only fullback.
the 'real' NSWelshman
Guest
ScottWoodward.me your Dugan bias is quite disturbing. How can you say Brett Stewart has not been that good at origin level!! He scored two slashing trys in last years series & he was one of NSW better players in his previous appearances, whereas Dugan's only appearance for NSW was one to forget. You are kidding if you think Dugan is anywhere near Stewart & Hayne! I think you are the one that needs to visit OPSM mate. As for your comment that he's been the best player for the Dragons since joining......well that wouldn't be too difficult a task the way they have been playing. FYI (1) the best fullback in the competition is Billy Slater!! FYI (2) see stats below!!!
sledgeross
Guest
AT the moment we are blessed with plenty of quality fullbacks in NSW who are in form and good do a job if required at fullback, besides the usual suspects there are also Mick Gordon and Reece Robinson who have been in fine form this year.
Brett the manly fan
Guest
You put Hayne on the wing when you have one brett Stewart fit and healthy
The eye
Guest
Ha ha...disagree with Scott's little black book of stats and you'll be sledged to OPSM with me..that was just one of two he crucified in that game,by the way..an earlier poster touched on his inability to set up supports a la Reece Rob. ..there's your proof.Dont doubt he's potentially a wonderful player,but he's in a line at the moment.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
I'm sorry I stopped reading when you said Dugan was arguably a better fullback than Hayne. Let's have a look at how they match-up shall we. Hayne 2006 debut: 2006 Rookie of the year 2007 Origin and Australian debut. Brad Fittler Medal 2008 Brad Fittler Medal 2009 Dally M Player of the Year, Dally M fullback of the Year, RLIF Player of the Year, RLIF Fullback of the Year, RLW Player of the year 2010 Peter Frilingos Memorial Award 2012 Club co-captain Josh Dugan 2009 debut: Awards? Zip, zilch nada nothing 2010 Country debut 2011 NSW debut Hayne is a better runner of the ball, passer of the ball, kicker of the ball. He has better defensive positioning and is a player the Queenslanders are genuinely scared of. If Hayne is fit he plays at FULLBACK. No discussion, that's where he plays. Hayne hasn't played on the wing for his club since 2008. People want to pick Dugan due to a handful of good performances for St George. Yet Hayne has performed at a respective level for season after season and he's carried a club on his young shoulders. When Hayne faced off against Dugan a few weeks ago, Hayne showed how good of a defender and Dugan showed how selfish he is. Dugan had support inside him but thought he could beat Hayne. Hayne picked him up and back-slammed him. Dugan blew an obvious try there. Dugan is not a world class player as evidenced by the fact he has played 1 game for NSW and has never been considered for Australia. Hayne will be fit and ready to go come Origin. You don't restrict your best attacking player in Hayne by putting him on the wing, nor do you limit his game time by playing him off the bench. He needs to be around the ball consistently during the 80 minutes and fullback allows him to do that.
Chris
Guest
What bout Tolman????????
brett the manly fan
Guest
Greg should be playing on the wing for queensland...He would be like a secound fullback
The eye
Guest
Yeah,that try he scored in Game 1 carrying Greg Inglis and the full brunt of his shoulder AND Billy Slater over the line had all the markings of a very soft player...Haynes a train, and the house of pain- ask J. Dugan if he'll ignore outside supports and try and step around him again..try bombed,bomber picked up,back slammed and buried...he's our fullback,going nowhere,get over it.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
SS U are mixing him up with Matai
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Koomz Snowden and Tolman are both silly.....have another go