New South Wales’ 2014 State of Origin Game 1 team will be announced on Tuesday, May 20, but we thought we’d give you the opportunity to become Laurie Daley (just for a minute!) and pick the Blues team. So tell us, who should line up 1-17 for NSW in State of Origin I this year?
Who do you think should be the side to run out at ANZ Stadium on May 28 and end Queensland’s incredible eight-year hoodoo?
We’ll do the number-crunching and come out with a Roar NSW State of Origin team against the side who is picked by NSW selectors on Tuesday.
>> Select Queensland’s State of Origin team for Game I
How do I get started?
To begin, scroll down the page and select a player at each starting position, plus the four bench spots.
We’ve provided you with the leading options at each position, but if you disagree with us and think a bolter should get into the lineup, select ‘other’ and let you know who you want in.
We’ve given you a handful of choices for the four bench spots, but ultimately the decision rests with you.
The halves would be giving Blues fans a headache. Do you go with last year’s combination, the premiership-winning pair of Maloney and Pearce, or look for new playmakers?
Want to adopt a bash-and-barge strategy with four bulking forwards? Go for it. Think NSW need an x-factor utility player or two? Your call!
Current NSW skipper Paul Gallen is fit and getting fitter after missing matches due to a knee injury early this year, and is almost certain to line up in Game I.
Question is, do you put him at the coalface as a prop, or will he serve his state better as a backrower?
If he does, as expected, come into the front row, will it be alongside James Tamou, or does a resurgent Tim Mannah or Aaron Woods deserve to take the spot after a strong start to the NRL season?
NSW have plenty of options in the back row. Evergreen Ryan Hoffman is in with a strong chance to back up from last year, and with Greg Bird to miss Origin due to suspension, will Luke Lewis or Boyd Cordner take a starting spot?
The battle for the fullback spot is intriguing. Origin specialist Jarryd Hayne is assured a spot somewhere, the question is whether it’s at the back, in the centres or on the wing. Josh Dugan and Brett Stewart are both mounting strong challenges for the custodian role.
Josh Morris and Michael Jennings are favourites for the centre spots, and Pat Richards could be cap off an amazing return to Australia if the Blues choose to go with no goal-kicking half.
Now over to you. Give us your thoughts and enjoy putting together the NSW State of Origin team for Game I.
dallas
Guest
You have a poor knowledge of the game chris. Inglis first line break which led to qlds first try - slater recieves a pass sweepinh behind an EDGE runner and then drops Chris Mcqueen under who made the half break. So this is on instance where an EDGE runner was required to break the line -if the edge runner wasnt running a good line slater wouldnt of got the ball in the space he did to get mcqueen through. 2 - brett morris try - run of the mill play where hayne fullback sweeps behinds the EDGE runner to create an overlap for the blokes outside - once again without the EDGE runner running an outside in line the overlap wouldnt have occurred. You even here sterlo say they have done this play a few times tonight. 3 - hayne try - he sweeps behind the edge runner again but the defender went for the back rower so hayne ran the ball and scored. 4 - boyds 2nd try - same play as morris' try where slater sleeps behind the EDGE runner to create the overlap for boyd to score. So as you can see 3 out of the 4 tries scored required a structured play that every NRL team uses where the EDGE runner is used to create space for the outside players. Cronks injury put them off a bit and I think thats why gillette didnt see much footy. But guerra ran some good lines and made good metres. NSW went out the back to hayne 95% of the time but the back rowers still did there job, and without them there hayne or slater wouldnt have got the space they did get last night
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I'm hoping for a reversal of this comment. As we all saw tonight there was nearly ZERO edge running. Everything was one out and through the guts. There was no second row edge running. Origin is about muscle and no mistake footy. Watguts did nothing but give away a stupid penalty tonight.
Russell
Guest
Who the dummy that left Nathan peats out ????????
DANGGAH
Guest
From my point of view, this is how it should be. Skill is what we need. And this team is filled with experience. Despite having David Mead in the side, he will be with Josh Morris on one end and the will cause alot of damage. So this is how I think it should be: 1. Jarryd Hayne 2. Brett Morris 3. Micheal Jennings 4. Josh Morris 5. David Mead 6. Josh Reynolds 7. James Malony 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Robbie Farrah 10. James Tamou 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Luke Lewis 13. Paul Gallen Bench: 14. John Sutten 15. Andrew Fifita(if he recovers) if not Willie Mason or Aaron Woods.. 16. Anthony Watmough 17. Trent Merrin !!!!..Go Blues..!!!!...,
DAnn
Guest
Should be Hayne B.Morris J.Morris Hopoate Topu J.Reynolds Pearce or Adam Reynolds Tamou Farrah Gallen Bird Lewis Gordner Bench Woods Merrin Williams Peats Now that's a team
Chris Love
Guest
Is that half back a typo?
Bearfax
Roar Guru
Wont happen Anna, but good suggestion. Hopoate wouldnt let them down and would be a solid full back option.
Josh Carmody
Guest
Omg some people are so silly!! This is my team 1 Hayne 2 Morris 3 Jennings 4 Morris 5 Tupou 6 Maloney 7 Pearce 8 Woods 9 Farrah 10 Tamou 11 Lewis 12 Hoffman 13 Gallen 14 Reynolds 15 Watmough 16 Sims 17 Grant
Anna.
Guest
1. William Hopoate 2. Brett Morris 3. Michael Jennings 4. Josh Morris 5. Jarryd Hayne 6. James Maloney 7. Andrew Fifita 8. Brett Stewart 9. Robbie Farah 10. James Tamou 11. Anthony Watemough 12. Luke Lewis 13. Paul Gallen 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Ryan Hoffman 16. Tim Grant 17. Tony Williams
Amelia
Guest
Doesanyone agree with my thoughts?
Raderz
Guest
1 Stewart 2 B. Morris 3 Hayne 4 J. Morris 5 Tupou 6 J. Reynolds 7 A. Reynolds 8 Woods 9 Farah 10 Fifita 11 Lewis 12 Cordner 13 Gallen
Raj
Guest
Laurie Daley will pick this team 1.Hayne 2. Tupou 3. Jennings 4.J.Morris 5.B.Morris 6. Maloney 7.Pearce 8.Woods 9.Farah 10.Tamou 11.Lewis 12.Cordner 13.Gallen 14. J.Reynolds 15. Merrin 16. B.Scott 17. Hoffman 18.Dugan
Shouts Chen
Guest
Hope that NSW will win the SoO for the first time since 2005. You remember last year when the NSW Coach Laurie Daley told the interview that the NSW will hope to win the Origin Series this year.
tamara
Guest
Tariq sims should be playing for the blues
Cherry cherry
Guest
1. Hayne 2. Morris 3. Jennings 4. J. Morris 5. Tupou 6. Maloney 7. A. Reynolds 8. Gallen 9. Peats 10. Tamou 11. Cordner 12. Lewis 13. Stewart 14. Merrin 15. Williams 16. Watmough 17. Woods
Jackson Henry
Guest
Spectator - I was crucified in another thread for merely suggesting that. I dunno whether this agrees with you or not, but I think Inglis could quite possibly be the Greatest of All Time...but he lets himself down with his work ethic, poor communication and, seemingly, lack of interest at times. What makes this so frustrating is that these are all easy fixes, or relatively so anyway. He has the best combination of power, speed and skill in the game, and really should be doing a lot more than what we're seeing from him. I really think he could be putting in a bit more on kick returns in particular and showing a bit more urgency.
Dallas
Guest
As a player gordon Tallis did everything there is to do in the game, 3 premierships, 3 or 4 SSO series and a world cup. But as a captain the broncos did not have much success from 2001-2004, especially considering the rosters they had. but Qld did win 01-02 series so he didn't go that bad.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Or what are we missing that they aren't! Seriously, though, I reckon Pearce is a bit of a sideshow when it comes to the problems NSW has. I've harped on and on...and on...about it, so I won't carry on about it again here. But I'd start with Fulton.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
A quick scroll through all the comments. While there is plenty of debate over certain positions, it's seems unanimous amongst Roarers that Pearce should not be the NSW half back. That's pretty staggering considering the coaching elite in this state had Pearce locked in at halfback before his night out in the cross. What are they seeing that no one else is?
Mango Jack
Guest
Josh Morris's time has come.