For the past eight years New South Wales have been a defeated state. Queensland’s eight year streak has been a historic rugby league story that will never be forgotten.
Some New South Wales supporters have not actually seen their team win a series.
However there is always hope, and as each year comes back around the New South Welshman everywhere confidently say “this is the year the Blues win a series”.
You can say that the Blues’ chances of winning do look promising.
But every year for the past eight years Queensland has conquered New South Wales.
So what makes this year different?
Queensland do have a very experienced and successful squad, with momentum on their side, as well as young and exciting players coming to the squad every year that seem impress on every debut.
However key players can not stay in the game forever.
Jonathan Thurston, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith are all coming close to retiring.
Yes Queensland have an excellent group of younger players who can cover for the current stars, with the likes on Ben Barba, Daley Cherry-Evans and Jake Friend all wanting to make a name for themselves as a Queensland representatives.
But you can’t replace the superstar players that have driven Queensland to success.
The Blues have come so very close in the past two years.
Both years it has come down to the decider and the Blues have just fallen short by one point and only two points last year.
It has also shown that they are much stronger at home, in front of 80,000 plus fans.
The challenge this year is defeating the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium twice.
This year is the year they just have to push and give it that little bit extra at Suncorp in the first game, then the Blues would have an advantage to seal the win at ANZ.
The New South Wales team has changed every year. They need to pick and stick if they want to be successful.
Even if the Blues do have a lot of injuries between Rounds 1-10, they need to pick a team with representative experience or at least a player that has started the season of and has shown that he is a valuable player.
Next step is to select the right players for Origin.
Yes, Mitchell Pearce has done an ok job in the past, however Adam Reynolds is showing so much class at the Rabbitohs. He plays beyond his years, shows composure and can lead a team around the park.
It is time for Adam Reynolds to be given a shot to steer the Blues to victory. Todd Carney has also shown great leadership and control from five-eighth and if he has a strong pre-season he will get the nod over James Maloney.
The forward pack has shown in the past they are strong, quick and mobile.
With the likes of Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Luke Lewis, Anthony Watmough, James Tamou, Ryan Hoffman, Andrew Fifita and Keith Galloway the forward pack has been successful.
The only new addition to that list of names should be Ryan James.
Queensland have been known to show class and a fighting spirit even when behind on the scoreboard to come back and steal a win from the New South Welshmen.
This year the Blues have to show that fighting spirit that got them to the decider two years in a row, and take it one step further.
Many people like myself can give our opinions of who to pick and in what position, but Laurie Daley just has to do what he was hired to do and pick a team that he wants and coach them to win.
Laurie has a great staff around him and New South Wales has faith that this is the year that the Blues will stop the Maroons streak.
My State of Origin team
1. Josh Dugan
2. Brett Morris
3. Jarryd Hayne
4. Michael Jennings
5. Will Hopoate
6. Todd Carney
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Paul Gallen
9. Robbie Farah
10. James Tamou
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Luke Lewis
13. Greg Bird
14. Andrew Fifita
15. Boyd Cordner
16. Anthony Watmough
17. Luke Douglas
Real Blue
Guest
For your information if Josh Morris out from the squad,Queensland will again makes nine.Jmorris is the one who made GInglish scoreless..If omitted I won't be surprised 100-0 full time score maroons infavour
no-pearce-nsw
Guest
awesome team love the halfs 6 and 7 they are more deserving of those positions roosters have great running backrowers and good centres and wingers that make ordinary players look like they are actually decent players pearce has no kicking or passing game good defence but nsw needs more than just a tackler they need a real halfback like rynalds if you dont want pearce in the nsw team google mitchell pearce change.org and sign petition or go to https://www.facebook.com/NoPearceFor2014 lets get real this year
David
Guest
Tony Carole played for NZL and QLD but the rules are different for QLD . They think if Inglis ans Sims wants to play is ok but Sonny is different
Noni
Guest
Your right it won;t be that way coz Mullen and Gidley and sooooooo over rated!!!!!
David Whata
Guest
I don't think dugan is the man to choose, if you go back to game 2 last year,he played terrible, although he did okay in game 3, okay but he will not win origin for us this year, hes not as great as you think he is, im not denying his talent, but his consistency is very bad. 1. B.Stewart ( experienced, doesn't crack under pressure, problem= injury) 2. J.Hayne ( always performs for this team) 3. M.Jennings ( proved worthy over the last couple series) 4. J.Morris ( cemented centre spot, has contained inglis the last couple seasons,however, he needs a strong winger) 5. W.Hopoate ( plenty of talent, skill, and has origin experience) 6. J.Maloney ( has good attack and defense, good kicker too, every point counts) 7. T.Carney ( has good defence, and has the xfactor the team needs) 8. J. Tamou ( not too sure on this one, if he plays more intense for longer hed be perfect) 9. R.Farrah ( cemented hooker spot, has a high work rate, ) 10. P.Gallen ( cemented prop spot, very experienced, has an unreal workrate) 11. G.Stewart ( plenty of skill, good worker, will form a good combo with his brother) 12. L.Lewis ( good worker, can grind it out, very experienced, ) 13.G.Bird ( awesome player, shows great aggression, and confidence to the team) 14.B.Cordner ( great utility player, and young so keep him experienced) 15.A.Watmough ( awesome impact player ,good work horse) 16.T.Sims ( will add a lot of impact to the team, will match up josh papali) 17.A.Fifita ( Will add an immediate impact as soon as hes on the field,) 18.B.Morris( I think if hayne,or stewart get injured ,hed be the perfect replacement)
Blueberry
Guest
Picking SBW would just give Qld the motivation for another 8 series wins.
al
Guest
This article is good for Origin ticket sales. Let's make NSW supporters believe they will win and they'll buy tickets to the game ;)
Muzz
Guest
Both Korbin Sims and SBW were interested in playing SOO but they both only ticked 2 of the 5 eligibility boxes. They both played Junior rep foot - SBW played for NSW and Sims QLD The QRL and NSWRL made claims that both players were eligible based on their Junior rep honours Can you see the similarities VOR?
V.O.R.
Guest
....afraid so...rank hey...there is low and then there is Low...Daley is fortunate his plan to enlist a footy mercenary is not going to plan...not sure his reputation could of survived stooping that far.
V.O.R.
Guest
A simple explanation from you providing some evidence to back your claims would be a great start....but I guess if you could of, you would of by now...hence the fluff...bye for now Muzz.
Blueberry
Guest
Bring back Tommy to show the current crop what real hatred of Qld means and inject a bit of passion!.... Are u erious that Daley is looking into SBW' eligibility?? I'm Blue thru & thru but that ain't right!
Optimist Optometrist
Guest
Ok let's give Pearce his 13th "last" chance lol
WTF
Guest
Yeah I thought the same thing!
Bananabender
Guest
..."he ate a banana when he was a junior so he must be a Qlder..." BUWAHAHAHA! That's HILARIOUS!!!
Muzz
Guest
Why am i not surprised that VOR can't see the similarities.Perhaps if you take of those rose coloured glasses things would be a little clearer. If that fails we can always try drawing you a picture.
V.O.R.
Guest
...that's what QLD have as a motivation. What do NSW have that they haven't had for at least the last 5 years? I just wonder how they will get themselves up mentally. I think this is where the coaching staff and prep comes in. They are playing against a very tight unit...something that NSW need to match if they are going to win the close ones. For that reason they would be better off making as few changes as possible to the team from the last 2 years.
V.O.R.
Guest
Muzz, muzz, muzz, muzz....muzz. Yawn. Save your breath on the Sims family history. I'm not sure how the SBW case compares alongside Korbin Sims desire to play for QLD and do the two cases actually have any similarities of 'rule manipulation' should these actually exist. Instead of fluff give us some detail or put your muzzle back on.
Scrubbit
Guest
1: Dugan (if he comes back in good form if not then stewert) 2: Hoppa (if he shows good form if not then Morris) 3: Jennings 4: Hayne 5: Morris 6: Maloney (had a quiet game 2/3 but NSW were dominated in game 2 and Pearce/Farah were trying to play hero in game 3) 7: anyone but Pearce (will be Pearce) 8: Fifita 9: farrah (and coach needs to tell him to just do his job as hooker instead of trying to force everything) 10: Tamou (although he could be dropped if he starts the season poorly) 11: Bird 12: Hoffman 13: Gal (would rather see him at prop but I think he could contribute more at lock since he plays like a prop anyway) 14: Lewis (although he won't be there after his latest injury I rate Lewis as the best utility in the game. Can play anywhere in the backs 2-6 as well as hooker and back row. Will probably be a Reynolds or Sutton though) 15: Grant 16: Cordner 17: a dragons played whose name escapes me atm. Debuted for NSW last year and I'm pretty sure he was the one who punched Tate. The problem is that last years team could win, but they didn't. The team before could win but they didn't. So even though NSW could win this year they probably won't and next year the same story will come out about the same thing talking about the same players and I'll put up a slightly different team where Hayne and Pearce may be looking at the axe even though I know they'll be out back in the team anyway. I'm sick of hearing this NSW to win this year crap. I almost wish we could just lose already and have everything go back to normal with a couple years for you here and a couple years for us there, almost... I think if QLD win this year they will win next year and them they'll finally lose in 2016 after what people will refer to as "a decade of dominance".
Scrubbit
Guest
Tbh you can't really call what the eels and tigers had "packs".
Muzz
Guest
WOW, you haven't heard of Korbin Sims the New South Welshman who play's for the Knights and was selected for the Queensland Emerging Origin side.He has 2 brothers,you may of heard of them,Tariq and Ashton. QRL are arguing (once again) that he ate a banana when he was a junior so he must be a Queenslander.Desperate stuff by your standards. Hopefully the word " emerging" will help you work out where he fits in the QLD pack.