A few days ago, we asked you for your preferred NSW Blues team for Origin 1, and Brad Fittler could do far worse than picking the side chosen by the fans.
Some positions held few surprises. James Tedesco and Damien Cook were nigh-on unanimous selections at fullback and hooker respectively, and Jake Trbojevic was the clear choice at lock.
» Check out the official NSW Blues squad for Origin 1
Incumbents David Klemmer and Paul Vaughan were the preferred combination in the front row, a pattern replicated in the second row, where Boyd Cordner and Tyson Frizell comfortably beat out the rest of the options after playing key roles in the Blues’ series victory last year. That leaves the starting forward pack identical to the one which ran out for NSW in Game 3 last year.
There were far fewer incumbents in the rest of the side. While over 90 per cent of fans want to see Josh Addo-Carr retain his place, his opposite winger from last year, Tom Trbojevic, is unavailable for Game 1 with a hamstring injury.
In the Manly star’s absence, Blake Ferguson appears the leading contender to partner Addo-Carr out wide. Ferguson picked up 63 per cent of the vote, comfortably ahead of Nick Cotric’s 31 per cent.
There’s a similar story in the centres, where Latrell Mitchell (96%) will keep his spot but be joined by a new face alongside him. In what was the closest-fought vote in the entire team, Jesse Ramien (23%) pipped Jarrod Croker by a single vote, while Josh Morris was only a further three behind.
With Nathan Cleary and James Maloney horribly out of form, it’s clear Roarers want to see a change in the halves this year. Luke Keary picked up 62 per cent of the vote to lock away the five-eighth spot in this team, well ahead of Cody Walker’s 27 per cent, while it’s South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds getting the nod at number seven. The Rabbitohs playmaker was picked in 41 per cent of teams, putting him in front of Cleary (23%), Keary (19%) and Mitchell Pearce (12%).
The bench was, for the most part, a clear-cut affair. Angus Crichton (52%) was tipped to keep his spot in the side from last year, joined by new faces Payne Haas (59%) and Cameron Murray (48%).
The last reserve spot was far tighter. In the end, Cody Walker’s 31 per cent of the vote was good enough to see off Tariq Sims by one vote, fans only just preferring to have a utility on the pine rather than four forwards. Victor Radley was the next most popular option with 23 per cent, while seven different players finished with between 10 and 16 per cent.
That leaves us with a team looking like this.
The Roar’s NSW Blues team for Origin 1
1. James Tedesco
2. Blake Ferguson
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Jesse Ramien
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Luke Keary
7. Adam Reynolds
8. David Klemmer
9. Damien Cook
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Boyd Cordner
12. Tyson Frizell
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Payne Haas
15. Angus Crichton
16. Cameron Murray
17. Cody Walker
What do you think, Roarers? Is this the side Fittler should choose for Origin 1?
The Spectator
Roar Guru
D walker was sent of the bench with 10 mins remaining in a side behind, get perspective mate, !
The Barry
Roar Guru
I use stats as an objective measurement so I don’t end up with “he better”, “no, he’s not” “yes he is” sort of arguments but I really do appreciate that stats don’t tell a full story and there are onfield qualities that don’t necessarily show through in stats. I do think Frizell is one of those players whose stats don’t reflect his whole effort. But I also think if Frizell is so explosive something should show through in his stats somewhere. Definitely tackle breaks and line breaks and for an edge backrower maybe even tries are some areas where “explosiveness” can be measured, but Frizell hasn’t done much of any of those. I don’t think his stats really reflect quality or quantity. He doesn’t have the high work rate of say a Jackson or Gillett or the impact of a Burgess or Cordner or Kikau. He’s good for a big effort, tough run each half but he also goes pretty quiet for extended periods. I think he’s a good player and I like watching him but he’s definitely overhyped for mine.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Sims numbers might look better but Frizell is quality, not quantity. He is inspirational and a genuine hard man, explosive and tough
tbag
Guest
Man, why isn't Jarrod Croker in anyone's conversation as a centre? He's a friggin' amazing player. Tough, a true leader, and has a really good temperament. Talk about the forgotten man! Give the guy a shot
The Barry
Roar Guru
To be clear, I wasn’t pushing Sims for a starting backrower spot or even necessarily in the 17. I was just highlighting that far from being an automatic selection as reported, Frizell is actually being outplayed by a club team mate. I’ll probably be accused of bias but I’d have Josh Jackson every day of the week. If in the interests of impartiality I put a line through him then I’d go with Crichton with Frizell from the bench.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Morris has played both sides throughout his career and I think most of his origin footy at right centre.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
I love the annual Queenslander funny business leading up to Origin. Such as: 1. The annual headline saying that Meninga / Thurston / Lewis / insert Qld champion name says "The Maroons are underdogs". They always call themselves underdogs! 2. The fatal bird flu / swine flu / bubonic plague / ebola virus to swarm through the Qld camp the week before the game. Another annual event! This may include a player spending time in hospital on a drip, only to miraculously recover with a mom performance 24 hours later. 3. The TBA player named on the Qld sheet, due to point 2 above.
db
Guest
You can always count on a Queenslander in times of need.
Rob
Guest
What's Jackson got to do to get a look in? Surely he offers more than Crichton at the moment. Would love to see him and Cordner start with Frizell coming off the bench. Friz could be a great impact player off the bench.
KenW
Guest
He's massively smaller than JT13, like 10cms shorter and 20kgs lighter. I'm a Dragons fan that sort of agrees he's not quite up to the hype. He's been a great performer for years and I think he deserves his spot, but he 'looks' like breaking more tackles than he actually does.
Nat
Roar Guru
I'm actually pretty keen to see what Ponga and Kaufusi can put together.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
.....thanks for your help fellas!....how about Jarryd Hayne? :)
John
Guest
With Cook cememting his spot at 9, I reckon they should get Farah in to resolve their halves issues, he did pretty well there with Lebanon and has great rapport with Fittler I hear.
Nat
Roar Guru
Gal, D Walker, can we bring Nathan Merrit out of retirement? RCG is a starter, he's a rock!
eels47
Roar Rookie
Put McLean in the team for Crichton and I like it. Another middle forward is needed, the bench is too small. Fergo will be lucky to be picked after last night, his early season form deserved selection, but the past few weeks (after returning from his injuries) he isn't playing with the same aggression or energy. That said I am not sold on Cotric, and I think I would prefer Fergo on the right wing considering that is the side Queensland will focus there attack with Ponga and Munster. For that reason I think Ramien may miss out too, with some stability preferred with Morris.....
RandyM
Guest
I don't get the argument around the halves and why it's so risky changing them. These guys are not Thurston and Cronk, players you would be confident picking despite their form. Cleary was a rookie last year mostly picked because he had a club combo with Maloney. He had a satisfactory series but i think NSW still would have won without him. He hasn't been in good form this season even though the fox commentary team were basically cheering him on last night. I honestly don't see what he offers over a guy like Townsend.
Emcie
Roar Guru
It'd be a very different team if I voted...
The Barry
Roar Guru
How many votes did you put in for the blues team…?
Emcie
Roar Guru
@#$%! Act casual!
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
They are onto us!!!!