Going into every State of Origin series, the fans debate selection almost as fiercely as discussing who will win.
In 2015, who will play in the forwards for NSW? Will Laurie Daley choose Paul Gallen, Kade Snowden, Aaron Woods or a bolter?
Here is the next instalment of the 2015 State of Origin early edition.
Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks)
The incumbent New South Wales captain will certainly be in Laurie Daley’s team, however it is unknown where he will play. In the past, Paul Gallen has excelled at prop for the Blues and it looks as though the 19-game State of Origin veteran could pull on the No. 10 jersey again in 2015.
Having played nearly 250 NRL games, Gallen will be one of the most experienced players in the Blues’ camp and will look to lead from the front to bring home New South Wales’ second-straight State of Origin series win.
Kade Snowden (Newcastle Knights)
Snowden has played two games for the Blues in the past and his form of late has shown he could be awarded a third state representative jersey in 2015. A veteran of over 150 NRL games, Snowden has played State of Origin before and is built to hit hard for long periods of time.
Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
The incumbent Blues prop has played all five State of Origin games since making his debut in Game 2 of the 2013 State of Origin series. Woods was one of New South Wales’ best players last year and dominated the Maroons forward pack up front.
Woods hasn’t been playing his best footy lately as he has handed over a lot of the work to the younger forwards at the Tigers, however his best form should be sparked again during State of Origin.
Bolters
David Klemmer (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) is currently serving a suspension, however the Bulldogs prop who earned a Kangaroos jersey on the back of a stellar season in 2014, looks to be given another representative jersey.
Klemmer plays rough footy, which suits New South Wales’ style of play as he will likely look to use his muscle off the bench to power the Blues down the field.
Jordan McLean (Melbourne Storm) has improved since his seven-match suspension last year. McLean is now one of the Storm’s best forwards and looks to be a real bolter for the New South Wales jersey. McLean has never played representative football and has only 36 caps to his name, meaning he is still a relative newcomer.
Can McLean can convert his toughness on the field at Melbourne to the Origin arena?
Ten-game Blues veteran Trent Merrin (St George Illawarra Dragons) is one of the best impact players in the National Rugby League and it looks as though Laurie Daley will select Merrin to come off the bench again in 2015. Merrin is one of New South Wales’ more experienced forwards having played over 100 first grade games with the St George Illawarra Dragons and is also one of the toughest players in the Blues camp.
26-year-old James Tamou (North Queensland Cowboys) has played eight games for the Blues in his career so far and 10 games for Australia. James Tamou isn’t in the best of form at the North Queensland Cowboys and he could prove to be a huge risk if selected.
If Daley chooses to pick his side on form, Tamou could potentially miss out. The Cowboys prop will need to improve if he wants to play Origin football again.
A veteran of over 150 NRL games, Aiden Tolman (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) has been in the Origin frame for years but has never managed to pull on the blue jersey. Having played three times for Country, it seems likely Tolman will take part in the Origin audition yet again in 2015, but there is no guarantee of selection.
The Bulldogs vice-captain has been in some of the best form of his life lately and the natural-born leader who has played in three grand finals could come closer than ever before in 2015.
Newfy
Guest
1. Dugan (Dragons) 2. Tupou (Roosters) 3. Jennings (Roosters) 4. Morris (Bulldogs)... Roberts (Titans if unfit) 5. Richards (Tigers) 6. ?????????? 7. ?????????? 8. Woods (Tigers) 9. Farrah (Tigers) 10. Gallen (Sharks) 11. Hoffman (Warriors) 12. Scott (Knights) 13. Merrin (Dragons) 14. Cordner (Roosters) 15. Hinchcliffe (Storm) 16. Tolman (Bulldogs) 17. Lewis (Sharks) 19. Roberts (Titans) I'm not a Tigers fan, but Richards has big game experience, is defensively solid and his boot is a weapon.
greenhouse disney
Guest
Carlos I don't think they even rate t rex
Carlos
Guest
Pretty good though you need TRex coming of the bench for the...Z factor zzzzzzzzz
TeamListGuy
Roar Rookie
Heres my team after taking injuries into account 1.Josh Dugan 2.Alex Johnston 3.Josh Morris 4.Michael Jennings 5.Daniel Tupou 6.Josh Reynolds 7.Trent Hodkinson 8.Aaron Woods 9.Robbie Farah 10.Paul Gallen(c) 11.Boyd Cordner 12.Ryan Hoffman 13.Greg Bird 14.Luke Lewis 15.Trent Merrin 16.David Klemmer 17.Andrew Fifita 18th Man-Josh Jackson
Carlos
Guest
I think so... As important as the halves are it means nothing if your forwards aren't making meters or fail to stop your opponents in the middle. The NSW 'mobile' pack strategy has worked a couple of times... but IMO... lost us about 6 series, we just got overrun. In attack, the running Bird and Creagh at Lockyer and Thurston plan failed year after year because it was stupid... With the team that QLD have we can win by. 1. Dominate the ruck - Pick a smart, fast dummy half with a kicking game (Farah) and 5 big middle forwards with a combination of experience, aggressiveness, offload and explosiveness (i picked Tamou Woods Fifita T.Simms & Merrin) make sure they're rotated and 3 are on the field at all times attempting to out do each other. 2. Make sure your back row are alway pushing up and harassing the opponents halves in defence 3. If one and two are being done the halves will be able to get good ball in space to the out side backs this is the main thrust of it. 4. At the completion of sets kick long to the corners or bomb and chase.(Soward is brilliant at this). If the first two points are happening you don't need the best halves in the world (it helps tho of course) for the last two to start naturally happening. QLD have basically done the above to us for many years because we didn't pick a middle that could compete with Smith, Price, Civinoceva, Scott, Hannat and Shillington etc...We could've but decided not too... I think we can win this year QLD should be favourites but we can roll them if we get the right team.
greenhouse disney
Guest
Carlos This is my overrated 17 1 brett stewart 2 alex johnson 3 jack wighton 4 dylan walker 5 akuilia uate 6 james maloney 7 chris sandow 8 james tamou 9 kurt gidley 10 aaron woods 11 beau. Knows scott 12 boyd cordner 13 greg bird 14 josh reynolds 15 ryan Hoffman 16 willie mason 17 anthony watmough
Carlos
Guest
Some good players in there...but QLD by 50...
greenhouse disney
Guest
They should pick pat richards for his kick offs This is my underrated 17 state of origin team 1 tedesco 2 sisa waqa 3 jarrod croker 4 ryan morgan 5 pat richards 6. Chad townsend 7 sam williams 8 vaughan 9 peats 10 Douglas 11 tariq sims 12 wade graham 13 fensom 14 hinchcliffe 15 latimore 16 grant 17 galloway
Charles NSW
Guest
The major problem is the halves for NSW! I would have had Jamie Soward and Adam Reynolds but with injuries it may be a problem. Adam looks to be out for sure. I really think your idea of Moylan at 6 and Soward at 7 is the answer. Moylan has played 5/8 and he is dynamic enough to handle it at this level. With Soward playing a dominant role there is also Brett Stewart and even Glenn Stewart that can take on some of the responsibilities.NSW has to think out of the box and to me this has the answer!
Carlos
Guest
Cheers Charles I have indeed :), knowing NSW's luck though half these players will be injured by game one. I think NSW make the same mistake every year, which is not playing 4 props. IMO they should have two relatively fresh big props on the field at all times. One way to stifle the Thurston, Cronk, Slater Inglis factor is to do what Souths have done so well over the last couple of years in using size and weight in the middle to relentlessly press forward in attack and defence. Inevitably your opponents attacking structures will break down when the middle is going nowhere and your halves have less time. I really don't want to see a bench of 3 backrowers and a spare utility half. Farah has to play 80 (which he can) or they need to pick someone else for that role.
Charles NSW
Guest
I appreciate your team Carlos you have put a lot of thought into it! Very similar to what my thoughts and team are.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
True. Though I think a lot of the Bulldogs problems in that regard came from the attacking line being far too flat.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Taking injuries and current form into account. 1. Josh Dugan 2. Josh Morris 3. Michael Jennings 4, Dylan Walker 5. Pat Richards 6. James Maloney 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farrah 10. Andrew Fifita 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Paul Gallen BENCH: 14. Trent Merrin 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Greg Bird 17. James Tamou
Carlos
Guest
I think Morris will be back. Fajita is suspended his "little" brother David is injured
Carlos
Guest
Cheers Brett, I think Morris will be back in time but if he's not I'd have Pat Richards in his place. I mean't Andrew Fifita he's suspended and will back next round :)
Brett the Manly Fan
Guest
A Team that I would like to take on QLD would be: 1. Brett Stewart 2. Akuila Uate (Brett Morris is Injured) 3. Michael Jennings 4, Josh Morris 5. Daniel Tupou 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farrah 10. James Tamou 11. Greg Bird 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Paul Gallen (c) BENCH: 14. Glenn Stewart 15. TREX 16. Anthony Watemough 17. Luke Lewis or David Klemmer Sadly Brett Morris and Andrew Fafita miss out due to injury...and I don't see much special about Trent Merrin
Brett the Manly Fan
Guest
Although I agree with the majority of the team...I have to say that, Brett Morris is Injured and so if Fafita. Although I am happy to see soward back in the NSW side, I think we should go with the imcumbents
Fussball Uncle Junior
Guest
aidan Tolman is not outside the box, he is slowish and cant break a tackle or offload. he can tackle and make an average hit up but thats about it. As for Fensom there are more dynamic players around, dont think Qld have won Origins because of guys like Ashley Harrison and Dallas J, they won cause of Inglis, Lockyer, Thurston and Cronk
The eye
Guest
Yeah,but all that field position won't amount to a hill of beans if your brain trusts can't get you over the White stripe..as Dogs and Sharks supporters well know..
Niall
Roar Pro
Gappy, This is why I don't rate these players Beau Scott- Offers nothing with the ball anymore, I don't agree with people that think he is a great defender and he gives away penalties with late shots on playmakers. Josh Reynolds - plays hard and tough, but gives away too many penalties, poor kicking game and takes away the space from his outside men. Greg Bird - Touches the ball too much for my liking. He has good skills and plays hard but doesn't do enough with the ball to warrant the amount of touches he gets. Plus he's a magnet for penalties.