Tonight, Brad Fittler will finally announce his New South Wales Blues squad to take on the Queensland Maroons for State of Origin Game I on Wednesday 6 June at the MCG.
The build-up to this series has been one of my favourites in recent years – potentially because I do see a glimmer of hope for the Blues.
» The NSW Blues team has been confirmed! Check out the squad and our expert reaction to each selection
But let’s start with the Maroons. Following Cameron Smith’s recent announcement about his retirement from all forms of representative football, the narrative about the Maroons in the media has very much been about a changing of the guard.
And it’s true. The Maroons will certainly look very different this series without some of their most prominent champions of recent years like Smith, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston unavailable for selection. The idea of playing Queensland without these players (as well as some other players ruled out due to injury) has some New South Wales fans salivating.
When the Queensland squad is announced at 10am this morning, not only will there be some new faces, but also a new captain, widely believed to be Greg Inglis.
Greg Inglis of the Maroons (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Then there are the Blues.
I’m still not quite over the heartbreak of last year’s series which I knew was over once Queensland won Game 2. But if there are changes at the Maroons, it’s nothing compared to the changes we will see at the Blues, least of which is the new coach.
Fittler has hinted that this year Blues fans will see a changing of the guard, with the number of debutants apparently in double figures. What better opportunity to start fresh than with a new coach at the helm.
So who will make the squad?
According to NRL.com, here’s what has been hinted at so far:
• Nathan Cleary is set to make his State of Origin debut alongside his Penrith Panthers halves partner, James Maloney.
• Other Panthers likely to make the squad include Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Tyrone Peachey.
• South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook is predicted to make his debut for the Blues in the number 9 jersey, edging out Cameron McInnes.
• Josh Addo-Carr is on his way to Sydney from Melbourne to join the squad after a sensational rise for the Melbourne Storm over the last year and a half.
• James Roberts is also on his way to Sydney from Brisbane to make his debut, despite an injury scare he sustained from the Brisbane Broncos win against the Parramatta Eels last Thursday night.
• Nick Cotric from the Canberra Raiders is another potential debutant after his dazzling attacking performance against the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday.
• Apparently Tom and Jake Trbojevic, James Tedesco, David Klemmer and Latrell Mitchell are also in the squad.
With the gossip on the internet, it is looking like the New South Wales Blues squad will line up as follows: James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, James Roberts, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Damien Cook, Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell, Boyd Cordner (c), Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: Tyrone Peachey, David Klemmer, Jack de Belin, Angus Crichton. Reserves: Nick Cotric, Tariq Sims, Ryan James.
Aaron Woods and James Tedesco (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
And with the official announcement still several hours away, expect speculation to continue to mount throughout the day.
Players I am thrilled to finally see get their Origin opportunity include James, Roberts, Cleary, Campbell-Gillard, Cook, Vaughan and De Belin. I’m also pleased to see both Nick Cotric and Angus Crichton in the mix. I had no doubt both these players would play Origin, but I just didn’t think it would be this early.
Going off the above squad though, there are a couple of notable omissions.
Some of these are unsurprising include Brett Morris (who announced his representative retirement after State of Origin last year) and Josh Dugan (who has struggled with injury and hasn’t been playing his best football for Cronulla, partly because of the number of positions he has played for the Sharks this year).
Then there are Jarryd Hayne and Mitchell Pearce – both unavailable due to injury – and Andrew Fifita, who has pledged his allegiance to play for Tonga and has been tipped not to make the cut despite being indecisive about whether he wanted to represent the Blues or not.
There are a couple of players though who are looking like they will miss out on selection and could potentially be classed as unlucky to lose their spot.
Despite being in career-best form, Blake Ferguson looks like he will miss out on his spot. Fittler has spoken about the importance of team culture, so his visit to the pub last year with Dugan certainly would not have helped.
Unfortunately for Ferguson, his position on the wing is a hotly contested one this year with plenty of fresh talent coming through like Addo-Carr and Cotric. Tedesco’s likely selection also does Ferguson no favours, particularly because this means that Tom Trbojevic is also likely to be fighting for a wing spot.
[latest_videos_strip category=”league” name=”League”]
Aaron Woods’ form has come under constant scrutiny this year – some fair and some unfair. I’ll never forget Woods’ efforts in Games 1 and 2 last year – particularly some of his big runs at the start of the game. If Woods misses out on selection, it will be the first time since 2013 that he has not made the squad.
His numbers have been solid this year – he makes 13.4 runs per game, an average of 140 metres, tackles at 93.4 per cent efficiency and has made 21 offloads. However, Woods is prone to making errors at crucial points in the game and his hit-up technique means he rarely bends the line, instead choosing to put his back into the defence.
The final forgotten Blue is Josh Jackson. Plenty of words can be used to describe Jackson – dependable, leader, professional. Unfortunately though his position as a right-edge second rower is under threat from the likes of Boyd Cordner, Wade Graham and Tyson Frizell. Can the stalwart of the Blues squad snare that final forward spot?
No doubt we will get more hints throughout the day about the squad and by tonight, we will know who’s in and who’s out.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Mitchell and the Jet will burn Chambers. Cleary showed he is superior to Hunt on Sat night, and his combo with Maloney may be crucial. I'll give you McCullough though.
Busty McCracken
Guest
Haha touche
Larry1950
Guest
Doesn't matter who they pick, all nsw 'experts' will declare them the best side on paper as has happened for donkeys years. NSW just haven't been able to cover all that grass with paper for them to dominate the origin arena. Jimmy the jet marking GI, now I'm looking forward to that and I'll bet Valentine Holmes is as well. Tom Turbo out of position as a winger also gives Qld a hope because he's got a few errors in him. Smart move by Kevvie in omitting Matt Scott, he can serve his match this weekend and come into camp as an emergency backup after that suspension is served.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
I don't know which is more amusing, the fact that it still occurs, or the fact that New South Welshman still get upset about it.
Fairdinkum
Roar Rookie
Timing is everything.Crichton has played 2 decent games this year & both just prior top selection which would be fresh in the minds of selectors.
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
I think you'll find Cordner went missing in Game 3 of last year because he wasn't fit, was playing injured and should never had been picked to play. I hope Freddie throughout the series only picks players who are 100% fit. The Origin arena is a harsh spotlight and quickly exposes players who are even remotely off the pace.
RandyM
Guest
2006 - 2014 Inglis would be, not sure about 2018 Inglis...
Busty McCracken
Guest
This one more than ever is irking me though. I mean 11from 12. Slater inglis Morgan deadset they know how to spin it I'll give em that.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
WHAT???? Do you really believe that? It's all conjecture, but...Slater, Inglis & Holmes, along with: Chambers - best centre in Australia Munster - up and coming gun Hunt - would go close to a NSW jersey if he was a Blue McCullough - would have been NSW no.9 for last couple of years if a Blue Michael Morgan - a definite in. McGuire would go close too. He and Jurbo were duking it out for the Aus # 13 in the world cup last year... NSW are stronger in the forwards, but Qld is stronger in the backs.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
So QLD have named their squad: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Valentine Holmes, 3. Greg Inglis (C), 4. Will Chambers, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Dylan Napa, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Jarrod Wallace, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Felise Kaufusi, 13. Josh McGuire. Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Josh Papalii, 16. Coen Hess, 17. Jai Arrow. Who of these would you pick for NSW? Maybe only Slater, Inglis and Holmes?
Jed Clampit
Guest
If Freddie is serious and the team leaked is bogus , Jackson has to be there , I hate the dogs like a Monday, but he is all heart .
Jason Cave
Guest
How many times in Origin history has Queensland ever gone into a series as favourites?
AGO74
Guest
You can't underestimate how important Josh Morris was in nullifying Inglis for a number of years. I do not see similar attributes in Mitchell or Roberts.
AGO74
Guest
Doesn't matter really. It's a bit like the Olsen Filipaina effect. Terrible for the tigers/bears.. A wizard for the kiwis. Oh and then there's the 1995 series when Qld won 3-0 without their super league Brisbane Broncos.
AGO74
Guest
I think we are all shedding a few crocodile tears for Buzz, Kenty et al.
AGO74
Guest
Yeah as good as De Belin and Crichton have been going this year I don't agree with the decision to select them at the expense of Jackson and Graham (I know Graham has been injured but his performance yesterday albeit against a weak Newcastle team showed he would be fine if selected). I agree with you on Cordner going missing last year when the heat was really on. Change is good and often necessary but sometimes there is change for the sake of change, and I think the selections of Crichton/De Belin (or potentially Cordner) over Jackson/Graham is one example of that.
Tom
Guest
Backline seems to be predicated on the 'you can score 30, because we'll score 40' tactic. Really worried about Maloney, Mitchell, Roberts, Addo Carr, and Turbo out of position defensively. Inglis in particular will be licking his lips.
AGO74
Guest
I love SOO but a big part of me watches selections to see who hasn't been picked and how that will impact the NRL in September as all players selected say it is the mental as much as they physical battle (e.g. Cam Smith's recent decision to retire). Penrith are cleaning up as we expected but how will those players (Maloney excepted given he has been there before) be feeling in the back half of the year? Same with the Dragons who have only had Frizzell and Hunt play there before but not Vaughan, De Belin. Just quietly I think Mary McGregor will be pretty happy not to have had Euan Aitken or Cam McInnes selected otherwise I think they could have had serious impacts for the team down the track. The sharks are only going to have 1 player selected for either NSW or QLD (a winger in Val Holmes). Given they've won six in a row and have only now got full team back, they are in a brilliant position to clean up during this Origin period. Lastly, re all the debutants I can't argue with most of them and I get the idea of cultural change such as omitting the likes of Ferguson and Dugan - but seriously whilst De Belin and Crichton are very good players I really can't believe you would include them at the expense of Josh Jackson and Wade Graham who have been very good at that level.
Albo
Guest
I would play Jackson as a 13, not an edge runner. He would be in my SOO team before the injured De Belin at 13.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, really good comments. It’s the little things about Jackson’s game that I respect. Yesterday there were about 3-4 occasions where he got back to take the second hit up from a kick. In an era when most forwards are walking back and letting backs do the tough stuff. Not glamorous, carted it up and got belted by a set defensive line but doing the work that no one else puts their hand up to do. He’s also the bloke that never stops moving, always alive who shuts down the gaps and half breaks. It doesn’t get noticed until he’s not there to do it. Frizzel is in better form than Jackson at the moment (and most backrowers) but Jackson is still in good form himself and has delivered in the past. There should certainly be room for him in the 17.