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With the NSW Blues losing the State of Origin decider at Suncorp in Queensland 52-6, what is next for the Blues in the coming years?
For starters NSW have done well to continue their stick and pick policy with picking a majority of Blues that have played in the past. They also introduced two fresh faces Josh Jackson and David Klemmer, who are sure to be Origin stars of the future.
With that said let’s take a moment to look at what will need to stay or change for the future.
The coach
Laurie Dayley has done a tremendous job with the Blues, coaching the team to win back the shield last year and put on a great effort for two out of three matches in 2015.
With Laurie Dayley signed on for a few more years, old and new faces will know what to expect when they show up to camp. Laurie is a must for the future and hopefully can take up a usual spot similar to what Mal Maninga has done with Queensland.
Fullback
Josh Dugan has now been in the NSW camp for a couple years now and even though he is not every fan’s favourite he is growing well into the role. With his versatility he can fill in at fullback, centre or the wing if need be.
Rising star Matt Moylan will be making his Origin claims in the coming years, and he has been introduced into the training squad as 18th man this year. Most of the players introduced as 18th man in the past have gone on to be included in the team in later years.
Expect either Josh Dugan to move from fullback to centre to make way for Moylan, or for Moylan to be introduced on the wing or even to come off the bench, similar to how Matt Bowen was introduced to the Origin arena.
Wingers
Will Hopoate had a great start to his Origin career with a try on debut, and he has only done what is needed of a winger in Origin. Hopoate has not been mentioned a lot for his efforts in many games and he has been a very safe winger. But NSW have a long list of wingers that will definitely come in the selectors’ mind for next year.
Josh Mansour has been on everyone’s lips for selection, however with injuries plaguing him for a majority of 2015 he hasn’t had a chance to really play for his beloved Panthers. If he is ever a chance for selection he would have to hopefully be injury free for 2016.
One speedster that may be a bolter for selection is James Roberts. With speed, strength and aggression he may start off on the wing for the NSW Blues, only time will tell. Brett Morris is a tremendous winger, strong in defence and attack. Only injury would stop him from selection next year.
Centres
Michael Jennings has been hot and cold over the past few years; sometimes he looks lost and will have to be superb in 2016. However, when he has become more involved in games he has been remarkable.
Blake Ferguson will be on close watch as he has shown sparks of perfection that could help the Blues to stake their claim at regaining the shield in 2016. Josh Morris, like his brother, has always been remarkable in attack and defence. He has contained Greg Inglis for many years in the centres and been a attacking machine in many games.
Morris will have many centres breathing down his neck, however with NSW most likely staying with the ‘stick and pick’ policy the Morris twins will be there for many years to come. A possible centre replacement would be Dylan Walker, but it’s a very low chance.
Five-eighth
Mitchell Pearce has always been criticised for every State of Origin match he has played. Come 2016 he will have his work cut out for him with Blake Austin playing better and better each week.
Pearce has played well in some games, pulling of many great plays, however the bad always outweighs the good he does in any game. Previous five-eighths James Maloney, Jamie Soward and Josh Reynolds will come into contention as well for next year’s Origin series.
Halfback
Trent Hodkinson was NSW’s saviour last year scoring the match winning try, but Blues supporters will be calling for a change after this year’s loss. Many supporters have called for Adam Reynolds to be the next number seven for a while now.
With Hodinkson now moving onto the Knights he will have to adapt well to his new team otherwise he may be facing the chop. With NSW usually going with club combinations a surprise selection might surface with the Raiders halves Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin coming into contention.
Sezer plays beyond his years and has been chosen to play for the Country side for two straight years but has unfortunately not played due to injury. He has played well for the Prime Minister’s XIII for the past two years and has been on Laurie’s mind. Sezer is a possible bolter if he gels well with Austin.
Props
James Tamou has been big and fearless in any game he has played. Unless if he drops his form significantly or is injured he will be in the team for next year and the years to follow.
Aaron Woods has been deemed the successor for Paul Gallen. Woods has had his taste at captaining the Wests Tigers this year in the absence of Robbie Farah and is a certain future leader. He has the determination that the Blues need in their forward pack. A possible future captain.
Hooker
Robbie Farah will be the NSW Blues hooker for many games to come, while Michael Ennis played valiantly as his injury replacement. The Blues do need to find a successor for Farah, however. Nathan Peats has been spoken about a lot to replace Farah may do so if Farah is ever injured again around Origin time.
Second row
Beau Scott has been solid in just about every game he has played and has managed to terroris Johnathan Thurston. However, his age is creeping upwards and Daley may look to bring in fresh faces. Scott should be there next year though, while Ryan Hoffman is always consistent and will stay with the team for many more years.
Lock
Paul Gallen has been NSW’s grunt for so many years now, he has given NSW hope and determination when it has been needed and has been a fierce leader. However, he has been battling constant injuries for the past two years and is debating whether to hang up the Origin boots or push on for another series.
It may be time to give it up, however. NSW need to bring in a successor to take over the amount of spirit and grunt Gallen put into the team. Greg Bird has always played well for NSW and will definitely come back into the team next year, either to replace Gallen or play next to him.
If NSW look to replace Gallen and want someone to play alongside Bird then Josh Jackson could make his way to the starting line-up.
The bench
Trent Merrin, Boyd Cordner, Klemmer and Jackson will be looking to prove themselves once again when it rolls around to 2016. The bench spot always looks to be the one that is changed most frequently in both Queensland and NSW teams.
With Andrew Fifita missing Games 2 and 3 he will be itching at the chance to get into the team. Possible Blues bolters in 2016: Ryan James, Sezer, James Roberts, Sione Mata’utia, Walker, Jack Bird, Adam Reynolds, Luke Keary, Austin, Tariq Sims, Moylan and Tyson Frizell.
Queensland have had great success winning from 2006-2013 and then again in 2015, however the NSW Blues are building towards greatness. There have been dark days, however NSW have just got to learn to win those close games that always seem to slip straight through their hands.
The Blues have a great coach and have been grooming players through the ranks, before we know it NSW will go on to record great wins and back-to-back series victories.
So hang in there, NSW supporters. Next year the Blues have a chance to take back the shield once more.
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