Brad Fittler’s new-look Origin side features five debutants and a returning veteran in Josh Morris.
Let’s break down the noteworthy selections.
The good
Jack Wighton
Wighton has handled his halves switch with ease as the Raiders sit fifth on the ladder. He offers a defensive presence and hasn’t shirked his new fifth-tackle responsibilities, registering eight forced dropouts and two 40/20s so far this year.
Brad Fittler picked Wighton on the bench for his utility value, as he can cover any back line position in the event of injury. Wighton made his debut for the Raiders on the wing before progressing to the centres and eventually fullback. This year he has found a new home in the No.6 jersey.
Payne Haas
Haas may only be ten games into his NRL career, but he deserves this position.
The Broncos prop has an extraordinary motor, averaging over 65 minutes per game. In Round 6 he played the full 80 in the middle, something not many NRL players can do.
He averages 173 run metres and four tackle breaks per game, proving to be a rare player with both stamina and impact. Fittler picked Haas on the bench for his impact, and he won’t disappoint.
Cameron Murray
Murray is having a break-out season, averaging 34 tackles and 132 metres a game while playing just 60 minutes on average.
He has been a stand-out in a Souths team that’s racked up ten wins and only one loss in 2019, and Fittler just couldn’t leave him out. Murray may also be cover for Damien Cook at hooker in case injury strikes.
Cody Walker
Walker’s selection may have been contentious if Luke Keary was fit for Origin One, but nobody else comes close.
Walker currently leads the NRL in tries scored (11), with 12 try assists and 15 line break assists to boot. He is the main reason South Sydney currently sit atop the NRL ladder.
(AAP Image/Darren England)
The bad
Josh Morris
Morris is an experienced player, especially in the representative arena. However, he is past his prime and plays left centre at club level.
Latrell Mitchell happens to be the incumbent NSW left centre, pushing Morris to the right edge.
Morris won’t let NSW down, but Fittler should have picked an actual right centre with upside, such as Jesse Ramien.
Nick Cotric
Cotric deserves to wear the NSW jumper and perhaps could have been a candidate for the right centre spot after playing there for the Raiders following Joey Leilua’s injury.
However, since his debut, he has primarily played left wing. Josh Addo-Carr is the incumbent NSW left winger, meaning Cotric will have to switch sides.
It’s amazing that Blake Ferguson played so much representative football without extraordinary club form but doesn’t get picked when he actually deserves it.
Ferguson won the Dally M Winger of the Year award after a stand-out 2018 season and has hardly put a foot wrong for the Eels this year.
Not only that, but he is a regular right winger at club level. Perhaps Fittler left him out due to previous off-field antics, because it wouldn’t be on form.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Angus Crichton
Crichton hasn’t backed up last year’s form, running for over 100 metres in just three games this year.
Although his slow start could be attributed to off-season shoulder surgery, the position could have gone to somebody with stronger form. Ryan Matterson would have been a fitting candidate.
The ugly
Nathan Cleary
Blues fans probably aren’t too pleased to see the return of Cleary, but who else was Fittler supposed to pick?
Cleary has done his best Steven Bradbury impersonation, following injuries to Mitchell Pearce, Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary on the weekend.
doc
Guest
Cleary may be last man standing, but not bad depth for the blues considering, your halves depth have turned a corner.
doc
Guest
Yes, that is all well and good but both are important. Average kick meters is the base, kick accuracy is the cherry.
Rob
Guest
Cleary's kicking game is one of his strong points. Average kick metres isn't a good way of determining whether or not someone has a good kicking game.
Rob
Guest
Crichton was picked before Sims last year so I'd say that's why he has gone that way. Think Matterson would of been a much better selection than the both of them.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agree souvalis Cleary showed last year that if he kicks well and tackles well and not much else that he can deliver on Fittler’s game plan. He wasn’t outstanding last year but he got the job done. I would have been fine with him being selected without all the other options dropping like flies, but once they did it was a no brainer. Agree about Ferguson too, He had his issues a couple of years ago, going out for beers while in camp. Fittler opened the door for him and he slammed it back in his face. As good as he’s been playing he’s always good for errors in big moments and the effects of those are magnified at origin level.
Knight Vision
Guest
I've got real doubts about N.S.W kicking game. This is going to be an issue for N.S.W. Combined both Cleary and Walker's average kick mtrs are below the individual stats of Reynolds and Pearce. The QLD halves average kicking mtrs dwarf the NSW halves. I expect QLD to use that to their advantage. N.S.W have now painted themselves into a corner. Down on form and not warranting selection if Cleary has a shocker what next ?
berthe cotte
Guest
Has Cameron Smith retired from state of origin?
BA Sports
Roar Guru
No Fittler has said he told Cleary before the Eels match that if he played and well and took control on Thursday night he would be in, and then he got the MoM award (selected most probably by Fittler) and that was all he needed to see.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Eventually Murray will start but as this is is his Origin debut, and it will be at Suncorp, I think Freddie is taking care of the kid and keeping him out of the fast and frenetic opening 20 mins.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Cleary might have a decent chin on him, but at least he doesn't have a "glass jaw", unlike some of the "pretenders" to his SOO crown, who were once more found hobbling and wobbling off the field this weekend.
eels47
Roar Rookie
I don't like the bench that has been picked. There isn't enough impact or size for mine. Based on the players selected I would swap Murray and Jake T, as I think he would make a bigger impact at the 20-25 minute mark as he has in past games. What happens if Klemmer and Vaughan are getting dominated in the middle early on? Who will Freddy call on to correct that?
Albo
Roar Rookie
Spot on BA !
Albo
Roar Rookie
Spot on. I suspect he was always going to be picked as the incumbent and planned long term NSW half, even if all the others weren't injured. He rates highly with Freddy & Co , and he didn't let them down in his debut year. His form has been OK despite being in a shabby performing Club team so far this year. He won't let a strong NSW team down.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Just swap Nick Cotric and Jack Wighton and I think you have the list right. Wighton has singlehandedly been responsible for 4 times as many losses than he has victories for the Raiders and under the pressure of Origin he will fold like a deck chair or a bad hand in poker. You can guarantee that Crichton would not have been selected on his form this year and reduced playing minutes if he had been playing for any other club than the "Politis poultry premiers". Victor Radley was far more deserving of selection ahead of Crichton who was probably only chosen to keep some sense of continuity from last years championship winning side. As I predicted from the start of the season, Cameron Murray has been selected to play Origin ahead of the much hyped Victor Radley. To be fair, having to cover Jake Friend and play in an unfamiliar position for much of the season where he has been playing away from his strengths has severely hurt Radley's chances of selection. Selecting Josh Morris at centre is one step removed from throwing a jersey to the retired Mark Gasnier or even Ryan Girdler and asking them to wind back the clock. Josh Morris was clearly being out performed by his brother Brett before he got injured and even his own club the Sharks only rely on him for defence preferring to send their attack in the majority of cases down the right attacking edge. Nick Cotric will be up against it in that case, playing on the unfamiliar right wing outside Morris. Especially as Cotric, in all probability, will receive little quality ball from either Morris or Cleary as much of the Blues attack will be directed to the Blues left attacking edge and to Walker, Mitchell and JAC with Cordner as a real threat as the decoy runner on that side of the field. True, Nathan Cleary has a bigger chin than his Dad, Roger Ramjet and Peter Perfect from the "Wacky Races" cartoons. But sticking him in "the Ugly" corner all on his lonesome was a little harsh perhaps. Good call though on the Steven Bradbury, "Last Man Standing" impersonation. ;-)
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Reynolds was fit in time to be picked, Fittler stuffed up. I am just glad Pearce was not available. I was worried Blues fans would have to put up with his non-performances again. NSW can build a dynasty but only if form players are selected. Incumbent players a year later mean jack.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Like it or not, Cleary was picked on Thursday night if you listen to Fittler, before Keary, Pearce or Reynolds got injured (injured being a loose term for Reynolds).
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
A bit tough.. Scored a triple, not bad for having flippers. He can sort his handling out and has other qualities. I wouldn't think he's that far off the frame. Anyway, if they have to drag Josh out of retirement our centre stocks are pretty low.
Marty
Guest
Xerri has flippers for hands. No where near ready for Origin football.
Marty
Guest
Cotric is a GREAT selection. Not a bad one in the slightest. Crazy.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Your 'goods' are good picks, won't let the state down. Bit early for Haas IMO but that's just me, I'd have him 18th. Maloney just nowhere near form, nor is Cleary but his competition is in the clinic so maybe he got lucky. Cotric a fair call - doesn't matter who's there, they are just filler until Turbo returns so going with the younger guy of the future and giving him a taste is probably the better way to go in this instance. And having said that, I'd be more uptight about Crocker being overlooked for Morris, Ramien has done nothing this year to warrant selection. If you wanted to consider a young gun, Xerri would be worth a shot. My only gripe with this squad is the Chrichton/Sims contradiction. Neither is in form, neither should be there so is it Freddy's bias to Roosters that gave AC the slot or the position on the table? Likely Dragons overall form cost Sims his spot.