Is 2019 set up for one last Pearce Origin redemption attempt?

Don’t forget Robbie Farah

Please bring back Pearce and Gallen too for that matter. Obviously Origin isn't about trying to pick the best team to win the game and the series, but about which anointed individual/s NSW can include in the team so that they can finally be in a series winning Origin team. And if NSW loses this year's series, have faith that there is always a chance for Pearce next year (and every year after until he retires).

F NO. A serial failure for NSW. Had way too many chances,it's the Peter principal for Pearce.Instead pick:- Luke Brooks at 7. Could then pick Ryan Matterson at 6. A club combo,that could work. If you want club combos.

No. He was playing great club footy when he was selected but couldn't bring it on to the Origin field.

Chad Townsend is more of a club player but he would still do a better job than Mitchell Pearce who is damaged goods IMO. That said, Reggie Rabbit would have done more in game 1 than Cody Walker given half the chance so, glass houses perhaps. Perhaps the Blues should send out an SOS to DCE? Like Keary, he just may backflip. I mean it's not like he hasn't done THAT before. They don't call him "the cartwheel king" for nothing.

When Origin is played under NFL rules - absolutely. That guy throws more forward passes than Brady - boy does he get away with a few as well. I don't know that I have seen Townsend grab a game by the scruff of the neck as you say or turn things around mid game. He has certainly improved over his career and is a very good player. But I don't think he is a better football player than Cleary.

It's pretty obvious why, Chad's manager isn't as good

Yeah, I did think of Billy Moore but I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt to a player who was born in NSW. ;-) Gagai is the ONLY Bunny in my cross-hairs and I am one cross hare ATM.

I agree Papi, but he's not the first one. You could ague that guys like Bob Lindner, Brent Tate, Billy Moore, Gary Larson and others were better at Origin than club level. Bob Lindner especially had a lot of blinders when he played for Qld, and whilst I always rated him highly as a player, he generally didn't bring the same consistency to club level.

I know I'm out on a limb here, but I don't know why nobody mentions Chad Townsend. People mention guys like Brooks and Moses, but the Towny is more consistent than them. We need a guy who can steer a side around. Chad can. We need a guy who has a good kicking game. Chad does. We need a guy with a good passing game. Chad does. We need a guy who can grab a game by the scruff of the neck and win it. Chad has shown at club level that he can. Also a guy who can turn things around when the chips are down. Chad has shown over the past 2 years he can. He can also kick for goal. Also, he interviews well and isn't a d..head. I'm on the Chad bandwagon for Origin. Get on it before it's too late.

Funny mate, about Keary being confused and wanting to play for NSW and not for QLD. Though some might say he came to his senses. ;-) As for Keary getting smacked a few years ago, well yes, Russell Crowe was going through a difficult period then and couldn't hold his liquor. He tried to take it out on a phone and hit Keary in the head by mistake. Keary has been "out of order" ever since. It explains why he left the premiership winning Rabbitohs to sit in their shadow instead. Clearly he isn't thinking straight and needs to have his head examined. ;-)

Keary has been suffering from concussion for some time now. I think he got smacked a few years ago, something fused out up stairs then decided he wanted to play for NSW! In years to come he might just sue the NRL for letting him play in such a confused state of mind.

All players are meant to "step up" or go up a gear playing Origin. It is the immense difference, the gaping chasm between Gagai's mediocre, often sub-standard NRL form and his "white hot" form in Origin that I take issue with. The difference between the two cannot be THAT great. Lewis, Meninga, Smith, Sterlo, Kenny, Johns, Fittler, Slater, Lockyer, Thurston were not average players in the NRL who became great playing in Origin. They were great players who became better in the Origin arena. Even a player like Mitchell Pearce who was "great" at club level but failed to even reach the same standard in Origin is not the same thing as that form being in reverse. If it had been I'm sure that Nick Politis would have had words with Pearce and have him explain why he can't make the same effort and have the same impact at club level where the pressure and competition is not as intense. Wayne Bennett needs to remind Dane Gagai that the standard he sets for himself in Origin be a benchmark that he sets for himself at club level and will be used as such to measure his performances going forward.

Just as long as he isn't playing for the Roosters and there is consistency in regards to Keary's welfare. Corey Oates was meant to be one concussion away from a "Willie Carne" forced retirement yet he is still playing every week and scoring tries for the Broncos and QLD. The same concern should be shown for James Graham who has had too many serious concussion and many times he was allowed to play on and escaped having a HIA.

Every time NSW get beat they want to blame someone and change the team whereas Qld will stick and pick as they know whoever is picked will turn up. Gagai is a good example, not in real good club form but steps up. Also McGuire and cherry-Evans hadn't played for weeks but they took the risk with them. Picking Pearce will play into Qld hands.

Keary has suffered a few bad concussions now so they're taking precaution with him. It's come at a terrible time for him as you'd think he would of been the first half picked. Would of given us much better balance too as he can play as a traditional 5/8 and is probably even better at 7. Another poor performance from Cleary or Walker in game 2 and I think we will be seeing him at ANZ for game 3.

Keary is injured, and won't be back for 6 weeks

Its interesting that Pearce ruled himself out of Origin on Wednesday, yet is going to be ready to go for Newcastle less than 48 hours later... I'm not suggesting that he is shirking representing his state, but off the back of a string of good club performances, is he keen to avoid potentially losing all confidence running out for the blues again? If he does, who would blame him? No matter how he plays for the Blues, if they lose, he will cop it. There is no doubt that affects a players form at club level, it will be interesting to see how Latrell and Walker go when they return for the Roosters and Souths.

"Is 2019 set up for one last Pearce Origin redemption attempt?" No! It is a well worn and accepted maxim that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly without change and expecting a different result? Look, Wayne "junior" Pearce was a great footballer and a decent bloke but the game has done enough to show it's gratitude to him, through the influence of his contemporaries, in giving his son Mitchell repeated opportunities to prove himself in the Origin arena. But the fact is that Mitchell has been tested and found wanting time after time. Enough! A line has been drawn through his name, it can't now be erased "for old times sake" for dear old Wayne, and no, I'm not talking about Bennett. Luke Keary, Adam Reynolds and Luke Brooks are next in line. You can't just bypass them because Mitchell Pearce's club form has been good. THAT has never been the problem. At club level Pearce has always been one of the top HB's for some time now. But Origin requires more, much more. It takes an ability to step up and go up a gear under pressure and to have the confidence as well as the abilities to do so. Walker and Cleary both struggled with this on Wednesday night. But Walker was a debutante and Cleary is still only 21 yrs old so each have an excuse to fall back on. But for game 2 both players need to be able to put ALL their cards on the table or fold and walk away. Walker is 29 (a year younger than Pearce) so he does not have the luxury of using his age as an excuse. Luke Keary would have been my first choice in the halves ahead of both Cleary and Walker as he can play as either a 5/8 or a HB. His strength though is running at second receiver and is more similar to Walker than Cleary. I don't accept that one concussion can keep Keary out of this entire Origin series though. If that was case then how is Corey Oates playing for QLD and how can Keary be allowed to play each week in the NRL? IMO Luke Keary should be brought in to partner Nathan Cleary and Cody Walker should be used as an impact "super sub" coming off the bench to continue his Origin education and without the pressure of having to run the whole show with only with NO Origin experience.

Pearce is playing great club footy but that's what he's been doing for over a decade. He's a great NRL player but that's as far as his talent takes him. Why is this even an idea? Has the author not watched any of his 17 Origin games where he has failed to take ownership of the game? Pearce will never play Origin again