Who should Laurie Daley pick as his wingers for Game 1 of this year’s State of Origin? Dragons and Kangaroos winger Brett Morris has one spot to call his own. The other is up in the air.
It’s safe to say last year’s wingers Blake Ferguson and Nathan Merritt won’t be anywhere near selection. The way I see it, it is between the Sea Eagles’ Jorge Taufua and the Tigers’ Pat Richards.
Taufua isn’t your typical Origin winger. He’s built close to the ground, but very powerful when running the ball – similar to Akuila Uate.
Pat Richards is big, strong and a good finisher. Before the start of the season he wouldn’t have been Daley’s plans but now finds himself a realistic prospect.
32-year-old Richards has been playing in England for the past 8 years, where he was the leading point-scorer four years running from 2007 to 2010. He won a grand final with Wigan in 2010, picking up the Man of Steel Award for the Super League’s Player of The Year.
One thing which is in his favour is his goal kicking and ability to torpedo his kick offs, which leaves the ball spiralling on its way down, and can take a turn at the last second. This is a trait no other player possesses.
If the out-of-form James Maloney isn’t selected at five-eighth, then the team has no obvious selection to take the conversions. Daley can kill two birds with one stone by selecting Richards. He’s an excellent winger, as well as a goal kicker, and he can strike the ball off the tee like no other.
BlueHope
Guest
Hayne is the current form fullback of the NRL. Out of any back line player you want ball in his hands as often as possible and early as possible. Fullback provides that without picking him at 5/8. Any talk of moving him to the wing is crazy. Dugan is no where near the form of Hayne or a number of centre/wingers out there and will be lucky to make the side with players like Jennings, Morrisx2, Mansour, Idris and even Richards, if you're going on form. The halves is the toss of a coin between the Dog or Rabbit halves. But of course Pearce will get the nod and probably Maloney, which should NSW lose, will have the masses calling for Daley's head come round 18, and rightly so.
Jordan Wykes
Roar Rookie
Some good thoughts there. The Morris twins bleed Origin. We pretty much match up in the back line. I believe we have a better forward pack. The only place we lack is halves and hooker, but there's not much we can do about that. Queensland are simply better in those positions. The more Hayne touches the ball, the better for NSW. I see Hayne on the end of a sweep play to either take on the line himself, or draw the defenders and put his winger in. To put it simply, there is no stand out choice to partner Brett Morris on the wing.
Jordan Wykes
Roar Rookie
Nice one. Well the selectors think he's God.
rvm99
Guest
In essence I tend to agree on the basis that the 1-5 is one area that NSW just might have an edge over QLD because of the speed factor available to them, however notwithstanding his indiscretion on the weekend and the fact that he might have lost a bit of speed I believe Stewart at fullback offers the best value in attacking options for NSW with his ability to play as a second 5/8 that Dugan doesn’t have and to a degree Hayne. I have always felt that Hayne’s best position for NSW is a wing spot with a roving commission. Forget about his defence, you don’t pick wingers to defend you pick them to score tries and create uncertainty and doubt in the defence and he has done that in spades popping up unexpectedly at this level in this position. The QLD centre/wing combinations are likely to be a little bit stronger than what some of the minor nations and NZ tossed up in the RLWC and Haynes talents would be simply wasted as a centre. Without getting into the whole Pearce/Maloney debate, I suspect Haynes would an even bigger speed bump in defence than the past 3 #’6s (Soward, Carney & Maloney) if selected at #6 without any real attacking trade off given the quality of the QLD defence, which again is several standards higher than NRL level. The Morris Brothers just have that “origin” quality about their play when they pull on a blue jersey and should be automatic selections and whilst Michael Jennings can be enigmatic, he has a freakish turn of foot which has always troubled the QLD defence. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for Dugan and it won’t be easy to leave him out. As for the suggestion of Pat Richards landing a wing spot, I don’t mean any disrespect but he wasn’t a representative standard player when he was last in the NRL and other than developing some innovative kicking techniques upon his return has he improved that much overall to tip out the incumbents?
so so funny...
Guest
agreed, agreed, agreed and agreed. Pearce has had his chance. Whilst he is not responsible for Qld being dominant for so long he simply has not displayed the traits required to hold his spot. I would research his stats in origin to prove my point, but to whom do I prove this point? it seems every fan on the Roar (or in the pub, at the bus stop, taxi rank, bank queue, weekend BBQ, Staff canteen and everywhere I turn) agrees his time is up. Pity Lozza is so stubborn......... Also agree with Pat Richards and his kickoff/goal kicking/line drop outs.
Mac
Guest
Not to mention the best winger aswell. Would probably go better than Pearce at 7 and would rather him at 5/8 over Maloney any day. Yep seven Jarryd Haynes would do nicely ;)
mj
Guest
haha Doug spot on mate
Mac
Guest
lol Doug
Mac
Guest
Correct Chappy regarding Hodkinson and Kelly. Both would be much better options and are in better form than Pearce is. This debate about there being nobody else is absolute BS...
Doug Graves
Guest
What about Mitchel Pearce on the wing? He seems to be un-sackable and will get picked no matter what, so might as well put him out of the way on the wing right?
Chappy
Guest
On form right now, Trent Hodkinson is playing better than Pearce, Luke Brooks is( not ready yet), Albert Kelly offers more in attack and is only going to get better. Anyone but Pearce would be a step in the right direction. Last year I would of had Adam Reynolds and Sutton as the halves combo, but this year I would go with the Bulldogs combo as they are in great form and don't crumble under pressure like Pearce
Jordan Wykes
Roar Rookie
I like Hayne at fullback, but then it leaves us open for no obvious pick on the wing. At least if Dugan is picked at fullback, you can have Hayne on the wing. I'm certain of one thing though. Jarryd Hayne is NSW's best fullback (probably centre too).
Chris
Guest
Hayne at fullback has a huge boot and can kick NSW out of trouble. If they switch with Dugan for the kick Qld will know
Jordan Wykes
Roar Rookie
I like you're thinking. If we don't require a goal kicker, and Hayne is chosen at fullback or centre, then I'd probably have Hoppa on the wing.
Chris
Guest
Give Reynolds a shot and he will stand up. At the moment there is no reason for he to try. He last two years was better than Pearce and nothing. Brookes will be at least 5 years off
Jordan Wykes
Roar Rookie
Exactly right. It adds an extra dimension to our attack, especially from our kick offs. He has a massive drop kick on him too.
Jordan Wykes
Roar Rookie
Name a better halfbak from NSW. Unfortunately he's the best we have. Reynolds has lost his form. Maybe in 2 years time we will see Brooks pushing for the number 7 jersey.
Jordan Wykes
Roar Rookie
If Maloney is selected at five-eighth then this is probably the backline I'd have.
Jordan Wykes
Roar Rookie
Oops. It looks like the editor made a mistake
Naught
Dugan Hayne Jennings Morris Morris Speed, power and most of all, all those players live in the roles selected except Hayne who can play anywhere and well. He's a special player.