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Robbie Farah is still coming out of a concussion rehabilitation period and only just starting to participate in running sessions. By comparison, Michael Ennis is in the form of his life and has no injury worries at all. So what is the logic behind picking Farah for Origin Game 1?
Whatever your personal opinion of either player, it’s been documented this week that Laurie Daley told Ennis there were no weaknesses he needed to work on. It was simply the fact the Farah was the incumbent hooker, having only missed Game 3 last year through injury, so he got the job.
We can therefore assume that, at full fitness, there is only a bee’s appendage separating them as preferred hooker. So why would you pick the man who, at best, will need to be rested because he isn’t match fit or, at worst, will be replaced entirely if he succumbs to the injury during the game? This doesn’t even take into account the restricted preparation.
More Origin
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» NSW Blues team for State of Origin Game 1: Expert reaction
» No excuse for NSW come Game 1
From a risk management perspective, if you weigh up the slight gain from their marginal superiority against the very high risk of them not finishing the game, or using up two valuable interchanges, it makes no sense.
It has been reported today that Dylan Walker will almost certainly be expected to step in at hooker for some period of the game. Picking Ennis would have taken that out of the equation. Sure, it’s possible that the utility player may have to step into any position in the case of injury, but it should never be part of a pre-conceived plan.
There will always be a case where someone will be worth the risk because they inspire the whole team by their very presence, or their skills are so superior. In this case, however, Laurie Daley made it clear that both players were virtually equal and Farah’s incumbency was the only separator.
The risk, in this case, far outweighs the reward.
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