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The Origin arena is synonymous with big bodies charging full pelt into one another. Two big packs locking horns to wrestle momentum in their side’s favour.
Expect the 2018 series to be no different.
Each year when the Blues and Maroons team lists are read out, the first four positions we look at are the spine: 1, 6, 7 and 9. We compare spines and match them off against the opposition. Again, this year’s series will be the same.
The last component of the team that rounds out our starting side are the outside backs, two wingers and two centres. This is where I believe State of Origin 2018 could be won or lost for NSW.
When we think about outside backs, we automatically look for attacking flair and plenty of points. After all, scoring points wins games. However, outside backs need to be able to offer more to their team than just carrying the ball over the whitewash.
At both club and representative level, the role of the outside back has evolved to require a more rounded skill set. Sure having bags of pace is always a bonus, but in the modern game, wingers and centres as a prerequisite need to be safe under the high ball, solid in defence, strong ball carriers and posses game awareness.
When representing their state, possibly the most valuable attribute of any outside back is their toughness and willingness to get in and ‘do the dirty work’: carries out of the defensive half and taking pressure off tiring forwards.
NSW coach Brad Fittler would be under no illusions about the intensity of Origin football, especially in the middle of the park. So it would be in his best interest to pick outside backs who can provide the invaluable efforts for their team and get involved with strong carries out of danger.
It seems as though series after series as a Blues supporter, we’ve seen the same old faces picked in the outside backs. Players like Michael Jennings, Jarryd Hayne, Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson and the Morris twins have been used over and over again with little to no success. Granted all these players have been the best options available at various stages over that time.
Jarryd Hayne (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
The 2018 series is shaping as a changing of the guard for both sides. And speaking specifically on the Blues outside backs, of the players listed above, Blake Ferguson is arguably the only player in the selection frame this year.
Most giving their opinion on Blues selection this year seem to have an eye on the future with up to ten debutants being named by fans and pundits alike. Spectacularly, the wing and centre positions could see a clean sweep of debutants lining up in blue on Wednesday sixth June.
It seems as though the general front runners for selection are Josh Addo-Carr and Blake Ferguson on the wings, with Latrell Mitchell and James Roberts as the centres. This would mean three of the four are debutants and could bring a much needed hunger and enthusiasm to the team.
Although there are a few favoured options in these positions, the ‘expert opinions’ are far from unanimous and several other candidates have been throw into the mix. Names like Euan Aitken, Jarrod Croker, Tom Trbojevic and Tyrone Peachey are also appearing on forums and articles in conversation over the four jumpers on offer in the outside backs.
Euan Aitken of the Dragons (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
While each player on the list has earned the right to be considered, it would do Fittler and his staff well to ensure he has a serious look at what each player will bring to the table and their style of game.
Players like Latrell Mitchell and James Roberts posses some of the most potent attacking games in the competition. If this year’s Origin series turns into an open, attacking style of footy, you’d want these types of players on your side. Some could argue however that both of these players are somewhat inconsistent and may ‘go missing’ during those game winning moments.
Options like Euan Aitken and Jarrad Croker appear to be more solid and well rounded players; very sound in defence, while still possessing the ability to create scoring plays. Aitken in particular has come along way with his game in the last 18 months, and has proven an integral component of a table topping Dragons side.
My mind is cast back to a Round 5 game between the Rabbits and Dragons where Aitken stood up the great Greg Inglis (likely left centre for Queensland ) to score an important try and see the Dragons go on and win.
As for Croker, a club standout and all round professional. Surprisingly he is yet to pull on the sky blue jumper, but would handle anything thrown at him in the Origin arena. He provides Fitler with another elite goal kicking option.
Melbourne Storm flyer Josh Addo-Carr could possibly be the only player listed to consider himself a certainty. His club form has been scintillating in 2018 and The Fox has been no stranger to the try line. A player who can seemingly create something from nothing, Fittler should already have him penciled in at left wing.
Josh Addo-Carr (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Tom Trbojevic is a player who has shown enough in club football over the past two seasons with Manly to warrant selection. Many have him displacing incumbent fullback James Tedesco, but if he’s not in the number one jersey, he certainly needs to be in the 17 somewhere. Tommy Turbo could get the job done on the wing, in the centres or even off the bench as a utility.
A left-field option in the centres for Fittler to consider is Panthers excitement machine Peachey. Perhaps a victim of his own versatility, Peachey isn’t recognised a natural centre, but has played plenty of footy there for Penrith over the last two season. Many have suggested Peachy could be the ideal impact player from the bench in jumper 14, but Fittler is prone to a left field selection, and could do much worse than Peachy at centre.
For what it’s worth, my ideal outside back line-up would read Addo-Carr and Trbojevic on the wings with Aitken and Croker in the centres. I feel this would be the best combination of attack and defence available to New South Wales.
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