I know the first State of Origin match is still a good month away, but it’s never too early to start contemplating Origin and all its glorious permutations.
Indeed, the Origin selections game is almost as fun as the real thing – really whetting your appetite for the big occasion.
With the less than stellar win-loss record of the Blues in recent years, Laurie Daley and Sterlo have some serious contemplating to do. As usual, nobody will be 100 per cent happy with the team they pick.
The process involves picking a team that provides the perfect balance between the following player groups.
1. In-form incumbents
2. Out-of-form incumbents
3. In-form players who have played Origin in the past
4. Current good-form players who are consistently lighting up the NRL week in and week out, but who haven’t played Origin
So, just for something a little different, let’s look at the 17 NSW Origin incumbents from last year’s final match that the Blues won. We can pit them against a team of current red-hot NRL form players who haven’t played Origin, and ponder two questions.
Firstly, who do you think would win between these two teams? Secondly, which players or possibilities have I left out of the red-hot NRL form team that should be included?
The notable omission from last year’s Game 3 team was Boyd Cordner who didn’t play due to injury, but who most certainly would have been selected.
The 2016 NSW State of Origin Incumbents Team (Game III)
James Tedesco
Blake Ferguson
Michael Jennings
Josh Dugan
Josh Mansour
James Maloney
Matt Moylan
Aaron Woods
Robbie Farah
Paul Gallen
Wade Graham
Josh Jackson
Tyson Frizell
Interchange
Jack Bird
David Klemmer
Andrew Fifita
James Tamou
The 2017 NSW State of Origin Rookie Team with Red-Hot NRL Form (Game I)
Tom Trbojevic
James Roberts
Jarrod Croker
Joseph Leilua
Josh Addo-Carr
Blake Austin
Ash Taylor
Ryan James
Nathan Peats
Paul Vaughan
Joel Thompson
Dale Finucane
Jack de Belin
Interchange
Damien Cook
Shannon Boyd
Matt Prior
Jake Trbojevic
Roarers, who from team A – and who from team B – should go together in the side that will finally beat the Maroons this year?
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
Doh! I should have known - all the good '7's" are Qlds!
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Ash Taylor is a Qlder but nice try. As far as being an incumbent goes surely it only gives you credit points with selectors if you are a winning incumbent.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Think you answered your question from your previous post! :-)
Dutski
Roar Guru
Like your work god. Oh, and good team too.
god
Guest
and yet... 1. slater 2. holmes 3. chambers 4. gagai 5. boyd 6. thurston 7. cronk 8. myles 9. smith 10. napa 11. papalli 12. gillet 13. mcguire 14. morgan 15. wallace 16. thaiday 17. hess
god
Guest
i don't see how this team wouldn't win. 1. tedesco 2. t. turbo 3. peachy 4. leileua 5. ferguson 6. maloney 7. pearce 8. r.james 9. wallace 10. klemmer 11. cordner 12. frizzel 13. w.graham 14. bird 15. s.boyd 16. vaughn. 17. fifita
Big Al
Guest
He clearly said "17 NSW Origin incumbents from last year’s final match that the Blues won" vs "a team of current red-hot NRL form players who haven’t played Origin". Incumbents vs Origin rookies - got it? I would back the incumbents purely on James Maloney being in the team. I've never really liked him as an opposition player, but that bloke is just a winner, knows how to steer a team around and win games.
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
Not saying that at all Dexter The hamster - have another read of the article.
Aaron
Guest
Realistically, the team will be very similar to Game 3, 2016. The only changes will be those that are forced due to injury or retirement. There will not be wholesale changes to what Laurie sees as a winning team, even though they only won a dead rubber game in the last 2 minutes. Origin teams, rightly or wrongly, are chosen on perceived quality over a long period of time, rather than a few good games. Cordner for one of Graham / Jackson / Frizell Boyd for Gallen Tom Turbo for Mansour I'd also make the following changes, but I doubt these will happen. Leilua for Jennings Ryan James or Vaughan for Tamou Someone for Farah (surely there's someone?) Anyone for Moylan since he's in terrible form. Wouldn't be surprised if it's Pearce.
Matt Jones
Guest
this old argument which isnt an argument. Laurie will pick on class and experience. But calling fir "form" players after 7 rounds is the typical form of the armchair critic
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Wow. So you are saying that of last years team, that Tedesco, Jackson, Frizell and Graham are "not in form", yet Croker, Austin, Thompson, Taylor (who is a Qld'er) and Finucane are all in "red hot form"?? Just wow.