Greatest ever Origin team: New South Wales backline

With the hundredth State of Origin game played this year, and some of the finest minds in rugby league naming their list of the 10 greatest origin players, I am going to do the same.

In a five-part series, I will name the best of the best of both teams.

Today, I am naming the best of the Blues backline. If you don’t count the game in America in 1987, the series-clinching win by the Blues on Wednesday was actually the hundredth game. However, that is another discussion in itself.

In part one today I am going to be naming my greatest ever New South Wales team. The interchange bench will be made of the top four that missed selection.

Fullback
The candidates for the fullback in the Blues team are: Gary Jack (Wests Magpies and Balmain), Tim Brasher (Balmain, South Sydney and North Queensland), Brett Hodgson (Western Suburbs, Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers) and Anthony Minichello (Sydney Roosters).

Gary Jack played 17 games for the Blues between the years of 1984 and 1989. He was rated the best fullback in the world for much of that time and was only overlooked for selection once after his debut, besides the game in America when he made himself unavailable.

While he only scored one try for the Blues, his defence was miles ahead of everybody else who played the game during that time period and was also one of the fastest fullbacks in the game. Jack also played 20 consecutive Test matches for Australia, scoring 11 tries in that time.

Tim Brasher played 21 games for the Blues, and also did a bit of goal kicking at rep level. He has an even mix of attack and defence in his game plan and played most of his Origin games consecutively without being overlooked for selection. Brasher also played 16 games for Australia scoring eight tries.

Brett Hodgson had a decorated career in the NRL becoming one of the best in the years he played the game. He became one of the best goal kickers in the NRL, although only kicked a handful of goals throughout his six appearances for the Blues.

He was good under the high ball, good in defence and good in attack. Hodgson never represented Australia.

Anthony Minichello is one of the longest-serving, one-club players in the NRL, and while his form is tapering off now as he reaches retirement, during his prime he was one of the best fullbacks to play the game. He picked up a golden boot for the best player in the game worldwide and often fought with Hodgson for the spot of fullback.

Minichello has played for New South Wales 11 times scoring eight tries, and has played a total of 25 international matches, 18 for Australia and 7 for Italy.

The Verdict: Gary Jack and Tim Brasher are the top two, edging out Hodgson and Minichello. Brasher had a little bit more attack to his game than Jack so I’m giving the number 1 jersey to Tim Brasher.

The wingers
The candidates are: Eric Grothe Snr (Parramatta Eels), Andrew Ettingshausen (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks), Rod Wishart (Illawarra Steelers, St George Ilawarra Dragons), Adam MacDougall (Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights, South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jarryd Hayne (Paramatta Eels) and Brett Morris (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Eric Grothe Snr, father of Eric Grothe Jnr, represented the Blues nine times only scoring three tries. However his defence was always up to Origin standards, which led to him representing Australia eight times.

Since retiring, Grothe has been named in the top 100 players of all time and holds a spot in the Australian team of the limited tackle era.

Andrew Ettingshausen could have been a candidate in any one of the wing, fullback or centre spots. However when I think about Ettingshausen, wing is the main position that springs to mind and it is where he played a majority of his 27 matches. He scored seven tries and was up to the task in defence and attack.

He also represented Australia on 25 occasions.

Rod Wishart made 22 appearances for the Blues. While only scoring five tries for the Blues, he made 18 appearances for Australia, scoring 13 tries and kicking 43 goals. Once he made his debut for the Blues he only missed a few games until his retirement.

Adam Macdougall represented the Blues 11 times, scoring four tries and was one that could be relied upon in defence on the wing. He has also represented his country 11 times, scoring eight tries.

Jarryd Hayne, like Andrew Ettingshausen, could have been made a candidate in either of the wing, centre or fullback positions but he has played a majority of his games on the wing in the Origin arena.

Out of 19 games for the Blues, he has played 13 on the wing. He is a player of exceptional talent and has played through a losing Blues era. He has also managed to score nine tries for the Blues and represent Australia 12 times, scoring 11 tries.

Brett Morris has played 10 games for the Blues, scoring three tries and has become an exceptional defender. Playing 18 games for Australia he has scored 23 tries.

The Verdict: Andrew Ettingshausen is the first winger while the other wing spot comes down to a battle between Jarryd Hayne and Rod Wishart. Wishart gets the nod because of his ability to get selected almost continually throughout an eight-year period and his goal kicking ability. Hayne still has plenty of years to improve his record. Ask me in five years and I might well say Jarryd Hayne on the wing or possibly at Fullback.

The centres
The candidates are: Mick Cronin (Parramatta Eels), Steve Rogers (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks and St George Dragons) Paul Macgregor (Illawarra Steelers and St George Illawarra Dragons), Ryan Girdler (Illawarra Steelers and Penrith Panthers), Matt Gidley (Newcastle Knights), Mark Gasnier (St George Illawarra Dragons), Matt Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons) and Jamie Lyon (Parramatta Eels and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

Mick Cronin and Steve Rogers both played in the first and second official “State of Origin” game.

They both played until 1982 in the Origin arena and were brilliant in the centre spot for the Blues. Both Cronin and Rogers were goal kickers. Both debuted in 1973 for NSW before Origin. Rogers played 21 games with seven tries and Cronin played 29 games with seven tries.

Paul MacGregor was a very good centre in the 1990’s and represented New South Wales 14 times crossing the try line 14 times and being widely regarded as one of the best centres of his time representing Australia three times.

Ryan Girdler still holds the record for the most points for an individual in a State of Origin game with 32 points. Girdler was brilliant in both attack and defence, representing the Blues eight times scoring seven tries and kicking 27 goals. He also represented Australia 11 times and scored nine tries.

Matt Gidley was a very good attacking weapon in the centres with good defence to back him up. He represented the Blues 11 times scoring five tries and Australia 17 times scoring 11 tries. He was one of the longest-serving, one-club players in the NRL before leaving to play in the English Super League.

Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper played in the centres for the Dragons together on many occasions and backed it up for the Blues. Gasnier was more known for his attacking talents while Cooper was more known for his defensive talents.

Gasnier also had a stint in French Rugby from 2007 onwards which cut short his Origin career. Gasnier played for the Blues on 12 occasions, scoring four tries and for Australia 15 times scoring eleven tries while Cooper played for the Blues 13 times scoring three tries and for Australia seven times scoring eight tries.

Jamie Lyon has represented the Blues 10 times and only scored one try, cutting short his Origin career by retiring himself from rep footy and also having a stint in England. However when he did play for the Blues he showed good attacking and defensive skills. In recent years he has refused requests to come out of rep retirement.

The Verdict: Ryan Girdler is the first centre picked because of his great attacking ability and being able to back it up with great defence. The other spot goes to Matt Cooper because of his toughness and great defence, which is all part of what makes up a good player in the origin arena. He narrowly edges out Steve Rogers and Mick Cronin.

The five-eighth
The candidates are: Brett Kenny (Parramatta Eels), Terry Lamb (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs), Laurie Daley (Canberra Raiders), and Brad Fittler (Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters).

Brett Kenny made his New South Wales debut in the centres in 1982 but but later played 12 of his 17 Origin games at five-eighth. He also represented Australia on 17 occasions.

Terry Lamb won the Dally M Five Eighth of the year award a record seven times during his career. It’s little wonder why, Lamb is one of the greats of the game, however apart from being involved in New South Wales first clean sweep in 1986, his New South Wales career was not all that fabulous. He only managed to play eight games and never scored a try.

Laurie Daley was the next great five eighth for New South Wales, although you could also name him in the centre position. He played the majority of his rep footy in the Five Eighth position. He played 23 games for the blues scoring six tries, bringing a lot of victories and organising the play skilfully. He also represented Australia 21 times.

Brad Fittler played for the Blues a massive 31 times over a 14 year period in three different positions and has captained the team 17 times. For Australia he played 40 times. Fittler is undoubtedly one of the greatest representative players ever and has been named in the 100 greatest to play the game.

The Verdict: How do you split these four? Terry Lamb is the first eliminated because of the fact he had limited impact for the Blues. Brett Kenny is next out, despite his strong record. Laurie Daley played at five–eighth for three consecutive series and captained the team, but should be beaten to the spot by the man who dethroned him – Brad Fittler.

The halfback
The candidates are: Peter Sterling (Parramatta Eels), Steve Mortimer (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs), Ricky Stuart (Canberra Raiders, Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs) and Andrew Johns (Newcastle Knights)

Peter Sterling and Steve Mortimer were the first two really good halfbacks for the Blues and it was unfortunate that their career ran roughly at the same time and they were always the ones pushing each other out for the halfback spot.

Sterling played 13 games for the Blues and 18 for Australia, while Mortimer played nine games for both New South Wales and Australia. Both awesome players that would have played so many more games if they were born at different times.

Ricky Stuart played 14 games for the Blues, scoring three tries and directing play. Once he was selected he only missed one Origin game, through injury. Stuart played nine times for Australia.

It must be noted that Ricky Stuart was never dropped – that is until Andrew Johns came along. Andrew Johns played halfback, then hooker for two years but then he went back into the halves. Apart from when he was injured he dominated in Origin arena, captaining the Blues six times.

The eighth immortal scored four tries and kicked 37 goals in 23 games for the Blues. He also represented Australia 24 times.

The Verdict: The halfback is no doubt the toughest selection in the whole team. It’s nearly impossible to choose between four greats.

Sterling and Mortimer, even though maybe the two best, cancel each other out because they stole so many games off each other. Andrew Johns edges out Ricky Stuart.

The greatest ever Blues backline
1. Tim Brasher
2. Andrew Ettingshausen
3. Ryan Girdler
4. Matt Cooper
5. Rod Wishart
6. Brad Fittler
7. Andrew Johns