It’s almost that time of year: State of Origin.
The talk about who will be chosen to wear the recently downtrodden sky blue jumper is coming in thick and fast.
I want to talk about the type of blokes I’d pick if I was a selector for the Blues.
They’re not necessarily the NRL’s most naturally gifted, or even always in form right now. But those who have an Origin mentality should, in my opinion, should be picked for this year’s State of Origin series before anyone else.
Yep, I’m talking about a genuine ‘Mongrel Mob’.
We’ve tried everything else for crying out loud! So I reckon, this year, we forget about current form, forget about the big names, and forget everything and anything other than selecting a bunch of absolute mongrels!
Obviously, we need some smarts in our pivotal roles, but this year, I’d be more inclined to pick a bloke with a little less upstairs and a whole lot more under the bonnet.
It’s time the Blues selectors rattled the cage, and did a U-turn on the selection strategies they’ve run with over the last eight years.
The first bloke I’d pick? Josh Reynolds at five-eighth. He typifies Origin. He’s tenacious, gritty, and a relentless competitor for the full 80 minutes, every single week.
I’d select Nathan Peats at nine. Yes, before any other hooker in our game. He’s a mongrel. The type of mongrel us Blue Bloods have been missing in recent history.
An obvious choice would be good old Gregory Bird. Always and forever up for the tough stuff.
I believe these three were born with a mongrel gene that 90 per cent of other humans were not.
I understand that not all players are born with this mongrel gene as part of their make up, but I do believe that it’s highly contagious. It will almost certainly rub off on a bloke when he’s surrounded by those who ooze it.
The above three blokes will infect the entire team with their contagious enthusiasm. I think it’s a great spine to start building a Blues team upon.
The NSW selectors absolutely have to start picking players who other players hate to play against.
Selectors: please stop picking players on a bit of current form or on their names alone. Suss out the NRL’s toughest, most tenacious, super competitive and arrogantly confident bunch of rough heads, and give them a shot in an arena where anything less just simply won’t do.
I need you guys to play the role of the selector. Who’s in your top 17 ‘Mongrel Mob’ for the 2014 State Of Origin series?
Eric Grothe Jr plays wing with the Cronulla Sharks this season in the National Rugby League, having previously played with the Eels and the Sydney Roosters. He has has also represented New South Wales, Australia and City, and has scored 67 first grade tries.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Funny - cause I'm a Blue and I'd take Parker any day of the week! Have a look at Cronulla's win ratio with him...and then without him. You'll see what I mean. And that's the thing - he would never be Australian captain in any sort of game worth mentioning. The only reason they made him VC of Australia was to appease the NSW powerbrokers and create the perception that things were all evenhanded. Plus, I'd say the thing about Gallen is quantity...certainly not quality when compared to his competitors.Take last years finals for example - Fifita had been killing it all game, there were a couple of minutes left and the Sharks needed to get down Manly's end. Anyway, rather than get the ball to the bloke who'd been busting the line all game...they go to Gallen...who touches the ball dead three times for about 20m. Fifita was behind the play the ball each time, and you could see very well he was reluctant to overcall. It demonstrated perfectly all that's wrong with his game. Look at Parker, on the other hand, Origin game 3 2012. Touches the ball once, gets away an offload, puts Qld in prime position for Cronk...and well, it's the same result once again.
Dallas
Guest
Your kidding mate, Paul Gallen is the best forward I have seen since I can remember (1999-2000). The work rate he gets through in origins games is freakish. No one can come close to the amount of hit ups, meters, tackles and minutes played as a middle forward, I don't know how he does it. Are you saying that if he were the captain of the Auzzie team they wouldn't win the games and tournaments they have won? He is just unlucky to have played most of his origin career against all the great Qld players that he's played against. I'm a Qlder by the way so this is not a bias opinion I just think he is a champion footballer
Jackson Henry
Guest
Agreed in the strongest possible terms. And the worst is our "captain" - he's never led anything successfully in his life.
Jackson Henry
Guest
They say it every year. The Faily Telegraph's modus operandi is as follows: if Qld are bigger, NSW are more agile. If Qld are heavier, NSW are fitter. If Qld are younger, NSW are more experienced. If Qld is more agile, NSW is more powerful. Tedious is an understatement...and it's particularly embarassing in light of results over the last 8 years. And I'm not even a Qlder.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Hello Eric - I didn't realise you wrote for the Roar (I'm a bit of a newcomer). Congrats firstly on your career thus far, and also for the music thing, I saw your band on Rage a little while ago. Dunno if you or anyone realised this...but quite a case could be made that you incidentally played a role in the very beginning of Qld's Origin dominance. In Game 1 2006, Qld hadn't actually scored up until you and Justin Hodges went in for a bit of mutual forearm counselling ...and then Qld scored the next three tries or something (still losing the game)...but then went on to win 30-6 in the Game 2! The rest was history, to steal a cliche. Probably coincidental (and mate not for a moment am I suggesting it was your fault!) but I always thought that was an interesting turn of events.
The Magic Man
Guest
Why is everyone so angry? Blues fans seem more splintered than ever. All fans of Qld clubs unite in their hate of New South Wales but fans of Sydney clubs all hate on each other. Eric thanks for your insight... Let's be the first to start the New Blues Embrace.
Brett the Manly Fan
Guest
I bet NSW would have picked Matt Ballin
Wrong
Guest
This is my Queensland team in 2 minutes – only because thats how fast I can type! 1. Slater 2. Boyde 3. Inglis 4. Hodges 5. Tate 6. Thurston 7. Cronk 8. Scott 9. Smith 10. Shillington 11. Teo 12. Thaiday 13. Parker 14. Gillet 15. Myles 16. Gagai 17. Napa
Dallas
Guest
Ageing players haha.., didn't they say that last year??
up in the north
Guest
Idris has heaps of potential - and here's the but - I don't think he has the ticker for Origin. I reckon NSW has a pretty good chance this year if they hold their nerve. Purely because of QLD's loyalty to a few ageing players. It might just be enough to steal a win in the first game.
Brett the manly fan
Guest
Your are spot on with the cooper gasnier combination. But I think the hayne Jennings combination could be just as good
Bonza
Guest
fair dinkum, has Fifita made a line break this year? Why is he guaranteed selection? Done bugger all. Seriously looking like a Tony Williams 2013. Tariq Sims??? Most overrated forward in the game, rarely makes a telling impact. I think Woods, Merrin, Watmough, Gallen, Cordner and co will do just fine up front but....... for the backline. I`m fairly sure Qld would prefer NSW NOT to pick Taufua, Tupou and Sutton which is why we`ll probably pick smaller players who look slick in club games. Sigh...where`s my bottle of Reschs..
Dallas
Guest
They Already have some of the toughest blokes in the NRL in Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Luke Lewis and Anthony Watmough. I don't think it is in area that they are struggling in or not competing with Qld in, I think as long as Cameron Smith, Jonathon Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis are playing in the same team they are unbeatable, these guys are once in a life time players that are all in there prime, I don't think you could put a side together from any where in the world that would beat them.
langerthebronco
Guest
Please stop picking Jennings in Centre for NSW. In 10 origin games he played, his wingers crossed twice only. For 7games he partnered BMoz who scored only one try thanks to faras kick (BMoz scored 21 tries from 18 apearances when he partnered another centre for kangaroos). On 3 occasion Hayne was outside him(jenno), hayne scored one solitary try. The best NSW Centre pairing (after Gasnier and Cooper) should be Hayne and JMorris. My BLUES backline would be 1:B STEWART (the complete package of fullback in Slater mould. Defence,Attack,Support and Positional plays) 2:B MORRIS (21tries from 18games for Australia is too good of a stats) 3:J HAYNE (Naturally Talented who always shines in Rep games. His combo with BMoz at the WC was awesome) 4:J MORRIS (He contained Inglis adequately. I still that run when he broke through Thaidays attempted tackle) 5:J DUGAN (Strong Kick returner) 6:T CARNEY (Class is permanant, Form is temporary and he can kick goals too) 7:J MULLEN (His general kicking game is second to none in the current crop of halves running around that includes Cooper Cronk)
Jay Nash
Guest
Hey no need to blow your own trumpet mate. Everyone knows your resume. You can put the trumpet down. Point is you are a winger. A tough talking one at that
Eric
Guest
That's a great point I reckon.
Eric
Guest
You're right... Sorry mate. How dare I have an opinion about the above topic after representing my state and my country. Who are you and what was it that you did again that gives your comments/opinions any more weight than mine on the topic of State Of Origin? Thought so... #jaythenobody #backtoyourarmchair #expertchannelchanger
turbodewd
Guest
Id also like to see Idris in the squad. Until his leg injury late last year he was doing great things for the Titans. Was 2nd in the league for a stat which I cant recall (LB assists or linebreaks). There is a reason Gould wanted him at Penrith.
Davey G
Guest
Pick the team of tomorrow, even if it means sacrificing this year (to be honest they should have picked the up-and-comings team 4 years ago, but keep allowing repeat offenders). It's a shame because you look at players like Gallen, Luke Lewis who have played the last 8 years (pretty much) and lost, doesn't quite make sense. Best teams in the comp have the best spine then have the tough guys. Spine - FB Stewart / 2nd choice Hayne. FE - Josh Reynolds 100%. Half - if Albert Kelly was a QLDer, they would pick him, so Alby it is (remember I am looking to the future). Hooker - Farah, but Peats if Farah does not play before Game 1. The rest of the team is your Brett Morris and either Taufua or Mansour on the wing; Hayne, Leilua, Jennings or Lafai if a Blue (he is killing it) in the centres; front row has to include Grant, Tolman, Woods, Fifita, then backrow has Bird, Watmough, Fensom. Bench Peats / Glenn Stewart / Gallen / then one of those forwards.
Samuel
Guest
What's with everyone's fascination with Dugan at the back? He is a ball tuner and ball runner only. What else does he offer?? With hayne u get a second 5/8 that can feed the outside backs, which we haven't done for years, he is very safe under the high ball, runs the ball back better than anyone in origin and his defence is as good as u will see at fullback. Like I said, Dugan is a ball runner only, where as u get the full package with hayne!! The centres haven't been our problem. In fact they have been one of the positives, so why change them when they r still playing pretty good footy??