Daley's dilemma surrounding Fulton and Gallen

So Moylan isn't ready to play 6 but Hastings is ready to play 7? Can you explain the logic used?

Well, Renegade If you want to win the Origin, then you have to pick the best players, the difference is as a Souths man, I picked 2 Roosters. How many Rooster fans would pick Souths players? The answer is NONE. Give me your TOP 7 Backs?

Gallen and Bird are both workhorses, but take up too many hit ups in each set, so yes, they do stifle NSW's attacking opportunities. There are pro's and con's for keeping and dropping them. I'm more surprised about yet again another spine combination change, it's the same discussion every year.

Well they went alright in 2014 when they carved everyone up, Walker was playing injured all of 2015.

How is his players players and MOTM awards he has half a dozen of in a kangaroos jersey explained?

No bias towards Souths in that side whatsoever.... yawn.

I think a better parallel would be 1) if the Broncos won the wooden spoon 9 years out of ten (or at least failed to make the finals) 2) there were no media articles criticising the coaching staff during that entire period. 3) Kearney had powerful mates in the media giving him raps...despite results strongly indicating such raps were unjustified. Then? Absolutely. The comparison would stand.

You're backline are top quality ball runners, a kicker in Reynolds and then walker and Johnstone. Might have dominated defence in the 70's but not going to open up today's d line. This is obviously a gee up from a Souths fan. Good call on Roberts. I forgot him from the NSW side I picked and he should definitely get a spot soon. J Morris's centre replacement.

Yes, get rid of the dinosaurs, Fulton and Gallen (the HOG) Jackson Hastings? YAWN Adam Reynolds with Blake Austin should be in the halves. Matt Moylan and Tedesco, the two passengers who always seem to be on the injured list, a YAWN also. The 2 Morris Boys are beyond it also, older and always carrying injuries. I would have Johnston and Walker, BOTH test and Premiership players who know how to win. I would keep Jennings also. Young James Roberts may be a good option So my backline would be 1 Ferguson, 2 Johnston, 3 Walker, 4 Jennings, 5 Roberts 6 Austin 7 A Reynolds. We have Pace, Power, defence and pure ability and try-scoring potential. The back line is where NSW always get beat.

100% agree. 1. I've been saying this since Dugan took over from Hayne. I was shot down at the time but sanity has prevailed. Nsw have talented back rowers for days, out with the old. 2. Farrah, Gallen, Hopoate, Pearce and Hodkinson can't be selected. Farrah and Gallen are far too overbearing and that has worked well for club and state hasn't it. Plus there best days are gone and there not coming back. The others aren't good enough. Lauries a good bloke but a terrible coach. He needs to go now. My nsw side 1. Tedesco 2. Ferguson 3. Jennings 4. J Morris/Dugan 5. B Morris/Dugan 6. Austin/Sezer/Moylan could be the best but not ready for this spot. 7. Hastings. It's not to early he's clearly the best choice and should be the future leader. 8. Tamou 9. Rein 10. Trovejic 11. Cordner 12. Hoffman 13. Merrin 14. Peats 15. Luke Lewis 16. Josh Jackson 17. Klemmer

If NSW just keep on doing what they have been doing for the last decade it works for me just fine.

No problem. Fulton gets shaded from the spotlight by his media mates, so no surprise that few know his role. Unless they win, then he is shown as the mastermind behind it. I don’t have anything about how he is the puppet master, just what I’ve been told by guys that have played in the team the last few years

OK NOIP. Seems you may be right, though for some reason the other two are still recorded as selectors. However I'll concede to the point. But if you refer to almost any interview on the net under 'Daley' regarding State of Origin selections he is always stating who HE is choosing, not who THEY are choosing and he rationalises based on his assessment of the players involved. I still maintain that Daley makes the final decision regarding selections, and Fulton is only there as an advisory post. No question Fulton would discuss the options available with Daley, but the way Daley talks, the final decision as to who is selected is his and his alone. He makes no reference to Fulton when he says why he has selected various players. I think this is the outcome of the very issue you alluded to regarding Bellamy. What seems to have happened is the coach now has the final say.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/state-of-origin/call-for-end-to-blues-bickering/story-fn31yxah-1226345452646 http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/queenslander-brian-canavan-helped-the-state-of-origin-enemy-new-south-wales/story-fnia3gmj-1226946939230 http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/blueprint-for-success-neutral-coach-axe-selectors-20101006-167wd.html

Trouble is that article is ambiguous. It doesnt say Fulton is sole selector and in fact mentions others who share the responsibility. Its also ambiguous regarding losses. NSW lost 8 straight State of Origins before 2014, but they won in 2014 or is that a mirage. They won 2-1. Oh how we forget so quickly. Other facts ignored are that the series have been 2-1 each year since 2011. It should also be pointed out that Queensland's wins in 2012, 2013 and 2015 were all the result of games won by one or two points that decided the SOO victors, one point in 2012, two in 2013 and one in 2015. But for one goal and perhaps a field goal, NSW would have won the 2012, 2013 and 2015 series. Despite occasional game blow outs, that's how close it came to NSW winning the last four series in a row. Suggesting they are not producing the goods is just damned insulting of the players who give their all and had those one or two points been scored in those games we would be lauding the coaches and selectors. Sometimes its a single play that decides a contest. Fine line between pleasure and pain.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nsw-selector-bob-fulton-under-as-much-pressure-as-laurie-daley-mitchell-pearce-to-deliver-success/story-fni3fqyo-1226918914510 "Significantly, though, since the NSW Rugby League trimmed the selection panel to just two - entrusting Fulton and the Blues coach with ultimate responsibility for the team’s make-up in 2011 - a semblance of stability has prevailed."

Well No one in Partcular, that's pretty strange because according to material I've read McCarthy is Chair of selectors and Gerard is still on the selection committee. If you read articles from Daley, he makes it very clear the reason for HIS decision to select certain players and gives a run down of what led him to HIS decision. Now if I am wrong I apologize but as far as I am aware those three men are still on the selection committee but Daley, who won the 2014 State of Origin contest by the way, has the final say on who is selected. Give me evidence if that is incorrect.

I agree, the forwards have held their own. Just look at the Queensland spine, one of the most stacked with talent in the history of the game. Slater, Lockyer, Thurston and Smith. And then Cronk comes in when Locky retires. They're all greats of the game. And I suppose GI isn't too bad either. Poor Mitchell Pearce lol. Depressingly if you're a NSW fan Queensland's halfback reserves are incredible. The Milf and Hunt, DCE and Morgan. All would start for NSW.

Gerrard and McCarthy haven't been selectors for 5 years. Daley was selector also. After all three got sacked Daley got promoted to coach a few years later Daley is coach and sole selector, Fulton is advisor. In reality, Teflon Bob is selector and develops the game plan. Daley carries it out. The main reason Bellamy walked away was that he had little say in selections The continued selection of Gallen, as well as players like Bird and Scott, is a head scratcher. The gameplan has worked once in 10 years, and its got less chance of working again as they become one year older

err....yes...he wouldn't offer much from the grave. However the 2015 Dally M 5/8 Blake Austin surely would, if you get my point....