The NSW team for State of Origin Game 1 has been announced, and as always there are winners and losers to come out of Laurie Daley’s selection.
Blues mentor Daley has opted to go with a 20-man squad for the game rather than name a team, with a number of players under injury clouds, but this is effectively a 19-man squad, with a ‘development player’ (originally Bryce Cartwright who has since been ruled out injured and will be replaced).
But with five players yet to feature in a game of Origin named, a number who have been there before had to miss out.
Here’s our pick of those stiff to be missing Game 1 for the Blues.
More:
» State of Origin teams
» NSW State of Origin team for Game 1: Expert reaction
» Origin news
» Bryce Cartwright’s Origin dream over before it began
» Origin greats – the best ever NSW Blues team
Beau Scott
The stalwart backrower has long been the protector of NSW halves and the walloper of Queensland ones. But this time Scott has been left aside for younger options, as well as Greg Bird and Paul Gallen.
Many thought that with James Maloney being selected the Blues would need Scott’s graft and toughness, but it remains to be seen how important he was to the team.
Ryan Hoffman
Another hard-working, never-let-you-down, but ageing backrower, Hoffman’s form for the Warriors hasn’t been great. He is the victim of his own performances but also those of his teammates, who have been consistently inconsistent throughout 2016.
Always tries hard, but that hasn’t been enough for Hoffman in 2016. We won’t see him return to the Origin arena.
Lachlan Coote
Many were touting Lachlan Coote as the NSW fullback this season. With a heap of linebreak and try assists so far in 2016 on the back of a good North Queensland backline, Coote has had plenty of opportunities to thrive.
However, it wasn’t enough to win him a spot over Matt Moylan, who many see as the Blues’ long-term custodian.
Trent Hodkinson
The incumbent half from the last two seasons has been shown the door after the Blues were pummelled in Game 3 last year. His move to Newcastle can’t have helped his cause either, where he is playing with one of the worst rosters in the competition.
It’s hard to see Hodkinson pushing a claim at club level anytime soon.
Trent Merrin
A Blues regular for the past couple of seasons, Merrin’s 2016 hasn’t been as spectacular as his last two years. However, with his pace off the mark, high work-rate and ability to offload, you’d have thought there would be room for him somewhere. Apparently not.
Michael Ennis
This might shut the door on 32-year-old Ennis’ representative career. Playing career-best football leading a red-hot Sharks outfit around the park hasn’t been enough to earn him a spot over Robbie Farah. Unless Farah is injured, it’s hard to see a way back.
Who do you think was unlucky to miss out Roarers?
Jammo
Guest
I'm a neutral, admittedly with little cred having been born in NZ and living in Melbourne. However I'm continually amazed that NSW selectors don't pick Jarrod Crocker. Solid in defence, deceptively effective in attack and a reliable goal kicker. Looks like the perfect Origin centre for mine. Expect to hear why I'm wrong lol
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
I would say that Wade Graham is next in line when Greg Bird departs from SoO. Tough as nails, a good football brain and everything that Dutski above says. Cronulla is in front of the NRL because of Gallen, Graham and Ennis. L.Daley must consider M.Ennis a crap dummy half whose passes are slow and inaccurate compared to R.Farah while Farah's kicking game sends shivers of fear up the spine of every canetoad. :)
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah he is much closer to Morgan than Walker is plus plays more positions. Let's hope in a week's time it turns out to be a masterstroke.... one can only hope!
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
The Barry is correct that the Biggest Loser was M.Ennis. At first I thought perhaps L.Daley has a mancrush on R.Farah. Remember that Farah played in the first 2 games of last year's SoO series (both very close games) and I guess Daley blames the SoO III debacle on the lack of Farah's attack game. To be sure he sees Ennis as a poor dummy half compared to Farah. Farah was originally chosen to play in Game lll but withdrew on game day due to a hand injury and was replaced by M.Ennis. That alone would have messed up the NSW team's plans for the last match, in addition that Queensland were playing in Brissie, the refs really gave the dominant team heaps of latitude (esp in the first half) and damn if I know what was in their Jungle Juice but I want some. Those canetoad forwards were running through brick walls that night and bugger the pain. I can see Daley's thoughts that R.Farah is more an attacking hooker in the mould of Cam Smith and he wants that sort of player rather than a really good "old style" hooker like M.Ennis. That's fair enough and if it works, then we all call L.Daley a genius. :) I suspect Daley is trying to build a 1,6,7,9 attacking spine which works so well for Melbourne, NQ and Queensland SoO teams, which explains his other selections in M.Moylan, J.Maloney and A.Reynolds. In an earlier blog I picked J.Reynolds at 5/8 but on reflection Maloney is a better pick as he can cover halfback if A.Reynolds gets trampled on. My main problems with this (apart from Farah) are Maloney's suspect front-on defence (in fairness Cronulla aren't doing too badly with his "sus defence") and Moylan and L.Coote are sus under the high ball. Every match I have seen these two blokes play in, they have spilled high kicks and cost their teams. The other bloke who got the rough end of the pineapple was Trent Merrin. He lost out to A.Fifita (dropped after Game I last year). I would give one of D.Klemmer or A.Fifita the bullet and bring in T.Merrin, but that's a moot point. Also a case could be put for Beau Scott who lost out to Josh Jackson (too small for the Queensland giants) but personally I would have Bryce Cartwright as reserve rather than a defender like B.Scott or J.Jackson. The bloke is an attack genius and he can tackle, ask some of the Titan players. Cartwright is injured so go for B.Scott. From that game III last year, 8 blokes have been dissed. They are: both wingers W.Hopoate and Brett Morris (wounded), both halfs M.Pearce and T.Hogkinson, both 2nd rowers Beau Scott and Ryan Hoffman, the hooker M.Ennis and a reserve forward T.Merrin (likely replaced with Daley/Fultons' master stroke, the Michael Morgan clone called Dylan Walker.)
matth
Guest
Jack Bird could have been your Michael Morgan off the bench.
Balanced
Guest
Hey, Doug Graves, if you are not Michael Ennis in real life then I'm sure he'd like to buy you a drink. :-)
sham
Guest
Move to Manly
NQ Cowboy
Guest
Jack Bird can play every backline position(except wing) better than Walker and he's also big enough to play in the forwards. Walker was very average last season in the centres for Souths and he has been even worse this season at 5/8 for the Eagles. His selection does not make sense.
Josh
Guest
Walker as a utility makes more sense then the others mentioned and imo he can thank his selection to 8 interchange rule and the concussion rule. Given the limited numbers a 4th forward is wasted on the bench you need someone who can cover the backline in case of injury and that is Walker. He can play centre, wing, five eight. With Maloney able to move from half and Dugan able to move to fullback that means Walker covers you whole back line and Frizell andvWalker could spend time at dummy half to give some freshness. However as i said the concussion rule is the key one because it means you need to cover your backline abd Walker covers the whole backline and is better at it then Jack Bird.
peeeko
Guest
they have tried that approach with the roosters winning the comp and that didnt work
peeeko
Guest
and what is your standing in the game? how many of these guys have you tackled?
peeeko
Guest
have a look in the mirror
Dracula
Guest
NSW need to introduce new faces but only those who are destined to go on and play alot more. Daley needs to invest in a crystal ball.
Brian
Guest
Two things wrong with the N.S.W team 1st Laurie Daley not all great players are good coaches, Wally Lewis proved that with the Gold Coast, 2nd Bob Bozo the clown Fulton he is just an advisor,thankfully he is not there financial advisor they would all be flat broke,The whole selection panel need to have a real good look in the mirror and admit it they have it wrong.
Doug Graves
Guest
interesting that Tigers have 3 out of their 4 wins without Farah, but have 7 out of 7 losses with him. The bloke is going to torpedo NSW just like he's done to the Tigers. #FarahOut #EnnisIn
Black Cowboy
Guest
R.I.P JC
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It's odd, right? The guy could be a focal point for NSW fans to love and QLD fans to hate. His play was energetic, his media presence was personable, I really don't know why Daley wouldn't have gone with him. He has clearly matured out of sight this year but, well, good luck to Maloney.
Muzz
Guest
RIP V.O.R
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I don't think Josh Reynolds is a utility at all. I thought it was strange that Daley would have selected him in that role in the first place, so go figure. He plays at number 6 and that is where, I think, he should be selected. The guy doesn't take a backward step and isn't afraid of supporting his team. He exudes energy, enthusiasm and has enough talent to go with it. I'm not saying Maloney is a bad decision but I think that Josh Reynolds is a better one.
Muzz
Guest
Coote should be the NSW fullback. Lachlan ticks all the boxes of a modern day number 1. He has played on the biggest stage/GF and knows what Thurston and Morgan have for breakfast.