It makes good reading that NSW coach Laurie Daley has named exactly the same squad for the three Origins for the first time since 1996, when the Blues won the series.
But it will count for nothing if the 17 aren’t all fit, preferably fully fit. It will take all that to beat Queensland at Suncorp in Wednesday nights decider.
Boyd Cordner (calf), James Tedesco (ankle), Josh Dugan (knee) and Tyson Frizell (ribs) are under an injury cloud, with captain Cordner the most serious.
If he can’t make it, Aaron Woods should be the skipper, with Jack de Belin on standby.
With all due respects to the talented Dragon, debuting in such a huge game would be a gable when it demands a highly experienced campaigner, who is as tough as nails with a razor sharp rugby league brain.
Like Luke Lewis.
He may have lost a metre or two in pace and will be 34 next month, but Lewis is still a high quality footballer who ticks all the boxes in attack and defence.
He’s played 298 NRL games with Penrith and the Sharks, scored 116 tries and played in every position bar the front row in 14 seasons.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
He played the last of his 17 Origins in 2014, and pulled on the last of his 16 Kangaroo jerseys in 2015.
Burt Luke Lewis is the perfect answer to the potential loss of Cordner.
Lewis must be called into the NSW camp today, especially as the Sharks have the weekend off.
The timing couldn’t be better, or more effective.
de Belin will get his chance next season and for many seasons to come, but Luke Lewis is the one for Suncorp.
And that would give the reigning premier Sharks five of the 17 joining Andrew Fifita, and Wade Graham up front, with James Maloney and Jack Bird out the back.
Sure, Queensland won’t have Johnathan Thurston and Darius Boyd, but the Maroons will grow an extra leg with so much at stake on their home turf with the vast majority of the 55,000 crowd Queensland supporters.
It’s as daunting as it gets, with Luke Lewis to lessen the odds for NSW.
He’s that type of footballer.
Firestarter
Guest
Daley' coaching career should be thrown in the fire if he loses the series!!!!
TruBlu
Guest
I've always thought Lewis was prematurely omitted from the Blues. I would've had him over Bird any day. I would love to see Lewis come in for Boyd. He's a bigger, tougher, older and more experienced version of Wade Graham. He also won't be fazed by the Suncorp factor.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Don't be like that .
Raugeee
Guest
Beautiful soaking rain this a.m in Brisbane. The pitch was already softened up by the Horn - Pacquiao fight. Fine weather forecast for the days from now till Wednesday, but it won't be the fast track NSW relished in O1.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Good news for the Sharks...I see Lewis has signed on for another season.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah fair enough mate, when looking at it holistically like you are. I think we should have picked Graham to start and as captain over Cordner... he might not run the 150m but he brings a lot more to the table than any other 2nd rower in the game right now including leadership. Yeah, Lewis might be 34 but his still a world class player and going better than some of the players in the blues side and would be ideal as an edge backrower on the bench with impact because you make a valid point about having too many middle forwards and not enough edge ones.
The Barry
Roar Guru
G'day mate I know graham isnt a middle third player. The suggestion above was Graham and Frizell on the edges, Jackson in the middle which would leave Jurbo, JDB and Klemmer on the bench. Gives no edge cover off the bench. Its unbalanced. It's a big ask for any of the starting backrowers to play 80 as suggested. I think Lewis in the 17 provide some a better balance than JDB as a replacement for Cordner. If Jurbo or Jackson were in doubt then JDB would be a more logical choice than Lewis. While Graham is a specialist edge player, he's a different style to Cordner. Cordner has run for over 150 metres in each Origin game, Graham averages 120 at NRL level. Not suggesting Graham wouldn't do a job, but I think the NSW tactics would need to change and I'm not sure Game 3 at Suncorp is the place to do it. It also changes the way the bench is used significantly if there are three middle players there.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Haha very true and Oingo would be the first saying it.... except if Gal was a Rooster of course - then it would just slide like the current Cordner situation and the 17 straight Mitchell Pearce fails.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Graham isn't a middle third player TB... his a left edge specialist, it's a simple fill in there. So I'm curious as to why you think its not a like for like/straight swap? The question would be - who comes onto the bench.
Kenw
Guest
' Farah pass to Gallen sometimes 3 times in six tackles,every origin game ! As Robbie did for West Tigers for 6 years without results.' No wonder Wests weren't doing any good - Farah kept trying to pass to Gallen!
Suechi
Guest
I don't think Frizell is right - he was damaged in the last origin. Soon as he went off, nobody ran at Thurston. NSW have a real problem around captaincy if Cordner is out. Woods is hardly an inspiration and only plays half of the game anyway (not to mention from a highly dysfunctional club team). Pearce can hardly be called an ideal leader and would struggle with the pressure. NSW have no experienced, reputable captain option outside of Cordner. If we look at the top performing teams, the captains are either from QLD, UK or not good enough in their positions to get picked!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hey Nat and Bunney It still changes the balance of the team. You go from two middle third and an edge backrower on the bench to three middle third forwards. Yes Jackson can be moved wider but how effective will he be after spending 34 minutes in the middle like game 2? Is Frizell an 80 minute Origin player? Is Graham? I don't think so. Neither Jackson or Graham play similar roles to Cordner and none of Jurbo, JDB or Klemmer can play an edge so something about the game plan will need to change if JDB comes in as opposed to Lewis pretty much slotting into Cordners spot albeit on fewer minutes. I don't think Lewis will play so if Cordners out something like you guys have suggested will likely need to be accommodated but the Lewis idea has a lot of merit.
Sava
Guest
Laurie Daley. Nice bloke and top player but as a coach,he leaves a lot to be desired,for 2 years he let Farah pass to Gallen sometimes 3 times in six tackles,every origin game ! As Robbie did for West Tigers for 6 years without results. I can be corrected but have you seen NSW bring off or try a planned move ? Come on Laza show some flair.Think outside the 5 hitups and kick boom boom.. Sava
mAIA
Guest
If daily was to be sacked and burried. i would be the first one there with a shovel. #veryfrustrating
Bunney
Roar Rookie
I disagree that it'll be disruptive TB - the starting 2nd rowers for NSW are all edge players: and your man Jackson has played in the middle to accommodate. Plus you've got Graham on the bench. I would presume that if Cordner is out, Graham plays 80 on left. Frizell plays 80 on right, or if he needs a spell, Jackson moves out there. I think Cordner out for De Bellin is a loss in terms of talent, but a plus for team balance.
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
If NSW lose Cordner, not that I think they will, Pearce will only have one play left: bomb to the corner. At least with Cordner he had that short ball close to the line...
Kreig
Guest
As a Queenslander, I reckon they should stick with the team they have; as I too believe Lewis would be an intelligent and rewarding choice for them.
Kreig
Guest
That's hilarious! :D
hopeless knight
Guest
Last time NSW won origin Luke Lewis was a major difference off the bench. Then Daley drops him... Go figure
Mac
Guest
The 2015 NSW SOO squad made no sense after winning the year before. Dropping Lewis and putting Pearce at 5/8 was just weird and stupid especially considering Lewis was only 30 at the time. I would not only have Lewis in my team, I would have him there as captain...