State of Origin 2015 early edition: NSW’s back-row

Going into every State of Origin series, the fans love a banter on selection.

In 2015, who will play in the forwards for the Blues? Will Laurie Daley select Paul Gallen, Ryan Hoffman, Beau Scott or a bolter?

Here is the next instalment of the 2015 State of Origin early edition.

This list was extremely hard to come up with as there were so many strong contenders. Don’t be surprised if Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters), Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks), Josh Jackson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Joel Thompson (St George Illawarra Dragons) or Tony Williams (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) are given a look-in.

Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks)
The incumbent Blues captain is a certainty for the Blues team in May, but whether he plays prop, second-row or lock is the real question. Having played 19 games for his state, Gallen is one of the most experienced representative forwards in the New South Wales camp.

A veteran of almost 250 NRL games, Gallen will help to guide New South Wales to their second consecutive series win.

Ryan Hoffman (New Zealand Warriors)
Since signing with the Warriors for the 2015 season Hoffman has had a brilliant year, running amok for the Auckland-based club and taunting the oppossition. Capped by the Blues 10 times, Hoffman is one of their best players when it comes to big games.

Hoffman acts like a three-quarter and if he makes a break he will keep running until he finds the white chalk. In his first three games at the Warriors, Hoffman scored three tries, however this success has not been replicated in the State of Origin arena. Hoffman will look to get the monkey off his back for New South Wales in 2015.

Beau Scott (Newcastle Knights)
Eight-game Blues back-rower Beau Scott is bound to be selected by Daley again in 2015. In the Blues’ victorious 2014 State of Origin series, Scott was easily the best player, working tirelessly in defence consistently for prolonged periods. That is tough ask for a forward in State of Origin, but Scott has been equal to the task.

Scott suits the Origin arena and will no doubt convert his current form at first grade level to his performance at the state level.

Bolters
Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans) has had a 2015 marred by controversy and has since struggled to find form. A 15-time Blues veteran, Bird will likely forget about his controversial start to the year if he is selected to play Origin. He will no doubt put in a gutsy effort to try and retain the shield in 2015.

That said, I can’t see him being selected if continues to play the football he’s been playing lately.

Luke Lewis (Cronulla Sharks) has played 17 games in the sky blue jersey and is a prime example of a player who steps up to the mark when wearing a rep jersey – even when he is in poor form at club level. You just have to look at Lewis’ 2013 season to see this.

Out of form at Cronulla, Lewis was selected for the Blues and turned out to be one of their best players. He was then selected to represent Australia in the Rugby League World Cup and despite going down with injury, he had played well.

Luke Lewis has done it all before. Lewis’ selection could be the best decision Daley makes all year.

Glenn Stewart (South Sydney Rabbitohs) has been one of the surprise packets of the 2015 NRL season. Since leaving Manly at the end of last year, Stewart has dominated at South Sydney, reclaiming his title as one of the best forwards in the National Rugby League. The lock has played five games for New South Wales but hasn’t played Origin since 2012.

He is also looking to secure his first Test jumper since 2009 for the Anzac Test. This could lead to a return to Origin in 2015.

Manly supporters were shocked when Anthony Watmough (Parramatta Eels) announced he would be leaving Brookvale.

The 14-game Origin representative is one of the toughest players in rugby league and also one of the most loyal. Eight games short of his 300th, Watmough has been Parramatta’s best forward so far this season. Will he make it into Laurie Daley’s squad?