The NSW Blues look to be in trouble six weeks before the 2014 State of Origin series opens in Brisbane, with massive clouds gathering above the halves and front row combinations.
Coach Laurie Daley will already be having sleepless nights as he mulls over worrying form slumps on top of injuries to many of his frontline candidates.
James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce have been well down on last year’s form for the Sydney Roosters, and the premiers are struggling in attack as a result. They’ve still got a few weeks to get their act together, but it doesn’t look good from a NSW point of view as the potential replacements also have question marks over them.
No-one could say that Todd Carney or Adam Reynolds are setting the world on fire, while Jarrod Mullen, who could slot in nicely at No. 7, never seems to get an injury-free run.
The Bulldogs’ Josh Reynolds is the form five-eighth of the competition, so Daley and his selectors could call on him with a degree of confidence if Maloney doesn’t shape up.
A more left-field possibility is Newcastle’s Tyrone Roberts. This young guy impresses me more every time I see him. He is untried at Origin level, but keeps doing the business for the Knights and coach Wayne Bennett when the chips are down.
The front row also tosses up major concerns, particularly as in-form hooker Robbie Farah dislocated an elbow last weekend and the healing process from that is a slow one.
Who would replace him? Parramatta’s Nathan Peats has been a shining light over the first six weeks of the competition and is a rugged 80-minute competitor who could do the job, if only for the one game.
Bulldogs captain Mick Ennis is a seasoned campaigner who could also deputise for Farah if he got the call, but fingers crossed for the Tigers skipper – we need him to get back quickly.
Blues prop James Tamou is well down on his best form and could be dumped if his game doesn’t pick up between now and May 28. It might be time to look at the likes of Tigers’ bookends Aaron Woods and Keith Galloway or maybe Aiden Tolman, a player who has been a rock for Canterbury the past three seasons.
While talking Origin possibilities for NSW, I really liked the weekend’s comeback by Manly winger Jorge Taufua. I have long been a huge fan of this rugged and speedy player who is clearly one of the best finishers in the NRL, and he has a game tailor-made for Origin footy.
Looking at the topsy-turvy results over the first six weeks of the competition, I find myself wondering if there is a World Cup hangover being suffered by several of our so-called strongest clubs.
Take a look at the competition table and which teams are not in the Top 8. Count the number of World Cup reps that came from this group and you may have an explanation for their surprisingly slow starts to 2014. Give the comp a few more weeks and I believe powerhouse clubs such as the Storm and Roosters will grind into top gear.
On a final note, I was over in Auckland on Sunday for the Warriors-Bulldogs game and came away thinking the better team lost on the day. After another traumatic week off the field, the New Zealand boys played their best game of the season but lost out to a Trent Hodkinson field goal.
As stand-in coach Andy McFadden said, it was a step forward for the Warriors. If that game can be used as any sort of guide, I think they’ll be in the mix come finals time.
andrew
Guest
Joseph Luelia ??? Not one mention anywhere
andrew
Guest
Joseph Luelia ??? Not one mention anywhere
Sam
Guest
Agreed, NSW HAVE TO PICK BRETT STEWART AS NSW FULLBACK!!. 2012 series i think he was equal or highest try scorer of the series, missed last year because of injury. But look what he brings to manly, when he plays they win the majority of the time and i believe the same for nsw, IF BRETT STEWART PLAYS FULLBACK FOR NSW WE WILL WIN!! and put hayne in center because he was an absolute gun for australia when he played there.
Raugeee
Guest
I reckon the OZ selectors should throw a cat amongst the pigeons and pick mostly NSWelshmen for the ANZAC test. It would work on so many levels. a) reignite some ill feeling towards NSW, QLDs injured pride would result in cries of absolute bias, just like the good ol' days b) instil some interest in the ANZAC test, new faces would mean an uncertain result c) give a NSW side a much needed training run together, unfair advantage to QLD at the moment. Everyone's a winner, including the OZ stars who could probably use a break.
Raugeee
Guest
The reason Pearce looks good for the Roosters is that club footy is nowhere near the standard of Origin. Some players aren't cut out for it and Junior Junior is one of them.
Raugeee
Guest
Agree SJL. Stewart knows all about Origin and seems to play his best against QLD. It frees up Hayne for the centres, which was a revelation at the World Cup. I reckon Carney and Maloney in the halves and if Tupou is playng well I'd like to see him on the wing. height is a huge advantage in Origin as there are few options to score otherwise.
Luke Smyke
Roar Pro
Lovely summation of Pearce, how this bloke receives accolades let alone plays origin is beyond me.. Has the kicking game of a second rower and the creativity of a 12th grade maths teacher. Kelly has mountains of ability and has been performing on a regular basis for the titans for over a year now. However, if Mullen stays fit and recaptures even a semblance of his form of last year he should get the nod... Reynolds needs to play at 6. Tough and uncompromisingly competitive with the complete skill set to penetrate the best defensive structures.
Alex
Guest
I reckon nsw should be looking at something like 1. Hayne 2. Morris 3. Jennings 4. Idris 5. Mansour 6. Maloney 7. Carney 8. Fifita 9. Peats (Farah) 10. Tamou 11. Bird 12. Gallen 13. Fensom 14. Merrin 15. Woods 16. Watmough 17. Kelly If they are losing, throw Kelly in for one of the halves at the 60 minute mark, see what happens. Could be brilliant, could be a nightmare, either way better than this 'utility' nonsense. Why have a utility when so many of your forwards can play 80 if needed, so many of your backs can cover multiple positions and your team has Greg Bird, who can practically cover everywhere anyways. Instead have a guy like Kelly in for a specific purpose, replace one of the halves at 60 and see if he can spark something.
Elma Dudd
Guest
Yep change that team AGAIN ... The combination of the nsw chop n change policy and in more recent time very average coaches is everything to do with why nsw keep losing ,,, If Pearce and Maloney are sooooo bad how did the roosters win the title , who kicked and passed for them , we're they carried by the rest of the roosters . QLD dragged gilly out of ressies back in the day to play a blinder , but now all you experts want any nsw player dropped who's down on form . NSW will continue to loose on the simple basis that Daley has "NOTHING" just like the poison dwarf before him . Put whatever untried players in that you want but it won't make any difference ,
Pete
Guest
Pointless banter, no point getting your hopes up NSW. No matter what you do, try or change, you won't win, it just won't happen.
Chris
Guest
You want a winning team I picked this one 1. Hayne - Best fullback this year 2. Morris - big Strong and quick 3. Morris - Same as above 4. Idris - can run over just about anyone and would scary the Qld team 5. Dugan - last year was awesome 6. Kelly - X factor and playing great football 7. Reynolds - has to be better than Pearce plus great goal kicker 8. Tolman - 80 min player, work horse 9. Peats - if no Farah future NSW hooker 10. Fifita - Big strong and can break the line with easy 11. Bird - just a great player for NSW 12. Fensom - tackling machine 13. Gal - 14. Reynolds - roasted in the back rowers like Qld do with DCE 15. Cordner - future superstar 16. Jackson - future superstar 17. Watmough - footwork This team would give Qld a headache big strong and quick. Plus play makers willing to have a go and keep pressure on the Qld defence.
Chris
Guest
Dugan is better than Steward
Odds Checker
Guest
Get on the odds for QLD series win now before it shortens even further when Pearce is officially selected. Easiest money you will ever make!!
Mango Jack
Guest
He makes the odd bad call, but overall he is the best option if fit. His dummy half running is excellent and short kicking generally very good
turbodewd
Guest
Does anyone remember game2 last year? Two or 3 times Farah kicked early in the tackle count when the Blues were near halfway and behind on the scoreboard. It was baffling. One in particular was on the 4th and on the Qld 40m.
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
Pat Richards. You may be an absolute genius Cowboys. His name had never crossed my mind for NSW selection until just now. But the more I think about it the more it makes sense. I mean why not? He's pretty much the form winger of the NRL (maybe except for Semi Radradra at Parramatta). He's a great goal kicker and his kick-offs are lethal. You know what? I'm convinced. Pick him. 1. Dugan 2. Richards 3. Hayne 4. J Morris 5. B Morris 6. J Reynolds 7. Pearce (Carney, but there's no point in pretending that it won't be Pearce) 8. Gallen (C) 9. Peats (if Farah is unfit) 10. Tamou 11. Bird 12. Hoffman 13. Merrin 14. Watmough 15. Woods 16. Lewis (Tariq Sims if Lewis isn't fit) 17. Fifita
chuznut
Guest
He's getting better with every game, but he's not at Origin level yet. I'd be keen to see him picked for City/Country though, just to see how he handles it.
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
The only way to win is to have brett Stewart in fullback. He is the best fullback in the game and puts hayne to bed on his day off. Chuck in Albert Kelly and j.Reynolds. and taufua. No gallen
Cowboys
Guest
I think Pat Richards should play on wing. This way the halves doesn't have to have a goal kicker. (Reynolds, Sutton, Mullen) NSW need a good kicking hooker someone like Farrah, otherwise if Lewis plays they could go for more of a running one. Also need made hard running forwards this year, a few ball players most 2, one on each edge or 1 coming off bench
planko
Guest
Greg Bird just Kills it period he is the kinda player you want to play with. AGREED I feel it in every sinew ... FFS .. The first I time heard about cronk saying that was gold I don't know why more was not made of it.