They say forwards win matches but I have no doubt the upcoming State of Origin series is already boiling right down to halves.
And I am not talking about Queensland’s champion pairing of Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.
The mighty Blues, defending champions, are literally at sixes and sevens about their attacking hub, their axis. It should be a given, but a few weeks out from the biggest rep games of the year and it’s a lottery.
Here’s a tip: star this week – and the next – and you’re likely to be Lozza’s dream come true.
There are simply no standout candidates in 2015. No dead-set, pick-me-pick-me scrum base players who should be wearing the Blues jumper on opening Origin night, Wednesday, May 27.
Loyalty is fine, providing the incumbents are in reasonable form, but if we are being fair dinkum, last year’s heroes – Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds – are a long way from that.
Daley has to go with Hodkinson, not for loyalty, but pretty much because Adam Reynolds is injured and this guy has been playing ‘reasonable’ footy. And, perhaps more importantly, he can kick goals.
The Blues need a standout goal-kicker, as the Maroons will probably have a choice of three.
Hodkinson’s main threats for the No 7 NSW jumper come from Mitchell Pearce and maybe Luke Kearey, but Pearce’s tactical kicking is ordinary and Keary has on-going injury dramas with a foot.
Five-eighth is the position that will cause most angst for the Blues selectors.
James Maloney from the Roosters can be a big-match performer at No 6 but this year he has been a bit hit-and-miss, especially in high-pressure games.
He was good last week in the City-Country game but can he do it in the big weeks ahead? I have major doubts.
I’d be taking a long, hard look at two other five-eighth prospects between now and Origin 1.
Aidan Sezer, from the Gold Coast, is a classy and consistent operator who looks ready for a jump in class.
And should we ignore the claims of Canberra’s surprise packet No 6, Blake Austin? He appeals as a player who looks and gets even better with star quality around him.
Coach Daley is a heavy stickler for players who have done the job for him and I believe he will choose Hodkinson as his halfback, but there is zero chance of him naming Pearce as his 6.
That leaves us with Austin and Sezer for the critical five-eighth spot. I’ll run with the established Sezer, who has been firing for the past three seasons.
The half and five-eighth positions for NSW are clearly the most contentious, even though some outside backs are in doubt with injuries, and several key forwards – such as Paul Gallen – are little or no chance of competing.
Daley, a former champion five-eighth, knows what the team wants and needs. He and the selectors have some very big decisions to make in the next couple of weeks. The Origin series will swing on what they decide for Origin 1.
GTW
Guest
Dugan looked very out of place on the wing, and as Morris showed last year, you don't leave the field injured at SOO level, when you're a winger, unless you get decapitated (God forbid). Which totally rules Dugan out of playing SOO as a winger. Haven't you noticed that they dust off the stretcher for each game he plays?
zim
Guest
He may have been then. He isn't now.
LesNorton
Guest
Reading about the Blues halves problems should help nayfo sleep easier than any prescribed medication :) Go Thursto and Cooper!!! Meninga would be just looking for who would partner Hodkinson given that Josh Reynolds is not a choice given that he should be imprisoned hehe. I think this is the way Daley would be thinking too, Lozza has cottoned on to what has made Queensland the team they are e.g. Coffs Harbour camp, showing loyalty and recognising that spirit is a stronger factor than ability and kudos to Lozza for this. Queenslander's have enjoyed our team's success due to New South Wales ignorance (perhaps arrogance) as to why a state with far small player pool was able to dominate a 2 horse race for such a lengthy period. Personally I hope Lozza is the next Aussie coach as he is the first Cockroach coach to find our secret recipe. He even done a Queensland by playing the "we are getting hard done by" card and getting the refs to lose their tape measures for the first 2 games and administering a much shorter 10 metres than what is seen week in week out in the NRL. Personally I do not mind watching the contest of a small scoring game but it is definitely in Queensland's favour the wider the gap that is left by the Refs as was shown by game 3 result. There is a reason stemming back pre-origin time why we hate New South Wales so much and Queenslander's have memories like elephants. It is only when the Blues can play with the same passion do we ever have reason to feel nervous. It took 8 series for New South Wales to hate us enough to gain the level of passion required. As a Queenslander, we never have to worry about the passion level as it is a given that cockroach hatred is born into us. Here is to hoping for another great series and may the team with the most hate win :)
Brett the Manly Fan
Guest
Brett Stewart is the best defensive fullback in the game. Just watch him organise the manly defence from the back and in the 2012 and 2008 series
Brett the Manly Fan
Guest
Well Moylan is far to raw Tedesco is honestly nothing special Dugan is injured and would be better suited to the centres with Jennings Brett Morris at fullback.....don't even get me started Stats wise Brett is the best defensive fullback, which is something that you don't think of when you think of him, he is not for his pace and support play that leads to many tries. If Laurie is smart he will choose him. It still surprises me that we didn't win the 2012 series, but the was Pearce's fault I guess.
JayBob
Guest
+1 I'm blown away by how stupid it is. Pearce has proven time and time again he can't handle the pressure of Origin. Hokko/Reynolds are 1 from 1. The Dogs halves haven't played well this season but either has Pearce, why is he being praised for good form? Has anyone actually watched the Roosters games or are they just blindly following the media, led by Pearce's friends? Roosters have lost 4 in a row and don't have big players out like other teams, eg the Dogs. If they had the players the Dogs had out, Pearce would have so many excuses made for him. I can already picture Fittler now "They have been missing a lot of big men so Pearce isn't getting the room a good halfback needs, and he doesn't have the right men outside him because their centres are out" None of these excuses have been made for the Dogs. Instead they've been hammered for poor form, while Pearce is praised for form that isn't any better, and in a full strength side! The most worrying thing is every time the Roosters get into a close contest this season, they fail, both the Roosters and their halves. The main time a half is supposed to step up and their record this year speaks for itself. Pearce has only played well when the Roosters are dominating and well on top, not gonna help in Origin.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
If Reyno gets back in the next week or two I wonder will Loz consider him ? number 6 is the biggest headache. Austin would be a Wild card selection, looks a decent prospect but not Origin at this stage. Seizer would be a bolter too. I think Loz will go Hodkinson and Maloney.
nerval
Guest
Albo, he is at least the equal of Maloney in defence, surely? And anyway, as I've said elsewhere, neither Moylan nor Lockyer would ever be confused with Trevor "the Axe" Gillmeister. This didn't stop Lockyer becoming one of the greatest players of the modern era - in club football, Origin and in the international arena. Let's pick players for what they can do and not leave them out for what they can't. You said it yourself, Albo, Moylan has "best hands, best footy brain in the game." So lets give him a chance to show it!
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
Sezer's long kicking game. i dont see any major difference between pearce and the other major contenders in terms of long kicking. id say Sezer and mullen both have considerably better long kicking games but they will never be picked. Assuming that hodkinson gets picked at 7 i'd rather pearce than maloney/reynolds. Nsw will not select any outside that four for game one
Bonza
Guest
Gazzatron couldn`t agree more. The Kiwi game showed how the Qld spine can be beaten. Big, aggressive forwards and fast, free thinking backs. Enter the likes of Fifita, Klemmer, Ryan James and hopefully Moylan, Roberts, Austin, Tedesco and Waqa Blake. Gus Gould pointed out NSW need to start bringing in youth, why not now? Do it Lozza - I know you`re reading this!
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Yeah that's true. It's just that Dugan was woeful on the wing last week and as much as I hate his lateral running, his best position is fb. Not brushing Moylan or Stewart, but Dugan is probably best. There's certainly plenty for Daley to ponder, hate to have his job.
Tim
Guest
But Pearce beat Thurston in the halves ! Still want to run with it Tim ?
jd
Guest
if i were a QLD'er id pick Pearce.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
JD you're a Queeneland supporter aren't you.
mick
Guest
This has to be a joke.
zim
Guest
My team: 1. Josh Dugan -- Strongest returner of the football and best defender compared to moylan and stewart 2. James McManus -- Used to playing on the wing. Solid. 3. Josh Morris 4. Michael Jennings 5. Daniel Tupou 6. Mitchel Pearce -- Best defensive half 7. Adam Reynolds -- Goal kicking and game control 8. James Tamou -- Get an intense 15min start out of him before putting fifita on 9. Robbie Farah 10. Aaron Woods 11. Beau Scott 12. Josh Jackson 13. Ryan Hoffman 14. Blake Austin -- if they wanted to have a super-sub. Otherwise Tariq Sims. 15. Trent Merrin 16. David Klemmer 17. David Fifita 18. Jack Wighton (reserve back) 19. Tariq Sims (reserve forward) 20. Luke Keary (reserve playmaker) I've added some more youth players and dropped lewis, watmough, williams. I think that's probably the best team we can field at the moment but certainly not a loyal one.
zim
Guest
I can't believe after watching the AUS vs NZ test that people still pick dugan on the wing.
HarryT
Guest
This is state of Origin. If we have no Gallen, Bird or J. Reynolds we'll be a team of powder puffs hiding behind the ref. I suppose Woodsy could flick them with his hair.
jd
Guest
1. Moylan/B.Stewart 2. Dugan 3. Jennings 4. Morris 5. Tupou 6. B.Austin 7. A.Reynolds 8. Tolman 9. Farah 10. Woods 11. Scott 12. Hoffman 13. Merrin 14. J.Wighton 15. Fafita 16. Tamou 17. Cordner 18. Hoppa 19. J.Jackson 20. L.Keary 21. J.Roberts
Alex L
Roar Rookie
At least Hodkinson can tackle, something Maloney cannot do to save his life.