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The NSW Origin selection meeting promises to be lively

24th May, 2018
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Boyd Cordner of the NSW Blues. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Expert
24th May, 2018
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In the blue corner, Phil Gould, the most successful NSW Origin coach with six series wins among his 24 games for 14 wins, a consultant to the NSW team, and a gifted rugby league mentor and television analyst on Channel Nine.

In the red corner, Greg Alexander with six Origin appearances, appointed a selection advisor to the coach, and a widely respected commentator on Fox.

Sitting ringside, new Origin coach Brad Fittler, known as the youngest NSW rep at 18 years and 114 days, with the most Origin appearances for NSW on 31, 17 as captain, and a series winner.

Sitting alongside will be his assistant Danny Buderus who captained NSW Origin 15 times from 21 appearances, for two series wins.

A whole lot of decision-making talent.

Gould set the cat among the pigeons by declaring Boyd Cordner should not be captain, nor should he be in the squad, to be replaced by Dragon Tariq Sims.

Boyd Cordner

Boyd Cordner (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

I made the same observation on May 21, suggesting James Maloney should be the new skipper.

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Alexander had to agree with Gould on the captaincy, but considered there would be no change in that direction, and that Cordner still deserved to be in the starting line-up.

The buck will stop with Freddy Fittler, but Cordner and his position will be without doubt the biggest and most important selection of them all.

The next vital decision will be the fitness of centre James Roberts, arguably the fastest man in rugby league.

He was forced from the field last night with an Achilles injury in the Broncos-Eels clash at Suncorp.

Yet to make his Origin debut, Roberts has proved all season he’s well and truly ready to make the big jump up the performance ladder.

James Roberts

James Roberts (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

With the Maroons missing the retired Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk, the extreme pace of Roberts and fullback James Tedesco will severely test the Maroons’ new defence.

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The next lively discussion will be surrounding barnstorming Shark Andrew Fifita, who has given his international allegiance to his birthplace Tonga, and wouldn’t be available for Origin 2.

Working on the principle Fittler will want the best possible NSW team on the park every game, NSW can’t afford to leave Fifita as a spectator for two of them.

How many NSW reps would donate the $30,000 match fee to charity as Fifita has promised, just to pull on that coveted blue jersey?

Such passion and dedication deserves recognition.

There will be other positions debated, with the prime selection the captaincy.

But we will have to wait until next Monday night for the answer.

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