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After having a look at what the New South Wales backline could look like in 2020 yesterday, today we move on and have a look at the New South Wales forward pack and bench and what it could look like in five years’ time.
The main thing that this article proves is the lack of talent coming through the Holden Cup in the forwards for the New South Wales Blues. Unlike the back line, the forward pack will really be a bit older by the time 2020 rolls around and could be a weakness for the Blues.
More State of Origin:
» State of Origin News
» State of Origin team news
» Pick your own NSW Blues team for Origin 1
» Pick your own Queensland Maroons team for Origin 1
On the other side of the coin, most of the coin most of the players should be fairly experienced both at NRL and Origin level, which is what sparked the Queensland Maroons’ dominance in their eight-year winning streak.
8 Aaron Woods (Club: Wests Tigers, Age: 24, Age at Jan 1 2020: 28)
By the time 2020 rolls around, Woods will be starting to get on in age, but the way he plays he will be a key part of the Blues side for many years to come.
Expected to start in the 2015 series and already with five Origin games to his name, he will be one of the most experienced members of the squad by this point in time.
9 Michael Lichaa (Club: Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, Age: 21, Age at Jan 1 2020: 26)
Lichaa has swapped to the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs for the 2015 season from the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks.
He is already one of the best young hookers in the game. There is almost no doubt he will be a future origin player for the New South Wales Blues and it’s more a question of when Robbie Farah retires for Lichaa.
He has also proven he can play big minutes meaning there is almost no need to go with a backup hooker.
10 David Klemmer (Club: Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, Age: 21, Age at Jan 1 2020: 26)
Klemmer has been on the cusp of Origin for quite a while now, being talked about as early as last year for a spot in the origin arena. The Bulldogs front rower will be in the side within the next few years and already has two City versus Country appearances.
He could prove to be a damaging combination up front for the Blues with the more experienced Woods. Of course Klemmer still has a lot of improvement left in him meaning he could be one of the game’s best front rowers in a few years’ time.
11 Wade Graham (Club: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks, Age: 24 Age at Jan 1 2020: 29)
By the time the year of 2020 rolls around, Wade Graham may well be entering the twilight of his career and at the current age of 24 may rather unluckily not have played a game of Origin but surely his debut in the State of origin is not far away.
He is brilliant week in week out for the Sharks and was given the honour of captaining City at this year’s City versus Country game. He should be a part of the Origin arena for quite a number of years after he makes his debut and is possibly even captaincy material.
12 Ryan James (Club: Gold Coast Titans, Age: 23, Age at Jan 1 2020: 28)
James is undoubtedly one of the best young second rowers in the NRL at the moment. The Titans youngster has played for Country on two occasions and has been touted for a possible State of Origin call up for the Blues in the 2015 series.
By the time 2020 rolls around he should be well established in the New South Wales team and have a fair few Origin games to his name.
13 Trent Merrin (Club: St George Illawarra Dragons, Age: 25, Age at Jan 1 2020: 30)
Despite the fact that Merrin will be getting on in age by the time 2020 rolls around it really does look and seem like he will still be the best option to play lock for the New South Wales Blues.
He plays big minutes, runs hard, doesn’t miss too many tackles and makes a lot of offloads which is key in the origin arena. Merrin will be playing for the Blues for many years to come.
Interchange
14 Josh Jackson (Club: Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, Age: 24, Age at Jan 1 2020: 29)
Despite the fact that Jackson, like Merrin will be getting on in age by the time the year 2020 rolls around and he hasn’t made his origin debut as yet, he should be in the Origin team making his debut very soon and will be around for many years to come.
Jackson has represented Australia and has been touted for an Origin debut.
15 Tyrone Peachey (Club: Penrith Panthers, Age: 23, Age at Jan 1 2020: 28)
Peachey is one of the hottest second rowers in the game at the moment and has flown through the ranks, firstly at the Sharks and now the Panthers. He is destined to be a future Origin player for the Blues and was unlucky to miss out on a starting spot in this team of the future.
He represented both the Indigenous All Stars and the City team this year in his first taste of rep footy.
16 Tyson Frizell (Club: St George Illawarra Dragons, Age: 23, Age at Jan 1 2020: 28)
Dragons second rower Frizell has always been an above average player, but this year he has really come on in leaps and bounds tackling and running hard proving to be one of the combinations of the year so far with Benji Marshall.
This excellent form earned him a call up to the Country Origin team and a possible Blues debut.
There is no doubt that if he keeps this form up he will be a prominent figure in the Blues team for many years to come.
17 Matthew Lodge (Club: Wests Tigers, Age: 19, Age at Jan 1 2020: 24)
Lodge may only be 19, and have only a handful of first grade games to his name but the hard hitting front rower is a player who will play Origin for the Blues.
He has already represented the New South Wales under-20s at the age of just 18 and captained the Australian under-20s team in the recent Test match against New Zealand. With age on his side he should have a long and successful career at both club and Origin level.
Honourable mentions
Curtis Sironen (Club: Wests Tigers, Age: 21, Age at Jan 1 2020: 26)
Paul Vaughan (Club: Canberra Raiders, Age: 24, Age at Jan 1 2020: 29)
Tepai Moeroa (Club: Parramatta Eels, Age: 19, Age at Jan 1 2020: 24)
Nathan Peats (Club: Parramatta Eels, Age 24, Age at Jan 1 2020: 30)
Jack De Belin (Club: St George Illawarra Dragons, Age 24, Age at Jan 1 2020: 29)
Bryce Cartwright (Club: Penrith Panthers, Age 21, Age at Jan 1 2020: 25)
The full NSW 17
1 Matt Moylan, 2 James Tedesco, 3 James Roberts, 4 Josh Dugan, 5 Alex Johnston, 6 Jack Bird, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Michael Lichaa, David Klemmer, 11 Wade Graham, 12 Ryan James, 13 Trent Merrin.
Interchange: 14 Josh Jackson, 15 Tyrone Peachey, 16 Tyson Friell, 17 Matthew Lodge
So there you have it Roarers. This is how I reckon the New South Wales Blues will line up in five years time.
Remember to check back in tomorrow as I go through what the Queensland team could look like in five years.