If an Australian Kangaroos team were to be selected today, it would feature at least six new faces in the starting 13, including a completely revamped spine.
Four of the back five would be New South Welshmen, with incumbent and coach favourite Josh Dugan expected to be retained, joining Greg Inglis in the centres, despite being overlooked for Origin.
GI will be the new skipper.
The winners from Origin 1 who have pencilled their names in the national selectors’ minds include:
James Tedesco, who is a straight swap for retiring champion Billy Slater, as well as Josh Addo-Carr – the fastest man in the game, who looked very comfortable on the big stage.
Meanwhile, Tom Trbojevic underlined why he was the highest rated player in SuperCoach last year, Damien Cook showed why he is the highest price in SuperCoach ($713,000) right now, and Latrell Mitchell outplayed incumbent Will Chambers.
For Queensland, Cameron Munster looked dangerous with little help from his forwards.
[latest_videos_strip category=”rugby-league” name=”League”]
Players who are under threat to lose their Kangaroo jumper include Dane Gagai, Chambers and Valentine Holmes.
Incumbent forwards David Klemmer, Boyd Cordner, Josh McGuire and Matt Gillett – the latter who missed Origin through injury – be retained.
If the selectors choose to not chase Andrew Fifita, then Reagan Campbell-Gillard – who played off the bench in the Rugby League World Cup final – will likely start up front, despite failing to bust a tackle at the MCG.
It remains to be seen if Mal Meninga retains the out of favour Aaron Woods.
The Kangaroo World Cup bench was Wade Graham, Jordan McLean (injured foot until round 16), Campbell-Gillard and Tyson Frizell – all Blues.
Newly appointed co-selector Laurie Daley will work with Meninga and Darren Lockyer for Australia’s Test match against New Zealand in October.
Daley said on his radio program that he thought Maroons Ben Hunt and Andrew McCullough should be replaced for Game 2, suggesting Cook has a mortgage on the national hooking position, and the halfback race is between Nathan Cleary and Michael Morgan, who played pivot outside Cronk in the World Cup.
Daley also added that Morgan was the best player in last season’s NRL finals series and should be the Maroons halfback. Given Morgan is a Queenslander and they will be limited with representation, Meninga and Lockyer would not argue.
One Queenslander who may have a say is superstar rookie Kalyn Ponga, who many believe is close to the game’s best player. His problem is getting into the run-on side.
Even with Slater retired from rep footy, Ponga would still sit behind both Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic to claim the prestigious Kangaroo fullback job, but he looks certain to be the long-term Maroon custodian.
3 recalcitrant monkeys
Guest
Mal will pick his own team if you take in precedence and yes he will be somewhat loyal and you can be sure that in that one off test he'll be planning for next year in some way . You imply he is biased yet he picked a NSW forward dominated side for the world Cup including players who hadn't played origin as well as Blooded your winger from game 1 during the campaign Gee B D if your not happy with the way he coaches australia we would have him back in QLD no offence to kevie . .
JustinE
Guest
At the beginning of the year the "in"word was "clunky". I see there has been another "in" word that has crept into the Rugby League lexicon. If you want to appear knowledgeable when discussing your favourite player being picked for any rep team, it will help him if you point out he is a "lock" for the position he plays. Just saying.
Forty Twenty
Guest
Somehow my reply to rl ended up in the wrong spot Scott. He's bagging Daley for suggesting that QLD need to change a losing team but QLD did change a losing team in last years series after game one. So many experts from north of the border on what's wrong with NSW.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Fair call Scott but imparting that knowledge in a way that players understand and are inspired with takes a particular type and i think Daley hasn’t got it. No doubt he is one of the nice guys and was a fantastic player so hopefully he fits the job of selector.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
I can't agree with your reasoning here Scott. There will be some changes to the Aussie team for certain - Slater, Cronk & Smith are all gone. But, Val Holmes isn't going anywhere yet. He's an incumbent, played the house down for Aus, and was good for Qld on Wed. Gagai is more likely to lose his spot to Turbo, but remember Gagai beat Tommy T for that spot only late last year, and he also played well on Wed. In terms of Teddy and Latrell Mitchell - only one of them gets in, based on where GI plays. GI plays left centre and Teddy is FB, or GI plays FB and Mitchell takes the left centre position. I'd be comfortable with either option. And Chambers isn't going anywhere - he's been the best centre in the game for a few years, and getting outplayed once isn't the end of the world. Smith and Gillett both had stinkers with a swag of missed tackles in game 1 of SOO last year - they were still the best in their position and first picks for the Aussie team... With Morgan's struggles this year, Maloney is our 7, with Munster at 6 and Morgo on the bench. I doubt there'd be too much debate about that in the selection meeting. Cook looks the goods to go from part-time club hooker to Aus # 9 in a season. What a season he's having!
Nat
Roar Guru
JT and Slater weren't there in G1.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
40/20 he does and so do i so we are both "dopes" according to you. I expect Qld to inject Matt Gillett, Billy Slater and Matt Scott. I would also play Joe Ofahengaue and start Arrow at Lock and play him for big minutes. My starting props would be Matt Scott and McGuire, Jarrod Wallace and especially Dylan Napa were terrible, although Wallace would be retained. The Maroons must field 17 players who can create 22 points, I believe Hunt will play more minutes at 9 and Morgan will move to 7. Their best go -foward is Cory Oakes and he would be very useful in bring the ball out. Do a straight swap with Josh Papalii for Gavin Cooper.
Nat
Roar Guru
JAC probably is a great bloke, I'll take your word but I would rate them equally based on Wednesday alone. Club form is unfair for multiple reasons. A, Different positions. B, JACs best form has been on the end of a dominant Storm team while Gagai was in Newcastle. However, at Wests he was dropped. Vuni, playing for Fiji, had 5 tries put on him. So there's benefits to playing with the storm. JAC is very good but Gagai is a Wally Lewis medallist, can't see JAC getting to that level. I do respect Daley bit he had every chance to pick Freddies team. Not that they've sealed it yet.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Matt Not sure if Mall wants a Rocks or Diamonds dominant halfback.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
40/20 Logical
Matt H
Roar Guru
I would say Maloney is a lock if he maintains his form. As you say, he is a kicker. He is, at the moment ,the dominant partner with Cleary, just because of his big match experience. And he has worked in the national set up before.
Matt H
Roar Guru
You work for Melbourne right? A bit of disclosure might be useful when praising Bellamy.
rl
Guest
irrelevant, coz you sayz so?? Go back to sipping your latte with Super Coach Lozza!!!
Forty Twenty
Guest
Meninga had a poor coaching record at the Raiders so why did he get selected to coach the QLD SOO team? The answer is that intelligent people understand that Meninga didn't have the best team in the comp as Raiders coach and are capable of looking beyond raw figures as has become so common with those critics lacking insight. All the coaches, selectors and players from NSW over the last decade or more aren't certified duds. People like Bellamy and Fulton are right up with the best achievement wise despite not having success at SOO level. A couple of QLD players have dismal records at SOO level with Brad Thorn being the worst of the lot. Does that make him a dud player? Answer is no , he just came up against better teams.
Forty Twenty
Guest
Last year QLD lost game one and made some changes but if Daley thinks they should make changes after losing game one this year he is a dope. Have a look at QLD over the years, they chopped and changed all the time when they weren't winning and at times when they were winning. Are the selectors all dopes in that case? Reply to rl
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Barry, The big 4 have been a fixture in the national team for a long time and without them comes replacements and also without them their influence may be missed on others which advantages the Blues.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Wonder what the Australian team looked like after Game One last year...?
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Smith, Slater, Cronk and Inglis have made Bellamy the man he is today. Let's see how his record stands up when those champions retire. His questionable ruck tactics that have marred the game, coupled with salary cap indiscretions he allegedly oversaw. He will always have an asterisk(*) beside his record.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Emcie, Craig Bellamy is by far the greatest coach I have ever studied so it is incorrect to use SOO as a guideline to someones ability to coach or be a selector. Origin is more of a Management role which suited Meninga who was a failed NRL coach. I have no doubt that Daley will be an outstanding NRL one day. Emcie can you give me an example of some of his selection decisions that you didnt like, understanding that he had Bob Fulton and then Peter Sterling as his selection advisors. Note that after he selected the NSW Origin team last year, everyone, including the harsh media, thought it was a great side and they duly came out and smashed Qld. Who would you have selected in G1 last year?
Big daddy
Guest
We will agree to disagree Scott.