As the rumours had suggested, Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson have been named as the halves pairing for NSW in Game 1 of State of Origin. This means that Mitchell Pearce has missed out as we expected.
Laurie Daley came out at the start of the season and confirmed he would be sticking with Pearce as NSW’s halfback for the series. This would suggest that Pearce was dropped due to his indiscretion a few weeks back, where he was arrested after a night out in Kings Cross, and not due to his current form with the Roosters.
Laurie Daley also expressed his intent to have a halves pairing from club level. This would suggest James Maloney would have also been picked even though his form this year hasn’t warranted selection.
If you put two and two together, Maloney missed out on an Origin spot due Pearce’s poor behaviour. There’s two ways Maloney could look at it – if his form was good enough, he would have been selected irrespective of Daley’s wish to have a halves pairing that operated together club level. Or he could blame Pearce for missing what seemed to be a certain selection for the Blues.
If Maloney blames Pearce, this could spell disaster for the Roosters. Surely there would be tension between the two and eventually that will spill out on the field. It could also put Pearce on the outer within the playing group if people pick a side.
Hopefully for Roosters fans, Maloney blames his own form for being dropped this year. If he was having a blinder this year, Daley would not be able to ignore him.
Let’s hope for Roosters fans that there’s no bad blood between the two!
KB
Guest
Youll be stewing on that GF for a while...I'll be holding my arms aloft as NRL and World Champions until unseated ol' chap!
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Go the doggies!!!!!!!!
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Mate you had to buy two internationals and a former origin player just to compete. Manly most dominant team for the last ten years! In 2013 you beat us three times without some of our best players luckily may I add. And on the biggest stage we destroyed you until shayne hayne stepped up. Everyone knows it mate. Long way to go.. no buddy sitting 2nd and soon to be 1st. Back to the bottom 8 mate
KB
Guest
Long way to go yet son...Manly wont be there, thats for certain.
KB
Guest
Grand Final night 2013 was good...Easts 5 Manly 0 for the year..you couldnt even win one!
Solly
Guest
Maloney has been down on form lately,Pearce thought the halfback jersey was his to keep for good, well he was wrong,if anything's to come out right,both would have to tuck tails between their legs and prove everyone wrong.
GD
Guest
If the game on Saturday in Townsville was meant to be his last chance at making Origin, it was doomed from the start. SBW at 5/8 was a complete failure & left Maloney high & dry. I suspect, based on the way that Maloney played, he may have already known that he'd missed out on Origin. He was terrible, and looked very down on confidence.
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Roosters finished 13th in 2012 I guess without the nrls help that's were they will end up. Funny how everything comes full circle
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Straight bottom 8 where they belong