After going over the best ever back seven for the NSW Blues on Sunday we now move onto the forwards and the interchange bench. Remember the interchange bench will be based on who was most unlucky to miss out throughout all the other positions.
So who makes the forward pack and bench for the Blues?
Front rowers
The candidates are: Craig Young (St George Dragons), Steve Roach (Balmain Tigers), Glen Lazarus (Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm), Paul Harragon (Newcastle Knights), Luke Bailey (St George Illawarra Dragons and Gold Coast Titans), Robbie Kearns (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks, Western Reds and Melbourne Storm), Mark O’Meley (North Sydney Bears, Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters), Ian Roberts (South Sydney Rabbitos, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys).
Craig Young played in the front row in the first ever State of Origin match after playing a couple of matches for the Blues before 1980. He ended up playing 10 Origin matches and always stood up in defence.
We have all heard about the legend of Steve “Blocker” Roach. The big front rower played 17 games for the Blues and has been described as one of the best. He was one of the first picked and hardly missed a game. He also played for Australia 19 times.
The next two on the candidates list, Glen Lazarus and Paul Harragon, often lined up next to each other in the front row and proceeded to terrorise Queensland with their hard running and hard tackling. They were an unmissable feature in the Blues team for a number of years in the 1990s.
Lazarus played for the Blues on 19 occasions and Harragon on 20, showing just how parallel their careers ran. They also represented Australia together on a number of occasions, with Lazarus on 21 and Harragon on 20.
Luke Bailey is one of those players that just never gave up. Whether it be Origin or club he would fight until the end. He represented the Blues in just his third season in the NRL and made an immediate impact going onto play 15 games for the Blues and managing to make the Australian set up four times.
Robbie Kearns and Mark O’Meley, also known at the Ogre, are the final two candidates. They both represented the Blues a number of times and gave it everything. Both were good players. Kearns represented the Blues on nine occasions while O’Meley played 10. Kearns also represented Australia a staggering 29 times.
Ian Roberts played his footy at many different clubs and was always up there during his time as one of the best props in the game. He was big, tough and solid in both attack and defence. He represented the Blues nine times and Australia 13 times.
The Verdict: It comes down to Paul Harragon, Glen Lazarus, Steve Roach and Ian Roberts. Because Harragon and Lazarus played so many games together and the fact that they both played more games than Roach and Roberts means they are the two front rowers that get selected.
Hooker
The candidates are: Royce Simmons (Penrith Panthers), Ben Elias (Balmain Tigers) and Danny Buderus (Newcastle Knights).
Royce Simmons represented both the Blues and Australia on 10 occasions. He was a fantastic ball player and tough in defence. He received a man of the match in only his fourth Origin match and was involved in a number of successes with the Blues.
Ben Elias played around the same time as Simmons and in his early State of Origin career. Eventually he nailed down the spot as age caught up with Simmons. He was tough as nails in defence as well. He played for the Blues on 22 occasions and had the honour of captaining the Blues six times. He also played for Australia six times and was considered the best hooker in the game during his era.
Before last Wednesday night Danny Buderus will be remembered as the last captain of a Blues winning State of Origin series before Queensland started their unbelievable run of eight straight. Buderus was probably the best hooker in the game before Cameron Smith came along and age started catching up with him. Buderus played 21 Origins, captaining 15 of them over a five-year period, and not missing a game after his debut. He also played for Australia on 24 occasions.
The Verdict: All three of these hookers were awesome in their own way. Royce Simmons is the first out as clearly he is below the other two. Buderus ends up making the team over Elias, because he had a bit more talent and was the captain 15 times and played 21 Origins in a row.
Second Row
The Candidates are: Noel Cleal (Eastern Suburbs, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), David Gillespie (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Paul Sironen (Balmain Tigers) Steve Menzies (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Northern Eagles), Ben Kennedy (Canberra Raiders, Newcastle Knights and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta Eels), Craig Fitzgibbon (Illawarra Steelers, St George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney Roosters) and Greg Bird (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks and Gold Coast Titans).
Noel “Crusher” Cleal was one of several brilliant second rowers who have played for New South Wales. He has been named in the greatest 25 players to ever play for the Blues and represented them 12 times. He also played for Australia 10 times.
David Gillespie was not someone you wanted to run at or have running at you. He was big and strong in both attack and defence and he represented the Blues on 15 occasions, as well as playing for the Kangaroos 16 times and scoring three tries.
Paul Sironen was another of the brilliant second rowers that have played for the Blues over the years. He was big, strong and had a never-say-die attitude, and it was these couple of things that got him so far in the brutal world of rugby league. He played for the Blues 14 times and for Australia 21 times.
Steve Menzies and Ben Kennedy are two names you associate with a lot of tackling. The beaver and the bold – two of the greats that have ever represented NSW or Australia. They had careers that were fairly similarly timed and never failed to disappoint at any level.
Menzies played for the Blues 20 times and Australia 13, while Kennedy played for the Blues 13 times and Australia 16. Both were always up to the task of taming the Queensland forwards and were a big part of the Blues’ three-year winning streak before Queensland decided to go on an eight-year one.
Nathan Hindmarsh and Craig Fitzgibbon also had fairly parallel careers, until the latter went off to play Super League in England. These two often battled for the second row spots with Kennedy and Menzies during the middle of their careers.
Fitzgibbon also happened to be one of the greatest goal kickers in Australia. Hindmarsh played 17 games for the Blues and 23 games for Australia while Fitzgibbon played 11 games for the Blues and 19 games for Australia, kicking 20 goals for the Blues and 50 for the Kangaroos.
Greg Bird is one of the hardest and meanest characters to ever walk into the Origin arena. He never backs down from anything, is happy to tackle blokes double his size and run at them too. He is also creative and has a never-say-die attitude. Bird has represented the Blues 15 times and Australia 12 times.
The Verdict: This is not an easy position to pick just two. Fitzgibbon is the first one out, he struggled to hold down a spot and even though he was a brilliant goal kicker it doesn’t push him into the team. Bird doesn’t make the team at this point in his career. Paul Sironen and Steve Menzies are the two best although it’s nearly impossible to split them, so they get the nod.
Lock
The candidates are: Ray Price (Parramatta Eels), Wayne Pearce (Balmain Tigers), Bradley Clyde (Canberra Raiders), Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks).
Ray Price was a brilliant lock. He made 15 appearances for the Blues, although some of these were before the first official Origin game in 1980. After that he played lock for the Blues without exception until Wayne Pearce came along. Price also represented Australia 22 times.
Pearce was without doubt one of the best forwards of the 1980s. He was tough and liked to outmuscle his opponents. He captained the Blues for a number of his 16 appearances and he also went onto play for the Kangaroos 19 times.
Both Pearce and Price have been named in the list of the game’s 100 greatest players.
Bradley Clyde was tall, big, strong and agile and took a lot to bring down. He is still the only player in the game to win the Clive Churchill Medal twice and was named in the top 25 players to ever play for the Blues. He made 12 Origin appearances and played for Australia 19 times managing to score six tries.
Paul Gallen is the current Blues captain and will triumphantly lift the State of Origin shield above his head this year. He has done some amazing things for the Blues throughout his career and will keep pushing to get what he wants. He has currently represented the Blues 18 times, 10 as captain, and has also played for the Kangaroos 31 times.
The Verdict: While Price and Clyde were great in their own right they can’t keep up with the other two. Because Gallen has mainly played in a losing team I am giving the spot of lock to Wayne Pearce.
Interchange:
After all this we arrive at the interchange bench. All the stars that have missed selection have to be narrowed down to a four-man bench and an 18th man. How? It’s nearly impossible.
So who were the most unlucky to miss out on the 13?
Here are the contenders: Jarryd Hayne, Steve Rogers, Mick Cronin, Laurie Daley, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Steve Mortimer, Steve Roach, Ian Roberts, Ben Elias, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ben Kennedy, David Gillespie, Ray Price, Bradley Clyde and Paul Gallen.
Jarryd Hayne and Laurie Daley are the best of the backs so they go onto the bench. Then Steve Roach edges out Ian Roberts and Nathan Hindmarsh edges out the rest.
18th man comes down to a battle between Ben Kennedy, Peter Sterling and Paul Gallen. Gallen is out because of his losing record, unlucky but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
So Kennedy or Sterling? A back or a forward. If Sterling didn’t have his Origin career at the same time as Terry Lamb he would have played a lot more games, although the same could be argued for Kennedy. I’m going to pick Sterling but it’s certainly up for argument.
The greatest ever Blues team
1. Tim Brasher
2. Andrew Ettingshausen
3. Ryan Girdler (gk)
4. Matt Cooper
5. Rod Wishart
6. Brad Fittler
7. Andrew Johns
8. Paul Harragon
9. Danny Buderus (c)
10. Glen Lazarus
11. Paul Sironen
12. Steve Menzies
13. Wayne Pearce
14. Jarryd Hayne
15. Laurie Daley
16. Steve Roach
17. Nathan Hindmarsh
18th man: Peter Sterling
19th man: Ben Kennedy
Captain
There are plenty of applicants for the captaincy position in this team. Both the halves, Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns, were great captains, as was the hooker Danny Buderus.
Wayne Pearce at lock captained the Blues a number of times, as did Laurie Daley, who is on the bench. At the end though I think the most successful applicant is Danny Buderus. He managed to lead the Blues to three series in a row so for that he gets the nod as captain.
Goal kicker
The goal-kicking duties come down to a battle between Andrew Johns and Ryan Girdler. Johns and Girdler were both great goal kickers, but at the end of the day I think Ryan Girdler gets the nod. He still holds the record for the most goals kicked in a single Origin match and was one of the best to ever play.
Well that’s NSW’s greatest ever Origin team. Over the next two days I will announce the Queensland team so be sure to check back then. In the mean time be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
yung
Guest
Michael Slater???????? lolz mistakes aside, that would make an epic series.
rvm99
Guest
Two pretty fair sides. Lewis at Lock for Qld where he played one game (the very first Origin) is more than likely to stir a bit of debate but I can get the rationale if it allows Thurston , Slater and Lockyer to fit into the side. Didn’t see the C against any of the NSW players, but for mine, Laurie Daley would be the standout as Captain. To me it would only ever be between Lewis and Beetson for the Qld captaincy and I just have a personal bias to the big man. I would think Kerry Boustead, Dale Shearer and Wendell Sailor who all had distinguished Origin and Test careers would consider themselves unlucky not to get one of the wing spots for Qld.
Joel
Guest
As much as it pains me to do so here goes. Though I must admit, I am doing this in thinking of a team that would contain the greatest QLD team (Origin, Aus) NSW 1. Jarrod Hayne (19,14) 2. Michael O’Connor (19,17) 3. Mick Cronin (6,33) 4 .Laurie Daley (c) (23,21) 5. Andrew Ettingshausen (25,27) 6. Brett Kenny (17,17) 7. Peter Sterling (13,18) 8. Glen Lazarus (19,20) 9. Danny Buderus (21,25) 10. Paul Harragon (20,20) 11. Paul Sironen (14,21) 12. Paul Gallen (18,31) 13. Bradly Clyde (12,18) 14. Steve Roach (17,19) 15. Steve Menzies (20,15) 16. Brad Fittler (31,40) 17. Andrew Johns (23,25) Coach: Phil Gould Totals: (317,381) QLD 1. Michael Slater (24,25) 2. Greg Inglis (23,29) 3. Mal Meninga (32,46) 4. Gene Miles (20,14) 5. Israel Folau (8,8) 6. Johnathon Thurston (29,31) 7 .Allen Langer (34,22) 8. Petero Civoniceva (33,40) 9. Cameron Smith (32,38) 10. Steven Price (28,16) 11. Arthur Beetson (1,29) 12. Nate Myles (25,7) 13. Wally Lewis (c) (31,33) 13. Gordon Tallis (17,8) 14. Sam Thaiday (21,22) 15. Bob Lindner (25,22) 16. Darren Lockyer (36,59) Coach: Wayne Bennett Totals (419,449) Wouldn't you love to see that game, I think Ray Warren would have heart failure calling it...
sheek
Roar Guru
Again, This has been done before. My team. NSW: Hayne, O'Connor, Kenny, Daley (c), ET, Fittler, Johns, Roach, Buderus, Lazarus, Sironen, Gallen, Clyde. O'Connor is my goalkicker. Some great players who appeared in less than 10 SOO's include Sterling, Grothe & Price.
Jack Henry
Guest
Hey R - I reckon Scott's mates are geniuses! Just putting that out there!
Jack Henry
Guest
For mine - the pack Harragon Buderus Roberts Menzies Clyde Fittler I was going to put Parker in for Fittler but then had to check whether he was eligible for the Blues. ..
Jack Henry
Guest
I agree with you on Clyde. This bloke was almost my favourite player of all time. What a champion - he had the complete package, really revolutionsed the lock forward position in my opinion. Plus he seems like a good bloke.
Jack Henry
Guest
No way dude! I know the wraps on Lazarus, and fair enough, but Roberts was more more type of front rower. Agile and hard-hitting, a monster. So he and Harragon for mine, with Buderus at hooker. I'd actually go Menzies and Hindmarsh in the back row would you believe, I think Hindy was tremendously underrated during the course of his career, despite being quite highly rated, which is saying something. Lock is an absolute no-brainer: Clyde hands down. I struggle to see the arguments for anyone else. So yeah - the pack: Harragon Buderus Roberts Menzies Hindmarsh Clyde Geez, those were the glory days.
Ryan
Guest
Mick O'Connor for Cooper, and Daley for Girdler, no Clyde? Good team though
Realist 1975
Guest
My dream NSW team from 1980 to 2014. The Backline: 1. J Hayne 2. M O'Connor 3. B Fittler 4 L Daley 5 A Ettingshausen 6 B Kenny 7 P Sterling (C). The Forwards: 13 B Clyde 12 P Gallen 11 G Bird 10 S Roach 9 B Elias 8 G Lazarus The Reserves: 14 S Menzies 15 L Lewis 16 A Johns 17 N Hindmarsh.
Parrafan
Guest
dj your Hayne bashing is getting tiresome. Give credit where it is due. We all know your darling Slater is still the best FB, but might I say not for long.
rvm99
Guest
Brett Kenny is one of my favourite ever NSW players, but if you check the records book you will find that Lewis was 5/8 and Captain of The1986 Kangaroos (The Unbeatables) with Kenny playing at Centre.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Steve Menzies is in the number 12 jumper mate.
john badseed
Guest
I'd travel to the Olympic Stadium to watch that team play and I've sworn on my kid's life never to go there again. Unfortunately I bet they'd pick $hayne and Cummings to ref.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
As a qlder, I find it very hard to ignore Bradley Clyde. That guy was the evolution of the running back of the modern era. Before his knee injuries, he could step off both feet with a massive head of steam. I remember worrying everytime that man received the footabll in origin. It was just like there was always a possibility of something happening with Clyde looking for the ball. I'm early forties now so I don't remember too much of the first few series. Up untill 85 or 86 it's a bit fuzzy so there will be bias, but like I mentioned above, I think of great blues players who you didn't want handling the ball. Michael O'conner was like that for me. I've never looked at his record for tries, but it seemed that slimy bast...ahem, that winger was always on the spot causing big issues to Qld defense. Mary Mcgregor was always a handful, but maybe not in the same league as some of his peers of other eras but was big and strong and had good hands. Lazarus picks himself. Has there been a better front rower? Everywhere he has gone success has followed him. How many players can truly match that? It has to be more than good timing. Ian Roberts was a hard man. Don't think he played a lot of Origin, though. I'll probably get ridiculed for this but I think Gallen would be a better player from a team perspective if he didn't play 80 minutes. Before game two this year and hearing the commentators, I thouht that he was too predictable and slow to play the ball at times. Sure he made metres and tackles, but to the detriment of creative play? I'd play him for 20 minutes a side and tell him there had to be no jiuce left in the tank and they could stretcher him off and he would have made a better team man. As a leader, his comments today show he is no man manager. Daley. The time Mal was running down the right wing destined for the try line with only Daley in his way and he decided not to put on the big fend to swat him away said so much about so many things. One moment in time and things would never be the same. The Morris brother who plays centre currently. Who else has managed to keep Inglis so quiet? I don't know his first name; I get the two brothers confused, but he pegs Inglis back to the pack. He is strong enough that Inglis can't muscle away from him, and has the courage to be up in Inglis's face so there is bearly enough room to get get a head of steam up. He has the pace to step around Inglis and comes very close to showing him up in defense. The Morris centre is proving that Inglis is not the demi god of football we were all (at least many of us) thinking he was destined to become. For that Morris needs some big, big, wraps. Steve Roach was a hard man, but skilful for a player of the 80s. He had a good offload and got some second phase play happening before it was a common term. He bled blue. AHrrogan was fast strong, fearless and agile for a big man. The physical clashes with the rock that was Martin Bella surely must have had him weeping in solitude. Bith Tim Brasher and Gary Jack were both trouble on their returns and often were better kickers in general play than Belcher. Belcher never had the distance. So were they great fullbacks or made to look great in average company? Brett Kenny. Well he could get a back line movement happening, he could get around his man. He was a real running 5/8. If the King reckons he was outplayed by him a few times on the biggest stage, it goes without saying, really. Hooker? I'm biased here. I must be, or stupid or both. I still see the Walters, probably Steve as the best and most consistant Hooker I've seen play origin. But I'd be in a minority. He just always seemed to be able to get the forward momentum even in times when Australian and QLD packs were being outmuscled. And he ran so often. Maybe the hooking role and game in general has changed a lot more than I realise. So for mine, Bederus or Backdoor Benny or Toovey or even Andrew Johns in that role is hard to split. Andrew Johns is interesting, an engima due to the amount of times he couldn't even get picked in a state side in his preferred position. Backrowers. NSW has been blessed there. Throw a dart at one of ten and they could all get the job done. Wingers? I still remember as a youngster seeing the guru. Anyone remember that stella year Brett Plowman had for the broncos in the learly 90s? Well apparently that was Eric Grothe Sr for the best part of his career. How good was Micj Cronin? Was he the centre people say? I've only seen limited coverage of him playing but in all the footage he looked for work and found space. That's a lot more than what you get from some of the centres we have seen over the years. Cronin in those early 80s highlights and full games looked like a modern footballer; except maybe for the toe poke. Critique to your hearts Content. I'd love to hear your thoughts. To the OP I hope this is staying with your theme.
yung
Guest
spot on john and patty. lol to lewis comments, kenny was way better than him and should in fact own his immortal tag! his record against lewis in SOO at 5/8 was 8-4! not to mention 4 grand finals to none [second rate comps dont count] and ousrting him on both kangaroo tours widely accepted as the 2 best touring teams in history [invincibles and unbeatables]. oh, did i mention he carved them up in the english comp as well, more so than sterling or lewis ever did and is fondly remembered there as oz's best ever. the politics in oz football is disgusting.... ALL HAIL KING KENNY!!!!!
yung
Guest
brasher was great, as was jack but on haynes level?? please your spot on mick
patty
Guest
Shocking team.
patty
Guest
I agree John. Wally Lewis once said the only player he ever feared playing was brett kenny and admitted brett kenny out played him a few times. People forget brad fitter was once voted the most over rated player in the game. Brett kenny will always be the blues best no 6.
john badseed
Guest
Anyone who rates Fittler ahead of Kenny only knows of Rugby League through the Footy Show.