No Robbie Farah, Mitchell Pearce, Dylan Walker, David Klemmer or Shannon Boyd in my NSW team for State of Origin I. Nathan Peats, Matt Moylan, Jarryd Hayne, Paul Vaughan and Jake Trbojevic all in.
Blues coach Laurie Daley should stick with the winning halves pairing from Origin III last year – Moylan and James Maloney.
Halfback Pearce has been playing well for Sydney Roosters this season, but he always has been a good club player. It’s at Origin level that he hasn’t been able to make an impact and he has had plenty of chances.
Moylan is still playing fullback for Penrith, but he spends so much time in the front line in attack that he may as well be at five-eighth.
The Panthers haven’t had a great season so far, but Moylan is a brilliant player. There were good signs from him in the second half against the Warriors last weekend and surrounded by class players in the NSW side he would have no trouble finding top gear.
Moylan would also be cover for fullback James Tedesco, while Jack Bird would provide the utility value from the bench.
Farah’s days as Blues hooker should have been over before now. Plenty of people raved about his performance for South Sydney against Wests Tigers last weekend, but the Tigers may as well not have turned up they were so bad.
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The form showed by Peats in Gold Coast’s win over Melbourne in a much better game was superior. He’s ready to go at Origin level. So too are Vaughan and Trbojevic.
It would be a mistake to keep St George Illawarra prop Vaughan waiting. He’s playing better than his former teammate Boyd is at Canberra and has got so much going for him.
He’s a big body, he can break the line, he’s got an offload, he can score tries and he’ll be able to play for 50-something minutes. He’s irresistible. I’d even start him.
Trbojevic is a classic defender in the centre of the field. He breaks blokes in half. And he can play big minutes if necessary.
Canterbury prop Klemmer makes a lot of metres, but there’s not a lot else to his game at the moment and Vaughan and Trbojevic can each do something with the ball. So, too, can Andrew Fifita.
It’s hard to leave Klemmer out, but with Aaron Woods set to make an early comeback from injury for the Tigers this weekend and then move on to the NSW side, someone has to go to fit both Vaughan and Trbojevic in.
You simply must have Hayne in the side somewhere. NSW have only won one series in the 11 years and Hayne had a huge influence on that success. Put him at centre this time around.
AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy
Tom Trbojevic would have been on the wing for sure had he not been hurt playing for Manly last weekend.
It would be easy to put Hayne there and Walker in the centres, but Brett Morris has never let a representative side down on the wing. Bring him back.
My NSW team
James Tedesco, Brett Morris, Jarryd Hayne, Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson, Matt Moylan, James Maloney, Aaron Woods, Nathan Peats, Paul Vaughan, Boyd Cordner (c), Josh Jackson, Tyson Frizell. Interchange: Jack Bird, Wade Graham, Jake Trbojevic, Andrew Fifita.
Gary
Guest
Hayne Ferguson Bird Peachey/Dugan N Ross Moylan Maloney Fifita Pearce/Wallace/Peats Vaughn Cordner Graham De Belin Klemmer Woods Frizell Dugan/ Peachey
joe
Guest
Pearce has experience,but its losing experience.There's no way they can possibly go with that guy again.Get your most talented players on the field & go from there.Even if you play a guy like Hayne out of position,i would rather go with him at five eight or center.He is a proven performer at this level.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Dugan out for BJ Leilua or Jack Bird in the centers with another prop on the bench.
Roberto
Guest
Won't matter who they pick, QLD in a canter at Suncorp May 31.
Rellum
Roar Guru
His entire back line is fullbacks apart from the half back, plus another one on the bench who wants to be one.
kk
Roar Pro
Albo, Hayne may love the SOO arena but the injuries he incurred this season were from relatively soft encounters compared to direct contact in Origin. I would not risk Hayne in O1 which NSW must win to have a chance. Ferguson and Morris B on wings. Bird and Jennings in the centre. I have never been a Leilua fan despite his form burst with Rapana. The Newcastle days still stick. Besides his glory days are over. Jennings is an Origin natural as is Bird. I get that comfortable feeling with that pairing.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
The juice he would have been on in at the 49ers would affect him negatively. He's done a few good things at the Titans but has yet to put in a full game effort. No MOM either this season. This would suggest he is underdone and not ready for SOO.
Julian King
Roar Guru
Semi is ineligible.
GC Dave
Guest
Better yet for the Blues, lock the Qlders in their rooms for the night of origin.
GC Dave
Guest
I note the headline what Lozza needs to do to win origin. Very simple, swap jerseys with the mighty maroons. Not a bad side though. Some shortcomings from my perspective. You have two fullbacks in the centers and Morris is a light of better days. Honest as the day is long and will give good service, but to beat us you need more than that. Farah must go. I was a Farah fan for years but he is not even the number 1 hooker in his club now. He had a great game on the weekend against a side that lacked effort and interest. I agree Peats is the best option there. This year it will come down to who wants it more, and that means bad news for the Blues. It'd be nice to have a competitive NSW side on the paddock though.
GC Dave
Guest
I note the headline what Lozza needs to do to win origin. Very simple, swap jerseys with the mighty maroons. Not a bad side though. Some shortcomings from my perspective. You have two fullbacks in the centers and Morris is a light of better days. Honest as the day is long and will give good service, but to beat us you need more than that. Farah must go. I was a Farah fan for years but he is not even the number 1 hooker in his club now. He had a great game on the weekend against a side that lacked effort and interest. I agree Peats is the best option there. This year it will come down to who wants it more, and that means bad news for the Blues. It'd be nice to have a competitive NSW side on the paddock though.
Realist1975
Guest
How about some surprises. Tedesco, Radradka, Hayne, Dugan, Ferguson, Moylan, Maloney, Funicane, Graham, Jackson, De Belin, Peats, Fafita. Res: Bird, Peachey, Vaughan, Frizell. Like Cordner but similar to Pearce and cant find a spot. If Radradka is not available Josh Addo Carr.
Rob
Guest
As a Queensland supporter I have been smiling for a while about Jake Trbojevic not being selected. If he was a Maroon he would be in his 2nd or 3rd series by now. The difference between him and Gallen is the reason Queensland have won so many series. Picking Moylan, Dugan,Ferguson and Morris will help us Maroons win another series.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Blunting the attacking punch of Frizell (possibly the most damaging eligible second rower) by playing him at lock in an effort to shoe horn 4 second rowers into the 17 just doesn't hold up logically. Just pick an actual lock and make a decision around the back row.
sambo
Guest
Nope. You may as well select 13 fullbacks,as there are too many in your side already.
Don
Roar Rookie
Maybe Jordan McLean? I think he has more raw ability than both and has a bigger future than both.
JB
Guest
Haynes form does not warrant an origin spot, his xfactor is worth the gamble for me though, I think QLD genuinely fear his ability one of the few threats if he is on they will struggle to contain.
Nostradamus
Guest
id go with Jennings over Dugan in the centres and would love to see pearce given a crack at playing hooker. Apart from that I think Peachey has to be on the bench.
Ron Norton
Guest
Either Fifita or Vaughan would be better than Wood or Klemmer.
Albo
Guest
But Max , I reckon he is a big match player who loves the big SOO stage. He is sure to lift. And I'm not sure we have too many real options as alternatives ? Would you trust Leilua 's defence or J Morris' attack instead ? Maybe J Bird could be the option, but I reckon Hayne if fit would offer more flair in attack.