A five-star performance from James Tedesco in State of Origin III would highlight Laurie Daley’s folly in leaving the Wests Tigers fullback out of the team for Game 2, but could also ensure the NSW coach keeps his job.
Of course, there is no guarantee Tedesco will have a good game, but I’m as sure as I can be that he will. I reckon a State of Origin star will be born at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.
There have been conflicting reports about Daley’s future beyond this series.
He is contracted until the end of next year’s series and one report, after the loss by the Blues in Game 1, claimed he was safe to complete the deal no matter how this year’s series finished.
Then, after Queensland clinched the series by winning game two, NSWRL chairman George Peponis came out and said there would be a review of the NSW operation and that everything was on the table except Daley’s job, which was safe.
The latest speculation, heading into Game 3, is that NSW need to win for Daley to be assured of keeping his job.
NSW have lost three out of four series under Daley, including the last two in a row. He should have already lost his chance to coach the team again next year. If he didn’t have a contract for another year I suspect his cards would already be marked.
Craig Bellamy was the only previous Blues coach to survive losing two series. He lost three out of three series and was gone.
Some people react to the suggestion Daley should be moved on by pointing out how great the Queensland team is and that at least he is the one NSW coach who has actually won a series in the last 11 years.
But the Blues didn’t build on that 2014 series win as they might have. Some of the most promising young players in the game had to wait longer than they should have had to wait to get a game.
The good thing is that the form of debutants Tyson Frizell and Jack Bird for NSW in game two appears to have emboldened Daley.
The easy thing for him to do when selected halfback Adam Reynolds was forced out of Game 3 by injury would have been to select an established halfback, like Mitchell Pearce, as his replacement. But, instead, he brought Matt Moylan back into the squad.
So either Bird or Moylan will start in the halves with Maloney, and I reckon we’ll see all three players on the field together at some stage.
I’m keen to see Moylan play five-eighth in a game like this. He looks like he could make a successful switch to that position from fullback and this would be a great opportunity to try him there.
All Origin games are important, but at least this one is not series-deciding and with Maloney, Bird and Moylan all in the mix at least you’ve got three options for the two halves positions if it’s not working out as you would like during the match.
Dead rubber games are tricky beasts to judge. So much of it comes down to how much it means to the players in the team that has already won the series to win again. If they’re all up for it, fine, but if four of five of them are down a few per cent in intensity it can make all the difference.
It should be easier for the team that is down two-nil to get up for the game, to try to avoid a clean sweep. But, still, nothing is certain.
The chances of NSW winning will certainly be improved, though, if Tedesco makes the sort of debut he’s capable of making.
Train Without A Terminus
Guest
Read up a few comments kkkken, as indicated by the parentheses it's not my statement. It's a quote...
Ken
Guest
Last years fullback was the NSW man of the series and he couldn't keep the position, why would Teddy keep it if he has a shocker?
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
You really lost me at Croker. I really can't see him ever getting into the Origin team. He is a prolific scorer but his defense is terrible! I would have Bird in the centres and stick with Maloney/Reynolds in the halves for next year. Trbojevic and Leilua are a little left field but I wouldn't argue with their selection. But, with Mansour, Dugan, Moylan all possible wingers, they are down the pecking order a bit. Why Ryan James isn't in the team yet I have no idea...
Adam
Guest
kid has potential (was great last night)...but he also makes a mountain of errors and misses the odd tackle or two...if we are talking about fullbacks/centres wighton doesn't make the top 5 in either of those categories sadly
TruBlu
Guest
I'm just glad Teddy' got the nod over Dugan at FB. I still have a major issue with a Dugan playing centre when he's not a natural ball player. Since Daley must have him he'd be better off on the wing. If you were gonna pick a fullback at centre I'd go for Wighton first and then Trobjevic. Wighton is an ex left centre and watching him chime in from FB he scores a lot of tries on that side.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Gets smashed in the first five and doesn't return for the rest of the game , is then overlooked for the rest of his career .... Ahhh the curse of the NSWelshman .
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
I must say I've only just realised that there is still another Origin match to go. How long has this series dragged on for? It's not that I thought it should stop if Queensland had already won the series, I was sure there were 3 games played already. Seems there are plenty of empty seats for the last match, so maybe it's time to review the whole process. I know there's lots of cash involved, but perhaps if we had an annual match that would be enough, and it would have less impact on the rest of the season in terms of exhaustion, injuries etc.
Bluey
Guest
Tabasco sauce goes with everything. Teddy is in hot form.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Nothing screams genius like the 2009 selections of Josh Morris on the bench, Gidley at fullback, and Hayne on the wing.
JP
Guest
Ha ha ha ...you're right too.
ChubbzyK96
Guest
Jarred Mullen - poor bloke
Buzzard
Guest
Unfortunately my Tigers needed him more against the DOGS than this meaningless game..
Raugeee
Guest
Does sound like a combination of Nabisco and Tesco.
Bulldog
Guest
If Tedesco does not make the cut in Origin his nickname will be "Snake Oil" as he is currently be spruiked as the fix all to all NSW problems, Got a sore knee or a pain in your neck just rub a bit of Tedesco on it and everything will be good....
Bluey
Guest
Too right! I'm just as excited as the next guy and can't wait to see Teddy play in his FIRST Origin. But how about just waiting to see how the kid goes first before heaping all this pressure on him!
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
For me the spotlight on this game will be on one thing and one thing only - Daley's game plan and how he uses the attacking talent in this team.
Raugeee
Guest
I am so disappointed QLD didn't go with Ben Barba. Perfect opportunity. Kangaroos need BB for World Cup next year.
Raugeee
Guest
I sincerely hope Tedesco has a blinder and we have a pulsating Origin that ebbs and flows from tryline to tryline. I am expecting a low scoring affair. Since 2006 the biggest winning margin at Stadium Australia has been 10. NSW 18 - 8 in Game 2, 2011; & QLD 24 - 14 Game 2, 2009. The largest combined score was 52 in game 1 2010 (QLD 28 - NSW 24). QLD can't have any excuses about Stadium Australia not being a favoured venue. Of their 17 players 16 have played at least 1 Grand Final in Sydney, with a total of 33 GFs combined. NSW, on the other hand, have only 3 players with Grand Final experience for a combined total of 4 GFs. NSW have it all to do - it will be close but I am picking QLD by 5 (Haven't seen a FG for a while).
armchair expert
Guest
Yep you're right, in 2009 he couldn't oust Kurt Gidley from the fullback. Streuth!!!!! Point take. my bad
Rockin Rocks
Guest
He'll be fine. Even if he has a shocker (unlikely) he's still one of the most consistent fullbacks in years. 2017 team: 1. Tedesco 2. Trbojevic 3. Croker 4. Leluia 5. Mansour 6. J Bird 7. (TBA) 8. Woods 9. Peats 10. James 11. Frizell 12. Cordner 13. Jackson (c) 14. Klemmer 15. Fafita 16. Cartwright 17. Moylan/Austin 18. Graham 19. Wighton