Origin I is just two weeks ago – that means the selection drama is only set to get more exciting.
New South Wales enter this series as warm favourites, but coach Brad Fittler’s has a tough to decision make in the halves given the iffy club form of last year’s winning pair in James Maloney and Nathan Cleary.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett offered a blunt assessment of that duo’s form on the weekend saying, “I’ll say what no-one else wants to say. They cannot pick the two halfbacks and five-eighth from last year.”
So, who takes the coveted halves jerseys?
We got Tim Gore on the line on the latest episode of Game of Codes to look through the Blues’ options ahead of a series they’re heavily favoured to win.
Can Cleary hold his spot? Is Mitchell Pearce doing enough to earn a recall? Can Adam Reynolds or Chad Townsend get the nod?
Listen to the discussion:
That wasn’t the only point of discussion. Gore and the team also ran through who lines up alongside the halfback as the all-important five-eighth, who lines up alongside Latrell Mitchell at centre and – of course – the big question; who actually takes Game 1?
Visit our Game of Codes hub to catch the full episode and be sure to subscribe and review on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever else you’re listening.
Dale
Guest
It depends how you read the stats. The stats Cleary dows lead in is by a waifer thin margin. try assist 8-6 for example. But tin the forced line drop outs and kick metres Adam Reynolds Smokes Cleary.
Insider
Roar Rookie
It’s Clearys Apart from forced dropouts and kick metres when compared to Reynolds ( who is in good form ) Cleary leads in every other field
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Purely on form it should be Keary at 7 and Walker at 6, both deserve to be there. However its looking likely that Cleary will be retained and gee he will need to really step up.
Rob
Guest
The Barry usually has some spot on advice about origin if you go back to his old posts. Nortredam like. What does the crystal ball say this year The Barry?
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Luke Keary, but playing on the left side of the field with Latrell Mitchell outside him. Cody Walker should be 5/8 but playing on the opposite, less familiar side of the field. Walker would be a great for Latrell Mitchell as he would create plenty of opportunities for him to exploit but you have to stick with the Keary/Mitchell club combination. I have already posted my thoughts on incumbency and Maloney, Cleary and Reynolds on the "Mitchell Pearce deserves his shot at Origin redemption" story.