After a strong showing last year, New South Wales finally look ready to end their State of Origin losing streak.
For the past eight years the Blues have looked slow and sloppy and the Maroons have easily dominated them in the middle.
With warhorses like Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price dominating at the start of the reign, to players like Matt Scott and Ben Hannant and now the new boys like Josh Papalli and Martin Kennedy, the Maroons have always had at least a pair of metre eaters in the squad.
Keeping the squad mostly the same throughout the past eight years has been key to Queenslands success, with them only making changes mainly through injury and retirement.
It is now up to NSW to try to put virtually the same team on the ground throughout an entire series.
Throughout Queensland’s eight series dominance, NSW have gone through four different coaches, while Queensland has had one in Mal Meninga and it is quite clear that NSW have used more players throughout the past eight years compared to Queensland.
To be successful, the Blues need to pick a squad and stick, otherwise the Maroons will continue to annihilate them year after year.
My best team is below, with justifications as to why I picked them.
1. Josh Dugan – if he can stay out of trouble and play well.
2. Brett Morris – great winger, deserves this spot.
3. Michael Jennings – speed to burn, good player.
4. Jarryd Hayne – one of the best in the comp, in centres after World Cup performances in the centres.
5. Akuila Uate – he’s big, smart, fast and extremely hard to stop.
6. Todd Carney – one of the best playmakers in the comp.
7. Adam Reynolds – y/oung up-and-comer, who knows how to lead the team around.
8. Tim Mannah – good, solid player who constantly makes over 100 metres a game.
9. Robbie Farah – great hooker, smart and knows how to lead the team, vice-captain.
10. James Tamou – will put his hand up to take a run whenever they need him, great player.
11. Anthony Watmough – bit old but can still do what is needed of him.
12. Greg Bird – developed into a top flight player at the Titans after earlier problems at the Sharks.
13. Paul Gallen – captain, one of the first picked each series, hated by all of Queensland full stop.
14. Andrew Fifita – deserves to start but is near unstoppable off the bench.
15. Tim Grant – steps up a gear when Origin rolls around.
16. Boyd Cordner – good young player, Origin will be great for him.
17. Josh Reynolds – brings that extra versatility off the bench, absolute mongrel.
18th man. Luke Lewis (Unlucky not to be in the team, wrong side of 30. Sorry!)
By the way, I am a Queenslander. Enjoy.
Callum Murphy
Roar Rookie
Spot on with that team. Exactly how Laurie picked it for game 1. This team will win the Series! Are you a Psychic? Dumb Bum
Avatar
Roar Guru
As an example, when Cameron Smith was injured prior to Game I of the 2010 series, the second next best hooker was chosen in Matt Ballin. He did a very good job filling in for the Australian hooker in his only game for the Maroons so far. When Lockyer was injured in 2008 and couldn't take part at all that year, Hunt/Thurston were the Maroons' halves pairing for Game I, but it didn't work, so in came Scott Prince, who deputised well at halfback with Thurston at five-eighth. The result? A Maroons series win. Queensland have had players who have been there and done that before so don't be surprised to see them use recycled players if they must this year (though Scott Prince is now retired).
Griffo
Guest
And it's far easier to pick a team on experience when it's done the job for you before. Queensland have made a number of small changes over the last 8 years when they've needed to. The thing NSW need to do is identify which players have played well despite being in a losing side and pick those players on the grounds of experience. The rest should be form players, the best players in those positions. This includes not being afraid to pick young players because they may genuinely be the best option as Queensland did with players like Thurston, Smith, Slater, Inglis, Folau, Scott, Thaiday, Boyd. I think many of the players from last years series should probably play again for NSW as they only just lost but with a little tweaking
Griffo
Guest
I'm going to disagree with your assessment about the Queensland team being picked at the end of Game 3 for this year. I think you'll find Martin Kennedy will get picked for Queensland this year and if Hannant is in good form he might get back into the team two. The only reason Queensland varied from the tried and tested 4 props last year is because they didn't have enough in form after Petero retired and Hannant got injured and didn't have a good lead up. I fully expect them to revert back to the 4 props for 2014 and Maguire might be another one under consideration.
Charles NSW
Guest
Laurie Daley has already commented that he wants Pearce there and knows the fans are not happy about it. He has made up his mind and that is that!
Muzz
Guest
@ Charles, Laurie Daley is a very approachable man so instead of death riding who the qualified selectors think are the best available players, go down and ask him for yourself.They will be staying down at Coogee and training at Coogee Oval.If you can't get there, send him an email via NSWRL.
Charles NSW
Guest
As fans we put down our selection as to who we think that can make the difference. It does not make a difference to the selectors as they choose who they want. Many fans have called for Pearce to be sacked saying he has not done the job yet the selectors say different If the selectors are honest with the fans they should answer the question honestly Has Mitchell Pearce done his role as 1/2 back as required and to what level has he contributed to his overall game If they are honest and say he has done his job well then they should be sacked because he has not
TGGOA
Guest
1. Hayne 2. Morris 3. Jennings 4. Morris 5. Taufua/Hopoate 6. Carney (It will be Maloney) 7. Reynolds (It will be Pearce) 8. Woods 9. Gidley (It will be Farah) 10. Tamou 11. Stewart 12. Bird 13. Gallen 14. Fafita 15. Cordner 16. Watmough 17. Lewis
Pickett
Guest
I would persist with Pearce. Winning the GF last year was the shot in the arm he needed to move from good to great. He should be picked and I believe he will lead NSW to victory this year. Carney...great player and was wonderful for Easts in 2010. But when the pressure is on (eg 2010 GF and origin) he tends to go missing. Maloney may not be as talented as Carney but he is a tough player who thrives on big game pressure. His combination with Pearce doesn't hurt either. I'd also pick Morris in the centres. He did a wonderful job in defence against Inglis last year, not to mention his sheer pace.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
If anyone comes up with a way NSW can win then please make it clear maybe the Dragons can use it.
Jack Henry
Guest
I've heard them say they don't really care as long as Qld wins the Origin. Whereas we seem to be club first, state second. Probably explains a lot.
Jack Henry
Guest
Agreed.
Jack Henry
Guest
I don't even think we have that. I'd take Scott, Smith, McQueen and Parker over any of our blokes. Luke Lewis would be one of the first I'd pick...when he's not injured...
Jack Henry
Guest
Yeah I dunno. Have a look at Cronulla's record with him, then without him.
Jack Henry
Guest
As long as Gallen is captain, this is highly unlikely to happen.
Jack Henry
Guest
"...Qld have been blessed by the Canetoad Gods in giving Qld a number of quality Halves, hookers and fullbacks the past decade who just happen to love origin...." Or, they were to determined to avenge the embarrssment of a 3-0 whiteash in 2000 (and the hand grenade throwing that came with it - thanks for that Fletch) that they installed an emerging Origin squad and a rugby league academy at the QAS which took 6-7 years to begin producing results. Given their 2-1 numbers disadvantage, it forced them to find a way to more with less. And unfortunately, they succeeded in that...
Jack Henry
Guest
That's true...and to make things worse, we have twice the player depth and can't even win half the games.
Charles NSW
Guest
Good points there John Badseed! Forwards like Brett Kite and Luke Bailey should have been used over the years but NSW thought they were not good enough Tell that to their clubs they have a different view of their ability in big games We do have a lot of players that are consistent now and we need to build on it! The Stewart brothers always give a good account of themselves and know how to win a game
john badseed
Guest
Again the armchair selectors, as they do each series, pick NSW teams from the also rans. I know having a player chosen for the Blues the only thing a lot of supporters have to look forward to during the season, perhaps that's why the 9's proved popular. Why Qld win is they select a core group who know what to do in pressure situations. Why don't NSW do the right thing and stop picking players from teams who never feature in the big end of season games? Tigers players, Dragons, Parra, Dogs, Knights, Panthers, Sharks… why not select a team from the sides consistently in the finals? Why pick Woods and Grant ahead of Kite over the past 5 years when kite plays GFs and wins Churchill medals? Are the Stewart brothers so bad that they are overlooked for selection despite leading Manly to GF victories. Has Dugan lived up to his promise or does he lose it when the going gets tough? Sims, Mullen, Scott, Reynolds…..fellas it's Origin not City v Country.
blackcaviar&broncos
Guest
Maybe NSW should to match QLD possible line up of Slater, Boyd, Inglis,Hodges, Tate, Thurston,Cronk, scott, hanant, thaiday, McQueen, parker, shillo, teio, dce,papali, So stewart, bmorris, Jennings, JMORRIS( the only centre close to matching Inglis), hayne, carney, Mullen, fifita, ennis, tamou, lewis, bird, gallen, watmough, bscott, timgrant, WADE GRAHAM( Lewis is getting on years, so he has to be the understudy) Areynolds is yet to step up in big games Farrah plays his hands too much. Dugan doesnt know how to pass Notable mentions for the backs, taufua, hoppa,maloney.