In Game 1, NSW almost won. Laurie Daley almost picked a winning team. Josh Morris almost scored.
Dylan Walker almost got away with milking a penalty. OK, he was nowhere near getting away with that. That was like a bank robber giving the branch manager his contact details to pass to the cops.
The point is though, that ‘almost’ didn’t cut it to beat Queensland in Sydney, so why – an injury swap for Boyd Cordner aside – has Laurie Daley picked the same team? Does he almost believe they will beat Queensland in Suncorp?
The team that ran out onto the dodgy Olympic Stadium turf had a fundamental flaw in the team – they could not score points. One try off a questionable pass was all they could muster after 80 minutes. For the record, I thought the pass was fine (just), but the fact people were highlighting it reflected the sad reality that NSW really didn’t have a clue how to cross the line. They almost did though.
And yet Daley picked the same team. Where are the almost tries going to come from? Perhaps they will come from the left side of the backline: Blake Ferguson and Michael Jennings and the sparkling form they are in. They almost got a mention by Ray Warren during the call.
Maybe they will get them from the massive metres provided by fearsome Aaron Woods? It’s better than having Andrew Fifita on the park eh?
It will be Dylan Walker, a man who did almost nothing as Manly gave up a 20-point lead on Sunday evening. He’ll almost get the job done.
Ah, they will get the inspiration from Robbie Farah. A man who has yet to play in consecutive Tigers victories this year, and can barely hold a bench spot. Clearly when your number one hooker is in a team in the bottom half of the eight that will always be a better pick than the hooker who’s marshalling the team in the top two
This is a very defensively set team, and that’s why NSW will almost win again. They will almost score more points than Queensland .
Pick boys from form teams, not from reputation. It’s not hard.
Craig
Guest
Daley gets a lot of the blame and so he should, their style of play is terrible. The selectors also need be replaced. The Dylan Walker selection is still probably the worst selection in origin history, compounded by the fact they had no plan for him.
NovaKay
Guest
BRUCE Cartwright? Tom TROJOVIC? Also Norman is a Qld'r.
Peter Mc
Guest
Mitchell Pearce in as hooker
turbodewd
Roar Guru
All I remember is that the NSW backs conceded all the tries in game3 last year.
James T
Guest
At least a couple of years ago we could hope for some Hayne magic, where's it coming from now. With this side nsw have to rely on qld scoring no more than two tries and I don't see that happening. Personally I can't believe trjbovic isn't there, especially considering fergusons form. Nsw will get flogged yet again and Laurie should be sacked. He keeps picking the same sort of side with the same game plan and keeps losing.
steveng
Roar Rookie
After picking this team I wonder if anyone would bother to be there for the Blues in support? Not even worth commenting on this selection for the Blues, all we can wish them is 'good luck' as they will need lots of that in spades.
Charles NSW
Guest
Time and time again NSW fans have to put up with poor selections and game plans that have no meaning The fans are so frustrated with the results and can see nothing that will improve for the future I am so sick of hearing how QLD is when I know we can put in players that can match them utilising a good game plan Make no mistake we have to understand SOO before we go on to select players and reason why a certain player is chosen We need to put in players that are mature, experienced, work well under pressure, show standard and in their right positions When a coach has difficulty to meet those requirements he can put a player in another position, if they can adjust to the new position Despite the selection criteria that we need, it is time to try and correct each position now as NSW has lost too many times Players like Lachlan Coote has the age, experience and the skills to be part of the SOO team NSW is relying far too much on the forwards so that is why there is no variety The halves should remain as they are and for Daley to either work out a game plan that works or leave it to them to work one out Laurie Daley has chosen his team and has to live with the consequences good or bad If he loses this time he has to go it is that simple In that case Andrew Johns should be considered starting with the third game NSW fans want positive results it has been far too long without it
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
It was always going to, essentially, be the same team as game 1 for precisely why you wrote this article. They almost won. I find at baffling that so many fans of the game can see it so clearly, but, the selectors can't. NSW had the home ground in game 1. They picked their "best" 17. And they lost. Plain and simple. What makes them believe that they can go to Suncorp and win game 2 with the same 16, and their sole point scorer from game 1 not there? NSW have won 1from their last 10 "live" games at Suncorp. And that was game 1 in 2014 on the back of Jarryd Hayne...
spruce moose
Guest
Silly reasoning re: Pearce. Pearce wasn't playing when Gus last coached.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Well it didn't when he was NSW coach before. Gus is ruthless. Panthers and Rooster players won't get a look in if they aren't up to it. At the moment, only a few are. Ferguson should buy a lottery ticket.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Bryce Cartwright's defence wasn't up to Origin standard, but he is a rookie who has worked on his defence and improved out of sight. Against the Storm, the premiership leaders, 43 tackles 3 missed. Against Manly 32 tackles 2 missed. The Titans 35 tackles 4 missed. In my view that is more than good enough for SOO and furthermore, it isn't why you pick him anyway. Its what he does with ball that will make the difference. The Jacksons, Cordners and Scotts can't come close to the skill level of Cartwright. Sure, they are better defenders but NSW has plenty of those and that has worked really well so far, hasn't it?
spruce moose
Guest
Lol. That means that eligible players from the starting 13's of the Roosters and the Panthers will form the origin squad. Bring back Gus = Mitchell Pearce
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Bring back Gus.
spruce moose
Guest
Daley can't use that as an excuse. He's employed to score more points and win matches. If he isn't up to to it, find someone else
Nick
Roar Guru
Excellent calls there cadfael. Moylan is indeed a start.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
Exactly. They play not to win and Qld play to win by just enough. Qld did the bare minimum in game 1 - defend defend defend and then take the one opportunity they were given. Game 2 will be different on a firmer faster surface. Perhaps Jennings will get the ball? Though he is only good in broken play.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The Blues biggest problem is that they play to not lose rather than to win. Moylan (or Tedesco had he gone that way) is a start. An attacking 9 like Peats, Rein or Ennis would be a good addition. The forwards are good defensively but don't give a lot in attackexcept as yardage takers. What I want from the game is for the referees to enforce a good 10 metres.
Lachlan
Guest
Corey Norman is a queenslander, and Bryce Cartwright's defence isnt up to origin standard yet. But apart from that the others deserve a go.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Gotta give Daley one defense - Qld has been blessed with the likes of Lockyer, Slater, Inglis, Smith, Cronk, Thurston....and they are clearly missing Hodges if u ask me. NSW seem to lack quality halves and depth at half. There is a major lack of NSW scoring ability.
Luke powell
Guest
Hopefully a mass clean out after they lose this series Bruce Cartwright Tom Trojovic James Tedesco Ryan James Joey Leilua Tyson Frizzel Corey Norman A form hooker