Take a bow Blues selectors – I reckon you’ve chosen the best team possible.
New South Wales is staring down the barrel of a ninth straight series loss to Queensland and you have come up with a team which can contain – and ultimately overwhelm – a steamroller that has deservedly won a place in rugby league folklore.
You have given the nod to form players along with those who have served you well in the past.
You have been brave in punting your scrum-base combination, which goes against your much-publicised pick-and-stick philosophy of recent seasons.
You have given us Blues’ fans many extra reasons to hope for a change in State of Origin results.
And I firmly believe, NSW will win Game 1 and lay the foundations for a series win at last.
Mitchell Pearce’s omission is obviously the big talking point.
He has been given many, many chances but it has become clear that he gets overawed in the Origin arena and cannot produce the class and composure he shows consistently at club level.
Mitchell’s recent misbehaviour at Kings Cross went down badly with coach Laurie Daley and he has gone for Bulldogs’ star Trent Hodkinson at seven.
It’s a really huge call by Daley as Trent has never been sighted in the Origin cauldron before, but the coach feels he can handle it and I am on the same page.
Hodkinson has really come to the fore as an organising halfback this year. He has been credited with many try assists for the table-topping Bulldogs and his defence has been from the top drawer.
His general play kicking has been bordering on perfect and as a goal-kicker and field goal exponent, well, you’ve got to hunt far and wide to find anyone near to him.
I believe he is ready for this big step up in class and become a match-winner in his own right for the Blues.
Having his Bulldogs’ teammate, Josh Reynolds, stationed outside is another bonus for NSW. These guys have worked superbly together at club level and have the drive and skills set to at least match Queensland’s Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.
I know these guys really well. They relish a challenge and respond to them like no other combination. They can turn the Maroon tide and produce a Blue bombora.
Three players in this NSW line-up have a heck of a lot in common.
Jarryd Hayne, Tony Williams and Hodkinson played junior football together at the Cabramatta club and this sort of background can only help the Blues’ combination.
As a former Origin winger, I am excited for Roosters flier Daniel Tupou. He is a fantastic finisher with amazing skills in the air. His presence up high will worry the Maroons. I am thrilled that the selectors have given him a shot at the big time.
Aaron Woods’ selection was also richly deserved. He has been outstanding in almost every game this year for the Wests Tigers. I see him as a long-term Origin player. This guy is a big part of the current Blues’ team and their future.
I think the NSW bench is outstanding and there’s every chance victory will come from these four guys.
Anthony Watmough, Trent Merrin, Luke Lewis and Tony ‘T-Rex’ Williams cover many bases. Each can produce a flash of brilliance in attack or defence that can spur the Blues to victory.
NSW hasn’t had the smoothest of preparations for the opening game but I think we Blues people should be able to sprout a reasonable degree of confidence in the lead-up to Origin 2014.
The selectors have gone for form and not so much reputation or “continuity.”
I think they’ve got it right. They have given NSW every conceivable chance to bring down a rugby league juggernaut.
And I am really excited.
Christian D'Aloia
Roar Guru
He's big in spirit, I'll give him that much. But I disagree, the Maroons pack looks bigger to me.
Naught
I think Bird is a huge loss. Beau Scott just doesn't fill his boots. Doesn't have the workload, versatility or impact that Bird does. He is tough though.
AT
Guest
Sterlo doesn't agree with you. He said on the radio the other day that the dogs halves may struggle when they realise the Blues forwards may not give them the same space as the dogs forwards can. And I agree with Sterlo. Seriously, was there a better forward than Mat Scott last year? How can you say the blues forwards gave the Roosters halves plenty of room? Did you see Pearce and Maloney when they went back to the Roosters and how well they played after each SOO? So maybe you should go back and watch games other than SOO.
Dr Yes
Guest
Replies that NSW forwards have been on top are wrong. It's easy to overfocus on NSW and miss Qld performance. Google SOO player ratings for the past few years. It's true there've been a minority of games, usually on NSW soil, where NSW pack got on top, say 7 v 6.5 or 7.5 v 7, and often NSW won these games. See game 1 2013 for an example. More often, the Qld pack have been on top or at least equal. They've had Myles, Scott, Thaiday, Papali, Civoniceva, Parker, Lillyman, Taylor, Price, Webke, Costigan, Crocker, and don't forget Smith making 50 or 60 tackles. Check game 2 2012 - the Qld pack pummeled NSW. NSW couldn't get out of their quarter - back 3 and forwards were driven backwards in tackles. Qld had all the territory and most of the ball. Woods made 30 odd metres from about 10 hitups. Gallen had 2 runs in the first half. And defending their line sapped NSW. Of course, when Qld get time in opposition quarter, they have the passing and running game to rip NSW apart. NSW can't replicate that with any combination. But fact is, when NSW pack have nudged ahead, they've been able to play a smart territory game and the kicking miraculously improves. And they've won more often than not. If the Qld pack get on top, the new halves will find more pressure and a faster game than they've experienced. On club form (Scott, Smith, Myles, Gillett, Guerra) that's pretty likely. And on home soil in game 100? It's firstly about the forwards, and secondly about very conservative halfback play for territory, a la Pearce and Maloney in game 1 '13.
NSWelshman
Guest
Yes & the QLD forwards don't compare to the NSW forwards!
Long Black
Roar Rookie
When I read the Bulldogs halves had been selected I thought we could be in a bit of strife. Then I saw the announcement and Kasiano and Graham weren't even mentioned and it was the second string halves that got read out. Nine in a row.
paul
Guest
Ok steve we get the article giving your doggy mates a rap fair enough and good luck to them reynolds deserves to be ther. Pearce and maloney are the premiership halves beat best halves combo 5 times last year and won gf . Got beat by apoint in origin last year by a team of champions they deseved another go in my view anybody would think pearce has committed muder. Did queensland drop lockyer when he was getting lapped by freddy and johns
Dallas
Guest
Well how come Brett Morris has been on the wing for Australia for the last 5 years?? Uve pretty much just named all the manly wingers and hopoate who use to play for them. Why can't you just judge players on there ability not by the team they play for? C'mon mate, you honestly can't think that Stewart is playing better than hayne and deserves the fullback spot? Surely not. Did you watch him on the week end? Or any other games he's played this year. The bloke is a deadest freak. Stewart is a very good fullback too but hayne is infront of him by a country mile at the moment. The way you carry on about the manly players is just plain annoying. When I watch A game of rugby league I want to see the great players play, whether its DCE for manly, hayne for Parra, JT for cowboys, Inglis for souths or slater for storm. I don't care what team they play for I just want to see them do the great things they do every week. Maybe you should look at a game of footy one day in this way and you might get more joy out of it. Just a suggestion.
Glenn Innes
Guest
Boydy - I don't think the Mafia will be paying Cronk and Thurston to take a dive - I could think of better analogies.
Dallas
Guest
Haha, feel free to prove me wrong where you see fit mate.. I love rugby league mate and Im entitled to my opinion just like anyone else, if I disagree with someone else's statements or opinion il let them know, same as if I agree with someone.. As for the NSW centre wing combo I figured Brett Morris has occupied the left wing for how ever many years and even last year when his brother was in the team they still played different sides of the field, I thought that would be the case again. Obviously I didn't realize tupou and Jennings plays on the same side for roosters so they will go with that. Mate if I am wrong I will admit it, I won't defend my initial opinion for the sake of a bit of pride like some others do. Eitther way I stand by the fact that Brett Morris is the best winger in the game, not many people can disagree with that. And which ever side of the field tupou plays on Thurston and slater will be goin at him all night to hopefully get him to make a few bad decisions defensively.
bobby
Guest
yes you do know all about footy as you keep telling us mate. weird you probably got it wrong about the centre wing combinations this year though isn't it? pull your head out of you know where dallas, your confidence is sickening and unwarranted as you yourself admit in a previous post in this thread, you are probably wrong with some things you say.
bobby
Guest
yeh just like uate in 2011 ay, wasn't that great
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Bahaha yea ok hoppa,was a better winger wolfman is twice the player b.moz is a taufua is also twice as good. Morris is a myth like pearce gallen and the cookie monster
Dr Yes
Guest
Should've said "debutant halves often lose the series"...
Obelisjk
Guest
The Shame will be SOO savior again
hindsight
Guest
the heading is utter rubbish maybe a better choice of halves for NSW but you're comparing chumps to champs form is temporary but class is forever
Albo
Guest
Yep ! Can't really complain about the selections ! It is probably as good a combination available to the Blues selectors. Still can't see this lot getting anywhere near the QLD mob ! The fact is we have gone for lots of different club combos whilst QLD has a single combo of 17 that has been playing together for years at Origin Level ! QLD has the three best on field generals in the game, and we have ??? We look terribly weak up front and half the bench in my opinion ! Very soft ! We have a debutant set of halves (fingers crossed) , and a dodgy debutant winger who will be targeted all night under bombs and bringing the ball back. Our backrowers look our only strength but even they are probably matched by experienced proven QLD Origin bruisers. I can't see anywhere on the park where NSW can win unless the QLD boys have a really off night !
BigHeads
Guest
Yeah and I suppose Woodsy is going to be the one to do it then, probably hasn't even cracked 50 meters in an origin thus far.
speedy2460
Guest
The forward pack is to soft. Woods is like blancmange. He will get creamed. Borderline first grader at best. Stewart should have been fullback and Hayne on the wing. doubles the attacking options and removes Topou suspect defence.
Renegade
Guest
Go back and watch the games...the forwards have given the halves plenty of platform over the past few years.