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It is no secret that good halves win big matches. So to whom will Brad Fittler trust his 2018 Origin campaign?
Talk of late has surrounded the big bodies of Wade Graham, Jake Bird or even Tyrone Peachey.
History says that the Blues have done best with big halves, but when you look at the detail, the likes of Laurie Daley and Fittler had some serious playmaking skills and were week-to-week campaigners in the halves for their clubs.
Some great half partners – the likes of Ricky Stuart and Andrew Johns – also assisted their cause.
Graham, Bird and Peachey can all run and defend strongly, but have only ever been stop-gaps for their clubs in the halves.
So who will Fittler trust? Those at the front of discussion at the start of the year are not exactly setting the competition alight, while the eternal fallback of Mitchell Pearce is not available.
Maybe it is time to look outside the box – and Fittler’s personality indicates he will not be scared to do so.
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Fittler appears keen to pick a team that will not attempt to defend out a victory, but rather score points and place pressure on the Maroons. He also wants players who will work hard for their team, and who other players want to play with. Call it culture or what you want, but it’s important to team success.
James Maloney has locked up one position and his time without Nathan Cleary at his side has shown he has no problem running the show alone. But having an alternate playmaker is critical to building pressure.
This leaves two options.
Of the existing halves playing in the NRL, Blake Green is grabbing games by the neck and controlling the fixture. The only downside is he is the wrong side of 30 and not a long-term option, although he could be a stop-gap measure until Cleary is ready to take the mantle he seems destined for.
The alternative is Clinton Gutherson.
Before you laugh, name a player who shows greater effort and is loved more by his teammates. He is the epitome of effort.
Yes, he is playing fullback for the Eels, but is more than comfortable in the front line and defensively is as strong as any alternative. If the likes of Bird or Peachey were selected as a bench utility, he could also cover every position in the backline should injuries arise.
It may be outside the box, but don’t discount ‘The King’. Fittler certainly hasn’t.
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