As we are now well aware, New South Wales are in a spot of bother. Greg Bird faces a possible two-week suspension for a dangerous tackle, while Mitchell Pearce, the only ‘certainty’ for a Blues jersey, is in deep trouble with the NSW Police.
I’m sure the Roosters and the NRL Integrity Unit will be ‘fair and just’ with his punishment, like many other NRL stars who’ve copped extended times on the sidelines for poor conduct both on the field and off.
But if NSW do lose Bird and Pearce, have Queensland won already?
The Blues have a better chance without Pearce than they do with him. On form, I’d have Josh Reynolds getting promoted from the bench to take Pearce’s spot.
So who does he partner in the halves? James Maloney? Adam Reynolds?
Not for Josh. If NSW want to win, they need a strong tactical kicker; someone who can play off Reynolds.
My money is on Jarrod Mullen. He is certainly Newcastle’s best player at the moment, and Adam Reynolds is down on form, as is Maloney. You could bring in Todd Carney if he weren’t injured, but he is Mullen gets the nod. Although Jamie Soward is certainly finding his old form and guiding Penrith well, too many people don’t like him and Daley will not pick him.
A lot of people ‘in the know’ have said many things about playing people out of position, but if NSW want to win they need to play Paul Gallen at prop and Greg Bird at lock. Hell, Gallen could play five-eighth and still get 50 tackles, plenty of hit ups, offloads and line breaks.
I just don’t know if he can kick, but it’s Gallen – I’m sure he can. What can’t he do? We Queenslanders might hate him, but we would never wish to not play against him.
Even if Bird is in the second row, who does replace him if he is suspended? Luke Lewis, at lock or in the second row. And who goes on the bench in place of Lewis? That’s not so easy.
This is the team I think NSW should pick should Pearce and Bird be unavailable.
1. Josh Dugan
2. Brett Morris
3. Josh Morris
4. Michael Jennings
5. Jarryd Hayne
6. Jarrod Mullen
7. Josh Reynolds
8. James Tamou
9. Robbie Farah
10. Boyd Cordner
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Luke Lewis
13. Paul Gallen
14. Andrew Fitifa
15. Wade Graham
16. Tariq Sims
17. John Sutton
What makes this a unique situation is that NSW actually have a chance to see how rubbish Pearce is. The guy is obviously a decent player otherwise he would not be in first grade, but he never has been Origin quality. The sooner NSW drop him, the sooner Queensland will have an actual test on their hands.
With the above side, they might actually have a chance of breaking the streak. But is team selection the Blues’ main problem or is it the coach? It’s all and none of the above.
Firstly, New South Wales have forgotten how to win. You saw it last year when they had the series in the bag, and then lost in three games. Queensland didn’t win, as much as it pains me to say it, and they didn’t win in 2012 either.
The Blues panic and throw away chances when they are in the lead. That panic comes from poor coaching preparation. Laurie Daley is no coach, and his record is as poor as predecessor Ricky Stuart’s.
If New South Wales want a good coach, they’ll have to try convince Craig Bellamy to sign up for Origin when he retires from the Storm at the end of 2016. Otherwise, Andrew Johns might just be your man.
The next factor is poor on-field leadership. Gallen isn’t a captain, and neither is Hayne. Bird is next in line and he has the skills and quality, but next down on the list would be Farah. If Glenn Stewart was fit and performing, I’d have him as a run-on forward and captain.
That option is out, so Farah it is. His performances of late show he might just be able to do the job.
Following on from lack of leadership is the halves combination, which might solve itself with the likelihood of Pearce being suspended for several weeks. If he is out and the above team is picked, the Origin series we have all been waiting for might finally be here.
jacko
Guest
Graham would come in if they think Lewis needs more game time i understand
jacko
Guest
He's from Penriff - similiar to Manuel from Barcelona- no idea
jacko
Guest
It figures obviously a Penriff Panfers fan and part time Banjo player
jacko
Guest
forwards win matches look at the forwards first - backs need the forwards to domonate or at least 50/50 QLD have always dominated NSW in the forwards thus were the problems lie- playing Gallon and Bird at prop during the games is dumb neither are props- got to pick at least 3 o 4 specialist props
jacko
Guest
too right the forwards win matches the backs capitalise on their domination been happening since day one
jacko
Guest
Mullen seen him play lately man you must be die hard Knights supporter
jacko
Guest
speed hump Soward would defend were again and as for Sutton man the guy would need an hour start and still be caught by the defence- Reynolds from Souths man the guy will get to know the reserve grade by first name soon not upt o NRL standard let alone to be considered for SOO
jacko
Guest
Sutton man the guy can hardly run on the spot as for his team mate Reynolds shake hands with the reserves coach both not up to SOO standard and hardly even NRL standard, i see kids with better skills than these two in under 7's
jacko
Guest
ha ha ha all the knuckle heads wanting Souths Reynolds and Sutton as the NSW halves would be all be in hiding tonight both were outplayed by Cronk and Second rower Romello- neither should ever be considered again for NSW SOO - both not up to it
Jackson Henry
Guest
Oh I hear you. Although I think there are players with brains, they just aren't being considered because they're not the favourite sons that have been so successful, you see, over the past 8 years. And I don't like what a lot of these selctions say about our values, but hey, as long as we win the biff right?
col in paradise
Guest
Bird is better than Pearce..and most of the rest of the side...And there lies a major problem....Pearce is one of the most boring and predictable halves in over 40 years watching the game....
col in paradise
Guest
Yeah right. Like you looser.... bird talent lot...grafted..Pearce... Lucky his daddy has mates....sorry didn't end up playing NRL as actually had a Brian.... Went overseas and made more than the whole blues side put together per annum.. But my point is.. The blues don't have one talented player with a brain.. Hence 8series in a row...And I am a new South Welshman and this is embarrassing to keep loosing due to stupidity... Especially the selectors
bobby
Guest
the barry- did you read my post mate? here is a quote cause i don't think you did i don’t think cordner should play prop thanks for telling me what i already know mate in regards to player roles. you actually made my point whilst attempting to argue against it. yes ben creagh has done what ben lott is suggesting that boyd corder do. and yes i agree it did not go well. but that is my point, NSW has done exactly what Ben lott is suggesting to do- so don't tell the bloke like a bunch of smart arses that he knows nothing about the game- do you think ricky stuart also knows nothing about the game?
db swannie
Guest
Frank .you are wrong. The last couple of series the NSW forwards have matched the QLD forwards . The difference is what the playmakers(or in Mythcells case the so called playmakers do) when close to the line on the last. Best result a try ,next best a repeat set to keep pressure on. Pearce has not got the talent or kicking game to get a repeat set. I could name plenty of other no 7s who CAN do that.
Dallas
Guest
Lewis was there best forward last year steve, watch the replay of last years series. Every time he got the ball he looked dangerous. He also looked good in the world cup. He may not get a run in game 1 but if he's lookin fit by game 2 he will be in for sure.
Dallas
Guest
Your an absolute goose col, Greg bird is one the most natural gifted footballers in the game, what can't he do? Defends well, runs hard and good lines, natural ball playing ability, can kick goals and kick in play. Plays 80 mins in the forwards. Considering he is not very fast and I've seen him a couple of times he is not a big bloke at all. He is just a natural footballer. Same goes for Mitchell Pearce, while he is no legend of the game he is still a very good footballer and considering he made every junior rep side possible and made his debut at 16 or 17, I dare say he may have a smidge of talent.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Don't disagree but Benedict specifically mentioned off field behaviour.
The Barry
Roar Guru
boby - as said above some backrowers can play prop because they play that role despite the number on their back. Gallen, Blair, Merrin, FPN, Eastwood, Parker even Watmough are examples of this. When these guys are moved to the front row they do well because they are suited to the role. When wider playing backrowers are named as props they ae inherently playing a different role and it usually doesn't end well. Think Ben Creagh and Thaiday as examples. Cornder is not suited to playing prop. Maybe as he gets older, fills out and slows down he'll end up there (think Ian Roberts, Willie Mason, David Gillespie) but it's an absolute waste of one of our potential game breakers to name him at prop in 2014.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Ben are you SERIOUSLY telling me that what you do in South Australian B grade rugby league can be translated to state of origin??? There are different types of backrower. The Paul Gallen type play in the middle third of the field and are basically an extra prop. Their role is to earn the tough metres coming out of your own end. The Boyd Cordner type play wider and run angles to put the defensive line in two minds. It's a waste having someone like Cordner doing all the grunt work. Because some players like Gallen can play both doesn't mean that the positions are interchangeable. This is rugby league 101 and you clearly don't understand it. Good luck with your SA B grade team. As for the Stewart / Woods comment - it also appears you are too thick to realise when someone is taking the mickey out of you.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Yes I do actually. It's an established and wel-known strategy - when you're faced with a superior opposition skill-wise, you try and destabilise them by baiting them. I'm a Blue and it' been obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes that this has been this team's go since about 2008/2009. It's embarassing. It's also blatantly stupid approach that only reinforces what t already self-evident. Qld are mentally tougher than we are, and won't be baited. They just wear it and beat us where, and when, it counts. Gallen, Bird, Watmough, Ennis...mentally tough? These guys are some of the biggest liabilities when it comes to this sort of thing. Our captain was very lucky not t have cost us a 3-0 whitewash last year by almost being sent off for that utter rubbish he dished up.