NSW are in disarray, stocked with injuries, unsure again on who their best XVII is. The doom and gloom is back for the Blues.
It doesn’t take long, but the pressure is certainly ratcheting up in NSW. Eight series wins in a row for Queensland will tend to do that.
For me, part of the issue is the mishmash of selections from one year to the next, and the discarding of players for the ‘next big thing’.
The personification of this is the choice of Josh Dugan over Brett Stewart at fullback. The selection hasn’t happened yet, of course, but largely seems to be a fait accompli if the Dragons custodian is fit.
Why?
In every asset, apart from age and speed, Stewart is the better player. The pair are chalk and cheese.
Stewart has scored 136 NRL tries in 178 games while Dugan has recorded 33 in 84 appearances. Stewart has played for Australia and has eight NSW caps, while Dugan has played in three Origins but has not represented the Kangaroos yet.
‘Snake’ has played in four grand finals with Manly and won two of them. ‘Duges’ has yet to really feature in finals footy.
Stewart is a big-game player, he knows how to perform in important games. He has the experience, the nous and the knowledge to get the job done. Dugan is an exceptional talent, no doubt, but he has yet to possess the same smarts or pedigree that Stewart already has.
Dugan has had his problems with injury and off-field discipline, while Stewart has obstacles to overcome and suffered numerous hamstring and knee complaints.
These have meant that the Sea Eagles’ game has changed – early on he was more of a runner and finisher, now he can create and set up teammates as well.
Stewart still has decent speed and an impressive support game, but it’s his role as playmaker that is most impressive. Just watch the 29-year old in recent matches for Manly, he has been racking up the try assists. His return and form has helped propel the Sea Eagles up the ladder.
Dugan is on the way to being a great player and is doing very well at the Dragons this season. His potential is massive. This is not an attack on him.
But Stewart is the obvious choice for NSW, the safe bet.
Jarryd Hayne is a freak and must be in the Blues’ 17. But such is his ability that you can put him on the wing or in the centres, like at the World Cup, and he still might be NSW’s best player.
Part of the reason Queensland have enjoyed such success, apart from their ‘Big Five’, is their loyalty, their ‘pick-and-stick’ method to selections. It builds combinations and understanding between teammates.
Just because a player has a brilliant few NRL games or half a season, doesn’t mean Queensland go and pick him.
NSW have tried out too many players, picked and then dumped them, over the past few years. In the desperate to find a winning line-up they have discarded too many very good players and struggled to build continuity. Brett Stewart is one of them.
If fit, my NSW 17 would be: Stewart (B), Morris (B), Jennings, Morris (J), Hayne, Maloney, Pearce, Gallen, Farah, Tamou, Watmough, Stewart (G), Bird. Bench: Woods, Fifita, Reynolds (J), Hoffman.
It is a team with experience, both in rep footy, in winning titles and in the heartache of losing an Origin series. It should be one very motivated to set things right. It is also a team with some aggression and fire, a touch of youth, but also one that can score points.
Injuries could force Laurie Daley’s hand.
If Maloney is out then promote Reynolds and put Mullen on the bench. Both Reynolds and Mullen have tasted Origin before.
Michael Ennis is the back-up for Farah. If Hayne isn’t fit then Akuilla Uate comes into the equation.
Jamal Idris can replace Jennings if needed, while if Glenn Stewart is out then the likes of Boyd Cordner and Ben Creagh come into contention. Though if Luke Lewis can get back to playing for Cronulla, he is certainly a strong contender.
NSW should not be looking to blood new players this year, regardless of the result in Origin I. Let’s follow Queensland and have some consistency and trust, and really give the Blues their best chance of success.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
Vikki Gibbs
Guest
2012 QLD win the series by a one point field goal at the last minute and 2013 QLD win the series again by two points, and this time they had to work really hard to secure it. What's that telling you? NSW are edging closer and closer to the winning line, have not got there yet but pushing pretty close to it. You have to be honest here. Obviously QLD have that little edge on NSW, I mean, just how do you conquer when you have the brilliance of G.I., Slater, Smith, Thurston, Cronk, and the other passionate and talented youngens, it's bad enough having to contend with Inglis little only Thurston and all the others! What makes these guys 'bring it on home' for QLD? I'll tell you all what it is. There is a saying, 'work smarter not harder', QLD out smart NSW and NSW have to work much harder to continually defend themselves, and that's what gives QLD the added advantage year in and year out. I'm no into the technical side of things, I just go by the Rules, my sight and my non technical view on the Game (if that makes any sense), but what I see is NSW getting slow close to scoring and 'they are all just far too tired to outclass their opponents', and because of this they keep coming up with nothing. I'm sure the team that Daley picks, and all the teams that you all pick will be up to the task, all NSW have to do 'is work smarter' and 'not harder', and take of QLD that little extra energy they just seem to keep on finding right up until the full-time whistle. (By the way, rewind the play that SBW set up for Tapou at 11 minutes of play with the Roosters vs Tigers Game. See SBW draw in his defenders, and the Roosters team mates could smell a try, which tasted so good when Tapou crossed the line after fighting off all the defenders. That's what NSW have been missing!!
Oracle of East Perth
Guest
Why not pick our three best fullbacks like QLD do and maximise impact from the bench. Adam Reynolds isn't ready yet so I would bite the bullet and stick with the incumbent halves. If I was a selector I'd go with the following: 1. Stewart 2. Dugan 3. Morris 4. Hayne 5. Morris 6. Maloney 7. Pearce 8. Tamou 9. Farrah 10. Woods 11. Gallen 12. Bird 13. Cordner 14. Fafita 15. Watmough 16. Williams (T Rex) 17. Klemmer This bench will bend QLD. 18th man Josh Reynolds (considered unlucky not to start - misses only due to potential benefit of keeping the club halves combination).
Vikki Gibbs
Guest
Hop hop a waa ti, here you come!
Vikki Gibbs
Guest
They say Men get better with Age!
The Spectator
Roar Guru
The future is when we want to win!!!
Vikki Gibbs
Guest
Funny!
Vikki Gibbs
Guest
Firstly, can anyone please tell me 'why QLD can't win by more than just one or two points when they are obviously a Red Hot Team and NSW have been in disarray for so long, and these one or two point winning series have only been won right at the last minute? Any one think that QLD have won by 30-100 points! Pick any team you like Laurie, but keep 'the Boys in Lockdown' tucked away from the Media and Night Clubs, (and out of sight and out of trouble), 'just like Big Mal does with his Boys. Don't tell QLD whom you're picking 'until' you must, QLD have always said that they have the added advantage of 'knowing who is playing and where they are playing three days ahead of their Selections,' SO WHY GIVE THEM A HEAD START IN THE FIRST PLACE? Get it in NSW Players Heads that they 'ARE NOT INDIVIDUALS THAT ONLY JOIN RANKS WHEN THEY RUN OUT ON THE FIELD', trying to build Team Spirit once they start playing is not good. Far too many times 'distractions and individuals focussing on the glory of themselves after they have been selected' has proven to be a unhealthy distraction, and a distraction that carried right over in Team Performance! It's great you all think 'that this player should be picked over that player' and that 'that player would be better suited playing somewhere else', but it's not only about Players and where they should play, it's about 'Sports Psychology', it's about 'Player Focus', and it's about 'Special Team Bonding', by Good Will Services that QLD do and do best, they sure know how to rev up their State and 'get their supporters right on side. All NSW players care about, apart from some genuine players, is about 'their own individual selection' and then they want to go out and shout it to the World just how clever they are, and as we know, being a 'clever NSWelshman Footy Player' don't make a Winning Team! Keep them locked down Laurie, keep them away from personal interviews and and only have a representative 'speak to the Media when duty calls for them to do so.' Make them stay away from people and keep them 'focused', and 'not just focused', BUT REALLY REALLY FOCUSED, the kind of 'FOCUS' that don't see an individual NSW Player go thinking he is so grand and spectacular that no-one is going to see where his hands go once under a table! It don't take a qualified Psychiatrist to know that the clever use of Sports Psychology can be just as effective at Winning Games and Series as are a Talented Team can be, like QLD. Big Mal is onto it, and hence he has steere his Boys onto a 8 Series Win Streak, it says it all really, and I 'think' that Laurie Daley has only just began to cotton on to this very fact, this year he has appointed 'a High Performance Coach', well done this time around Mr Daley! GO MY BLUES TEAM, I'LL BE UP THERE IN SUNCORP, AND DOWN HERE AT ANZ ROOTING FOR YOU, no matter whom the Players will be.
Chris
Guest
Slater doesn't need a boot cause JT and cronk can kick. As long as pearce is in the side we need the boot. People (manly fans) need to start thing outside to box and start picking teams on the future not the past
Vikki Gibbs
Guest
NSW are in disarray which makes me wonder 'why' QLD keeps winning by only a Field Goal or two points, and right at the last minute too. QLD 'SHOULD' be winning by 100 points given that NSW 'are in such dissary!'
Brett the Manly Fan
Guest
hayne is only 25....he has aleast 8 years left
Brett the manly fan
Guest
Billy slater doesn't have a huge boot, and he's a winner, brett stewart doesn't and he's a winner. I don't remember the last time hayne actually used a to kick get us out of trouble to be honest at origin level. Having a fullback that can kick is the least of my worries
Chris
Guest
Hayne played great at centre in the world because he has Cronk smith and JT. Stewart is past it we need young players Hayne Morris Morris Idris Dugan Sutton Mullen Tolman Farah Fifita Cordner Bird Gal Reynolds Fensom Watmough Jackson This team will win reason easy hayne is nearly as good as Stewart but has one thing Stewart doesn't a huge boot. How many time has NSW need a big kick to get out of trouble, you can't just put him back here to kick it Qld will catch one quickly need to be there all the time. The Morris twins are just awesome. Idris should be used like Mal and GI big strong make the opposition tackle him. Dugan cause he can goal kick and was awesome last year. Don't need 4 front rowers tolman 60 min player fifita and gal. Fensom with sub in for gal when he plays front row.
Chris
Guest
Stewart isn't a loss at all. Fensom is young and in the same mould
Jay C
Guest
To be fair. Cronk did win the series last year with an awesome field goal. Also I remember something about a Dally M medal.
Brett the Manly Fan
Guest
no Jennings
Brett the Manly Fan
Guest
John Davidson......YOU TALK SENSE, I get sick of people saying Hayne and Dugan should be the Fullback for NSW. Hayne can play wing and centre just as good as fullback and Dugan's Origin time will come (should Brett get injured then put him in the no.1) Brett is actually in my opinion faster then Dugan and he inserts himself better then Hayne and Josh combined. Brett is the best attacking, defence, and supporting fullback in the game, just check out his stats and his strike rate. NSW chose him in 2012 and he bagged 3 (almost 4, Game 1 he almost scored one) tries. JUST THINK ABOUT IT....NSW has better odds with Hayne AND Brett Stewart in the side. NSW Team to win the Series (you may notice it is very similar to the 2012 side) 1, Brett Stewart 2. Brett Morris 3. Michael Jennings 4. Josh Morris 5. Jarryd Hayne (he and Morris can swap positions in game) 6. Todd Carney.....INJURY REPLACEMENT: Josh Reynolds Or James Maloney (if he is injury free) 7. Mitchell Pearce, he is already chosen 8. Willie Mason, we need him now more then ever to spark NSW up and bring Morale to the team and size 9. Robbie Farah......INJURY REPLACEMENT: Josh Reynolds or Kurt Gidley or Michael Ennis or Nathan Peats 10. James Tamou 11. Anthony Watemough (Glenn Stewart is injured) 12. Greg Bird 13. Paul Gallen (c)....HE IS A LOCK NOT PROP 14. Tariq Sims (he take Watemough's spot on the bench) 15. TREX, we need his size and break tackle ability 16. Andrew Fafita 17. Jamal Idris (this was Luke Lewis's spot but he is injured) 18th Man: Shaun Fensom
Haz
Guest
"Just because a player has a brilliant few NRL games or half a season, doesn’t mean Queensland go and pick him." I'd say Daly Cherry-Evans has had a brilliant 3 years, and Queensland still aren't picking him as starting playmaker :)
Dav
Guest
Raug, looking for Refs to win you the game? that wouldn't be like NSW .....
Ajt1989
Guest
I Think people aren't looking at this logically. Perhaps it would be best to put B.Stewart and Hayne in the team. Stewart is definately the best fullback for NSW and Hayne proves he was brilliant in the centres at the world cup. Hayne does have a great passing game and plays like a 5/8. This is very similar to the set up that manly has with Jamie Lyon in the centres where as he is both an attacking centre and a playmaker. If Hayne could fill the role of Jamie Lyon and also add G.Stewart in the forwards, NSW would have key playmakers and kickers all over the park and as for Jennings, he would be a great fresh pair of legs off the bench. Dugan is simply not up to it yet.
Muzz
Guest
Another Muzz : ) I would have Stewart at fullback with Hayne in the centres.