Laurie Daley has announced his NSW Blues team for Game 1 of the 2017 State of Origin series, naming Sydney Roosters second-rower Boyd Cordner to take over the captaincy of the side.
Cordner pipped fellow forwards Aaron Woods and Josh Jackson to be named as skipper for the 2017 series, taking over from the role Paul Gallen made his own.
As expected, Cordner’s club teammate Mitchell Pearce has also been named in the run-on side in the halves alongside James Maloney, ending his year away from the Blues set-up, while Gold Coast Titans hooker Nathan Peats will make his Origin debut in the No.9 jersey.
» NSW Blues team for Game 1: Expert reaction
Peter Wallace had been tipped to make a long-awaited comeback to the Origin arena as the side’s hooker, however the Panthers veteran suffered a groin injury in Penrith’s recent win over the Newcastle Knights which has ruled him out for 4-6 weeks, opening the door for Peats to make his debut.
Peats won’t be the only first-gamer for the Blues, with Manly forward Jake Trbojevic named on Daley’s bench alongside Cronulla duo Jack Bird and Wade Graham and Bulldogs forward David Klemmer.
Joining Pearce in returning to the Origin arena are Gold Coast star Jarryd Hayne, who will start at centre next to Josh Dugan, and the Bulldogs’ Brett Morris, who will play on the wing opposite Blake Ferguson.
Morris played his last game for the Blues in Game 2 last year, while Hayne hasn’t played for New South Wales since starring in the side’s 2014 series victory.
Filling out the Blues’ back three alongside Morris and Ferguson is James Tedesco, whose club captain Aaron Woods will start in the front row next to damaging Sharks forward Andrew Fifita.
Starting in the back row along with Cordner will be Dragon Tyson Frizell and Bulldog Josh Jackson, who was named as the Blues’ best player for the 2016 series.
Daley has opted to select three extra players in addition to the bench, with Matt Moylan, Jordan McLean and Jack De Belin named as 18th, 19th and 20th men respectively.
1 James Tedesco
2 Blake Ferguson
3 Josh Dugan
4 Jarryd Hayne
5 Brett Morris
6 James Maloney
7 Mitchell Pearce
8 Aaron Woods
9 Nathan Peats
10 Andrew Fifita
11 Josh Jackson
12 Boyd Cordner (c)
13 Tyson Frizell
14 David Klemmer
15 Wade Graham
16 Jake Trbojevic
17 Jack Bird
18th man: Matt Moylan
19th man: Jordan McLean
20th man: Jack De Belin
State of Origin Game 1 will be played next Wednesday, May 31, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm (AEST)
Crackers
Guest
Hahaha@Flat White , a month and a half later and I am only just reading your post ... And the Funny thing is Tedesco is STILL out of form, Dugan may have well not played as his performance was yet again appalling, Hayne Yet Again got turned inside out, woods was out for a Sunday stroll, Klemmer the Myth did sweet F.A ... ohh sorry , except for that one big hit tackle that he did two years ago..!!! And then we have Cordner who dropped the ball every second time it was passed to him... What a fantastic captains knock !! NOT!!!! Maloney who did ummm , actually was he even there tonight?? Ohh next we have Pearce who is only playing 1st Grade because of who his has been father was, and god knows who or why he would be picked in the NSW side, or even further who or why they would pick him again after dropping him. Furguson who played out of position ALL night, Morris who although he is not too bad, he is too old and way way too slow. Time for a COMPLETE overhaul ... Starting with the Selectors. Remove the LOT of them completely and then pretty much do the same with the team.. IMHO it is the ONLY solution!!!!! Then after all of that is done, just because I cannot stand them, or their voices, their looks and last but not least of all their opinions, Remove and silence for good Gus, Fatty and Sterlo!!!!!
Cald
Guest
You raise a good point about how the green and gold has been disrespected by those 8 selections good man! ;)
The Spectator
Guest
I like the start Pearce at hooker and bring peats on off the bench after 25 mins and start Graham at 5/8.
terrence
Guest
Cald, the same way Australia do, where 8 of the 17 from the last test were from NSW.
terrence
Guest
I don't mind Pearce being there, he has been the best NSW half so far this year by a country mile.
terrence
Guest
G'day Ecka, cheers, a few posts down I note I'm not that keen on Klemmer or Woods preferring Paul Vaughan and Ryan James. But I'm sure the NSW forward pack will stand up and Klemmer and Woods will do more than their fare share.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I'm with you Mr Pryde, sticking with Woods, Morris (dogs fan myself, but please!) and Ferguson all mistakes. Called for Vaughn all last year and how he misses out beggers belief. At least no Farah to stifle the attack around the ruck. To me the backs loo old and out of position. Hayne to one would help, but it looks a little makeshift. A lot of good players in form, not in this team.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
If I were to rank the NSW eligible front rowers it would Fifita, Vaughn, McLean, Klemmer, Boyd, James, Paulo, Tamou and then maybe Woods but there are still others probably ahead of him.
Cald
Guest
Then how do NSW ever pick a team? ;) :P
Gary
Guest
Tedesco has been lucky- he blitzed 2016 at ZNRL level, was strong in a dead rubber SOO3 and has been quiet since. I'm uncomfortably unconvinced but as a blues fan hope he steps up. I share concerns of others over the form (not the ability) of Hayne but will keep my fingers crossed he turns up roaring. Dugan.... astonishingly brutal defender- strong runner who has recently shown he can still pass- I am expecting a big game from a rested Dugan. However with a couple of decent face fractures in the last 12 months he needs to be ready for some illegal fire from some of the gutless and spineless toads like Thaiday or the other bloke with 1 eye." Maguire ". Both wingers are big bodies, proven finishers and performers at this level - I'm happy. Now, here is a big call which I realise many will disagree with -- Maloney is every bit as classy a 6 as Lockyer and only a fraction behind Thurston. Grossly underestimated. Pearce..... I don't dislike him and can't fault his club form but his track record st SOO stinks. Would have preferred him at 9 with Maloney at 7 and Moylan to 6. Woods- didn't do enough at the weekend to prove he has the form or fitness- loyalty should not have been enough- especially considering the form of either Vaughn or McLean. Not happy. Not happy at all. Fifita needs to monster Qld and he will.. Very Happy. Peats is Ok but Ok isn't enough. Shouldn't have been selected over Pearce at 9... picking Pearce sat 7 is a catastrophic error. Not at all happy. The back row is very good -though I think wade graham is either a starter or misses out. -if he can't unseat Boyd or Jackson (and I'm not convinced he should)he isn't strong enough as an impact player to take a bench spot. So he gets replaced by Frizell and De Belin moves to 13 in my team- generally happy. The bench is very good. Rock or Diamonds Klemmer is a worry but like Tedesco,Hayne and Pearce can ideally prove me wrong. Go NSW!!!!! Overall - slightly disappointed with the teams balance but hopefully I will eat my words.
Steve
Guest
He has to be more than an above average club player.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
What the hell does Croker have to do to earn a sky blue jersey? Put Croker in the centre, move Hayne to the wing and axe Morris altogether.
Bfc
Guest
Good squad...but can the 'spine' match the vaunted Maroons 1-6-7-9 combo...therein lies the key to victory.
Jimmmy
Guest
Gee TB I am a big wrap for Frizelle. I think he is a bit like Lolo , in the middle or two wide , same, same , but I will watch him closely, I was also hoping they would forget how good Jackson is and put in one of the hundred other backrowers NSW has , Damn!
Jimmmy
Guest
Birds of a feather......
Ecka
Guest
Agree with your line-up Tez. Id also have Klemmer starting at prop to set the mood and Graham starting 2nd row with Frizz bringing his power running off the bench after the game settles.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Positives Peats at hooker Fifita finally starting Great bench Negatives Safe rather than dynamic backline Holding my breath re Pearce Don't like Frizell as a middle third player (hope I'm wrong) Has Hayne really done enough since returning to league to show that he's in the best two centres for NSW? I'm not so sure. Obviously at his best he's a legend and an auto pick, but it's now pushing on for 2.5 years since he displayed his best consistently. He's been largely ok this year with a couple of good games. NSW worthy? Anyway go Mitch! Go Jarryd! Go blues!
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's Jack Bird, not Greg Bird...?
Renegade
Roar Guru
Form front rower lol has Andrew Fifita disappeared ? That said, I would've picked Vaughan ahead of Woods - no doubt... but as EJ said, guys like James, Boyd, Maclean and Tamou have missed out as well.
Mike
Roar Rookie
Hope to hear the call to Jack Bird very early in the game . ''Pearce off Jack''. Get on the field and rip into them.