NSW coach Laurie Daley said he was considering recalling James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce however his State of Origin halves picture was still murky after the City-Country clash on Sunday.
A fortnight out from naming his side for the first game of their Origin defence, Daley has still not settled on who will wear the No.6 and No.7 jerseys.
The waters were further muddied after Canterbury five-eighth and Blues incumbent Josh Reynolds was reported twice in Country’s 34-22 win in Wagga Wagga.
Reynolds had an off day in the City No.6 jumper and was reported for tripping Country’s Tariq Sims as the Newcastle back-rower crossed for a try in the 51st minute.
If Reynolds is charged he will also incur a 50 per cent loading after he was rubbed out for two matches for a similar incident against Brisbane’s Ben Barba last year.
As Sims charged towards the line, Reynolds flung a leg out in what looked like an attempt to stop him.
Reynolds was also put on report for striking David Mead after the Country fullback made a break with two minutes left on the clock.
He is in real danger of missing more than two weeks, which would rub him out of Origin I at ANZ Stadium. That would put pressure on Daley not to retain the Canterbury halves pairing by also dropping Trent Hodkinson.
Maloney was awarded man of the match in the City-Country match after steering Country around the park, setting up three tries.
“I thought (Maloney) went well. I thought he directed the team well. Jack Bird isn’t really a halfback but they played well together,” Daley said.
“The longer the game went, the more control he took.”
It has been hinted that Daley will depart from his tradition of using club pairings in the halves and name Hodkinson and Pearce.
Daley will now have two rounds to assess his options and he said his decision would hinge on the performances of all four halves contenders over the next fortnight.
“Anything can happen between now and the game and we have to monitor everyone’s performance … Both (Pearce) and Trent are in the thinking. Nothing is decided in terms of anyone, all those guys are still available and we’ll see how they go over the next couple of weeks.”
GPR
Guest
Even though I don't want him playing against Dragons, I actually hope Adam Reynolds plays this week- he's easily the best playmaker in NSW, and if he has a couple of strong games Laurie might select him. Otherwise they should stick with the guys who got the job done last year, going back to Pearce is absolute madness!
GPR
Guest
That team would struggle to beat South Africa...
GPR
Guest
Spot on
The Gaz
Guest
Broncos have a 6 point better for and against. Not really that much in it. Say equal first then. Your second team it better than your first.
nayfo
Guest
I understand J Bird is playing footy but i seriously cannot believe he is even being mentioned for a halves spot in origin, yes maybe in a couple of years but to pick him after only 5 or so 1st grade games is laughable. Hate him or not Pearce deserves to be picked and we all know he will be so just move on
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Blake Austin was terrific yesterday and he seems the sort who could handle the added pressure of playing origin. For the life of me I don't understand the obsession with club combinations, isn't that exactly what rep' sides are all about? Putting the best individuals together and creating a team. The first game is hugely important for NSW as the Melbourne game could be treated as a home game for Queensland. So it's essential they get it right first up.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! The cupboard is pretty bare in the halves department unfortunately for NSW ! When the favoured halves pairing are Pearce & Maloney , proven failures at State of Origin previously, and now currently leading their Roosters team as NRL favourites to now four straight losses, well we must be in a bit of strife ! The only light at the end of the tunnel for NSW was the poor performances by a lot of Queenslanders in yesterday's Test ! Despite being uninspiring, I would probably stick with Hodkinson as his defence is very good and is great goal kicker. The number 6 is the query for me, and you would need a good defender and tactical kicker. I don't think the young guns like Bird, Keary, & Austin are up to State of Origin as yet. Perhaps it should be Pearce and so forget the club combos ? He is a good defender . And we can hope he has one of his rare good days with his kicking ? The overall problem for NSW is how are they going to score points ? There is no one in the backline likely to make a break. They will be purely relying on kicks. They should base their team around a solid defence and a kicking game.
Benny
Guest
Yeah my mistake. Although I maintain that 2013 was our best year, when we lost by two points in Game 3. We were without Gallen and Hayne that game and IMO would definitely have won had they been there.
eye of the ogre
Guest
The gaz the broncos are first if everyone is fit and firing 1 josh dugan if hes not injured 2 sisa waqa highly underrated 3 dylan walker 4 jarrod croker 5 pat richards. Goalkicker 6 blake austin 7 adam reynolds if he stops diving 8 gallen if hes not whinging 9 peats 10 tamou 11 tariq sims 12 tyson frizzel if he stays consistent 13 sean fensom 14 rein. If he learns how to tackle 15 cordner 16 woods 17 vaughan Robbie farah is a useless hack thinks he can do everything
Joffess
Guest
Adam Reynolds if fit and Blake Austin would be my halves. Adam can control the game with his kicking and Blake Austin is carving
The Gaz
Guest
Um... form??? You haven't selected one player from the Dragons. You know, the team leading the comp. Surely Frizell, Thompson, Merrin and Dugan (if healthy) at least get a look in? Maybe even Rein as well.
Renegade
Guest
I can hardly tell you're a Raiders fan....
eye of the ogre
Guest
They should be picking players on form not because of their famous surname This is my origin team on Current form 1 jack wighton 2 sisa waqa 3 jarrod croker 4 simona if hes not a kiwi 5 pat richards his kick offs will be a weapon 6 blake austin extremely underrated 7 jeff robson 8 shannon boyd 9 peats 10 vaughan 11 tariq sims 12 aubusson if not a Queenslander 13 sean fensom 14 hinchcliffe 15 mannah 16 snowden 17 douglas
Kirk
Guest
I will prob support QLD if Josh Reynolds is in the team. I still think Pearce is a better half than Hodgkinson as well.
HarryT
Guest
Hodkinson scored the try that evened SOO 2 and then calmly kicked the goal that won it and the series. He has proved time and again what a great pressure player he is. In the same game just before half time, Reynolds stopped DCE scoring under the posts. He drove Thurston crazy, to the point that Thurston played poorly and he actually should have been sent off for the elbows he delivered to Reynolds face as he was defenceless on the ground in a tackle. These guys proved they could do the job. They should be the first picked.
Charles NSW
Guest
Once again NSW SOO are thinking backwards in selecting players who are not up to standard. Pearce is not up to the mark Laurie Daley please get that in your head! The best two halfs NSW have got going for them is Adam Reynolds and Jamie Soward. If either or both are injured you need to look at future prospects rather than go over old ground.
Slim
Guest
I will walk all of pitt st in maroon undies if Pearce and Hodkinson are named as starting halves. They are both halfbacks. This naïve information dished out is....well, naïve! Either J Reynolds is let off cause they feel sorry for him as a family member of his had a head-cold, so Josh tripped players. Or, J Maloney gets the call, and at some stage during the Origin series, J Bird might jag a bench spot, probably if the series is lost after game two. Stop taking us supporters for ameteres. That goes for Laurie as well.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Benny, You're referring to 2012 (the cronk field-goal) which is the same as i have suggested. The halves that year were Carney and Pearce.
Brendan
Guest
The best halves are the Rabbitohs pair. Unfortunately injury has robbed us of the chance to see them in action.
Benny
Guest
Our would say our best performance during the streak was 2013 with Pearce and Maloney. I believe that was the only year in the past 10 years (including last year) when NSW were actually the better team and it was just a Cronk field goal that prevented them winning. I just think QLD will be too hungry this year and last year we don't win without Hayne.