Throughout their eight-year reign, the Maroons selectors have made some astute calls regarding the Queensland State of Origin side. But if they were asked to, who would the Queensland selectors go for as NSW halfback?
I reckon it would be Albert Kelly, from the Gold Coast Titans. I also think NSW coach Laurie Daley should give him serious consideration if he decides to drop Mitchell Pearce for the game at Suncorp Stadium on May 28.
Pearce’s chances of being in the team suddenly don’t look so good. His timing on the field has been off this season, but not nearly so bad as the timing of his off-field misdemeanour last weekend.
In terms of ‘nightclub incidents’, it appears to have been a relatively minor one. It has to be judged against top-class opposition because we’ve had some absolute crackers over the years.
But it couldn’t have come at a worse time, with Origin just around the corner.
It may have been just a temporary slip-up from a bloke who got on the drink and swapped his head for a pumpkin, but it was inevitable that it would make people wonder whether Pearce was prepared, as he should be, for the challenge ahead.
Daley had earlier this season said he couldn’t see any reason why Pearce wouldn’t be the NSW halfback again. Well, he can see a reason now. The fact he is no longer guaranteeing Pearce a place in the side says as much.
No doubt Daley and his chief adviser, Bob Fulton, have spent a lot of time tossing up the alternatives in discussions between themselves and whoever else’s opinion they take this week.
The thing is that whether Pearce is in the side or not will directly affect whether his Sydney Roosters teammate, James Maloney, survives as NSW five-eighth.
Personally, I think it will be either both or neither. I think it is really only Maloney’s goal-kicking ability that is keeping him in the conversation at this stage anyway.
So will Pearce survive as NSW halfback when the team is named after this weekend’s NRL round? My gut feeling is no.
It looks like the genie is out of the bottle, and since it is clear Daley is now genuinely considering alternatives, the inevitability is that one or two of them will start looking better to him than they did previously.
Not that anyone is quite banging the door down for selection.
I can’t see South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds getting picked. The same goes for Newcastle’s Tyrone Roberts. Knights five-eighth Jarrod Mullen has played plenty of halfback and would be a contender, but, to be honest, he doesn’t grab me either.
Canterbury’s Trent Hodkinson would have to be close to selection. His goal-kicking would be a bonus and his Bulldogs teammate, five-eighth Josh Reynolds, is already a strong contender.
Perhaps the Blues would be well-advised to go for that combination.
But Kelly should certainly be considered. I’m not sure how bad the hamstring strain is that will prevent him from playing for Gold Coast this weekend, but presuming it’s only a minor thing then why shouldn’t he at least be in the frame with the other possibilities?
Kelly is an attacking dynamo and a major reason the Titans have done better than expected over the first nine rounds of the season.
Queensland have tended to go for X-factor players like him, in various positions, over the years. This has often been successful, whereas the Blues have preferred more traditional halfbacks.
Every reasonable possibility for the number seven jumper should be thrown into the melting pot for thorough consideration.
However long Daley’s run as NSW coach goes, he won’t make many more important decisions than this one.
dubblebubble
Guest
I like Kelly and Reynolds as halves. Nice combination of flashiness and toughness.
Ret
Guest
Yeah, as Merritt discovered you can't hide on the wing when your inside team mates miss so many tackles, that you're left marking three attackers.
jacko
Guest
Queenslands everywhere though
jacko
Guest
the backline should be 1. J Hayne 2. B Morris 3. J Morris 4. M Jennings 5 . D Tupou 6. J Maloney 7. M Pearce
Muzz
Guest
The reason Daley had said Pearce is his number 7 so early is because at club level during the 2013 season he was space bars ahead of any other NSW 7.This doesn't mean no one else has a chance but they have to perform better than Pearce which none of them have.Pearce has performed well this year in all games and Maloney has found form in the last 3.He destroyed the Dragons on Anzac Day.The Dogs halves pairing are playing well but this is behind a pack thats really firing and seriously dominating the ruck.This won't be the case at origin level because at best we may hold our own or get a small advantage but certainly won't dominate their pack. If you run into Bennett one day ask him if Mullen is a 1/2 or 5/8 and ask him why.
Charles NSW
Guest
With deep respect I do not hate Pearce. I do hate that NSW keep selecting him way before time and I do hate the fact that he is not up to standard for SOO. In regards to once again selecting him this year I hear they may decide to change their mind. In regards to Mullen if he is fit choose him if not then look who will be next to take his place. Simple really Muzz!
Muzz
Guest
Charles - Pearce and Maloney are going to be the halves so you better get use to it.Remember we were close last year and if successful this year you will have plenty of egg on your face as you haven't stop death riding Pearce.Is it Pearce you hate or the Roosters? Mullen is playing on 1 leg and can't run close to full speed.He also performs best at 5/8 as he has more room and therefore time to make decisions.How are the Knights going this year?Lets not forget they have the games best coach and Mullen.
Charles NSW
Guest
This is the very problem NSW has Bearfax! We keep choosing players that are the flavour of the month. When they do not fire we burn them at the stake. Then we go the other way by trying to keep players so there is unity. However that also fails because we choose players that are not up to standard in the first place. Origin is such that you have the very best against each other trying to find every mistake that can be found. This is the very reason why we should groom players by introducing them on the bench first. This is the very reason why Pearce needs to go and we should choose those that have already played SOO. Therefore this would be Jarrod Mullen and Josh Reynolds for the halves.
Bearfax
Roar Guru
I think if you read my items above Matt, that I was pointing out that fact by saying players like Kelly, Barba and Milford have the magic but are seemingly not yet mature enough to handle to the SOO role, though I havent seen Kelly of late. Point is that someone like Slater, Thurston, Cronk, Cherry-Evans, Hayne and B. Stewart have the magic that wins games, and yes they are consistent. Players like Milford, Barba, Tedesco, Kelly, Brooks and even Carney have the 'magic' but not yet the consistency. But you need 'magic' players to win you most of the matches
Devout Saint
Guest
I have been saying Kelly and Josh Reynolds should be our halves all year and I still think they should be. I would go 1 B Stewart 2 B Morris 3 J Morris 4 Hayne 5 Hopoate 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Kelly 13 Watmough 12 Cordner 11 Scott 10 Tamou 9 Farrah 8 Gallen 14 Merrin 15 Woods 16 Graham 17 Williams With Bird to come back in when available.
Craig
Guest
How Is Kelly Eligible for NSW?He Grew Up In Bowraville And That's In QLD???
soapit
Guest
remind me when that great game was? i genuinely cant think of a single pearce highlight where he put someone in for a try of a pass or kick. they must be out there somewhere surely.
soapit
Guest
i reckon that one tackle hodginson made on the weekend on that forward who had just tried to fight him (the that happened on the first hitup from the penalty) would have made the selectors eyes light up. a genuine hard defender along with a long boot and goal kicker to compliment reynolds spark. lets do it folks!
Adam
Guest
A fullback on the bench? How handy...
Matt
Guest
Magic and consistency don't go hand in hand :)
TGGOA
Guest
That's got nothing to do with what you said, you made an ignorant generalized comment, inferring that Albert Kelly doesn't have much to do with the Titans success, or if he does it's by luck? The stats comparison, 5 tries, 30 tackle busts, that's good firepower for a halfback. I chose Reynolds/Hodkinson combo as they play in the halves and will go very close to selection this year rightly so just to keep things in perspective, had nothing to do with his defense, intercepts (probably lucky right?) or that he's playing injured, or that he had 2 try assists in a badly beaten team last week. Stay on topic now.
BA Sports
Guest
Johnny, Jolly whatever. I don't care for Reynolds and Hodkinson particularly, but between them they have 19 try assists this year, Kelly wouldn't have 5. Kelly doesn't appear on any leader boards statistically. From try scoring, assists to Long kicks to the open, Kelly doesn't hit any. He probably leads the league in intercepts but that doesn't get you a start in Origin. Where he does show up on the stat sheet is missed tackles (more than Reynolds and Hodkinson combined!!!!). In the last three full games he has played he has missed 20 tackles. How on earth does that make an Origin footballer?!
V.O.R.
Guest
Yer this is trumpeted every year. Apparently QLD's spine will go down in history as being so remarkable that they won 8 series on the trot in the toughest NRL arena without their forward pack winning it up front. Few would say Scott is unremarkable, premier front rower in the game. Smith - while not as distinguished as Farah in your world he probably escapes being labelled as unremarkable. Parker - maturing with age and leading off loader in the NRL competition. Thiaday ran over your 5/8 to score just last year..unremarkable? Not sure Myles has the most remarkable forehead in world rugby league....nothing unremarkable about that. Gillet is a damaging runner primed to hit his straps on Origin stage. Farah (29), gallen (32), Watmough (30), Bird (29), Lewis almost (31) and 6 months on sideline before playing 5/8 last weekend. Hardly a bunch of spring chickens. Coming off injuries and lacking legs. If NSW could dominate then with what Daley has to work with they deserve every accolade.
Benny
Guest
Reynolds has to be there, but i think maloney should play halfback. Think back to the series last year and maloney had a few linebreaks and linebreak assists. He knows how to get the gaps. Furthermore he is in the top 2 goal kickers in the game and therefore brings something that mullen does not
Bearfax
Roar Guru
My apologies to Hayne, who is probably the one player in the NSW side (if Brett Stewart isnt fit to play) who does have that magic touch that is needed to win games