Who can replace the punished NSW trio?

Kotoni Staggs please. Tough and can find the tryline. Was on fire this year. Wouldn't be surprised if Bronson Xerri gets a start soon. He backs himself and so does Freddie.

Cleary is not the proven leader that Keary has already proven to be in a Grand Final. Regardless of my club affiliations, I would have Keary and there are 2-3 players who you would be successfully be able to pair him with most get a mention in previous posts above. Put a Blue Jersey on Morris (either one) and they give you 100% without question and there are plenty others that wold replace Mitchell (depending which Latrell turns up on the day anyway) and there is an abundance of good wingers around to replace Addo-Carr, I do not think it will give Freddy any sleepless nights to be honest, that is if we get to have a SOO even one game at the end of the season sometime

Ahh, but Mal has seen the light, Albo!!

Paul, in the past the loyalty card has been used by both coaches and in the current landscape every thing is turned on its head both in relation when the comp will be started and what the future ahead for SOO and tests. SOO is months away and who knows who will be available and where they will be held. Next year we have a world cup in the UK . I'm not sure I'd want to travel to the UK or even if travel restrictions will be lifted. Let's get back on our feet and see what happens.

Seriously, when the bloke who is the Head of Performance & Culture at the Titans in recent years, and the bloke who is legendary for his off field antics as a footballer in his early years, want to cast aspersions on proven rep players from other Clubs, then you can really only chuckle.

Yep, fair call.

IMO, this is a people management issue and both Fiddler and Meninga have shown themselves to be poor in this example. They have every right to have opinions about these guys, including whether they should or should not be involved in rep footy, whether they fit into what ever culture they're trying to create in teams and so on. My issue is, why can't they shut up about it, until/if it becomes relevant? Right now, all of us are waiting anxiously for the season to start and realistically even the most forward thinking person can't give a toss about SOO or Tests when a ball hasn't been kicked in anger in round 3 of the regular season. All these blokes had to say was nothing, or some throw away line Rugby League players are good at like "well, they haven't helped their chances with these incidents"! Instead, they pretty much declared themselves, so if JAC and co have stellar seasons and don't get picked for rep footy, the players can rightly come back to the comments made now, which brings into question Meninga and Freddy's credibility.

The thing is 6 months later Mal chose him in the World Cup squad.. Freddie also chose his words carefully,’ ..if the side was being picked this week….’ So,it’s not a done thing, the door seems ajar..

I think we both agree that banning these players from origin, based on the penalties they received from the NRL, and purely based on these actions, is too harsh now. I also think it's fair to say JAC's actions in regards to this incident are worse than Latrell's, in that he went there with a group of mates, he posted it on social media (not smart, seriously not smart), but as per above, we're past the idea of further punishment based purely on these actions. But referring back to the comments I made in my previous post, if you're the coach of an elite team, trying to build a culture etc. there's at least a degree of cause for concern coming out of this, add other causes for concern, weighed up against form, available positions etc, and select your team.

The whether or not these particular players play origin this year, not really. I think the odds are very high we will complete the season. Yes, there will no doubt be a very small number of people breaching rules, but as they start to train/play, the message being sent, the reduced risk of contraction, the semi relaxing of rules (in the broader community) etc. I don't think any potential breaches will be sufficient to derail the season. To all those that are doing the right thing, and to all those working so hard to get the game back, and for all the sacrifices so many have made/are making I'm very confident we'll get through the season, not to mention, extremely appreciative, and supportive of them.

I can see your point of view, but I still think that's too harsh. These guys are being punished, not only by the NRL but by the public. If they then go out and have outstanding seasons, do everything right for their Clubs, both on and off the fields, why should they be punished again.... and perhaps again & again? There's not a person in the world, including Meninga, who hasn't done something really stupid in their lives. Does that mean they have to continually pay for the price for that, during their careers? I doubt greatly we'd have too many players capable of playing in the NRL, if all who had really screwed up were judged constantly by Meninga-type standards, months or years after the event.

Unfortunately I think Mitchell is being used by external forces to promote a message that he has been convinced it’s his obligation stand up for . So unless he can return his focus to what he gets paid very handsomely to do , I feel he may become too big of a distraction for Freddy to bring into camp. Risk V Reward .

Where is Papi ?

origin is 6 months away. if they play brilliantly they will get picked

dont let facts get in the way of an article

Meninga has history in believing that character is important in picking rep sides. Back in ‘16 Andrew Fifita and the FKL ( FLK or whatever his name was) saga is the most recent precedent. Punished by the NRL with a fine Meninga refused to pick him for the 4 nations nor award him the Clive Churchill in a patently obvious MOM display against Melbourne. TBH I’m with him. Fifita somewhat redeemed himself and these lads have 6 months to do likewise.

That’s a great team on paper. A premiership winning halves pairing and the Australian hooker and fullback in the spine. Tough, competitive players across the park and plenty of creativity and strike. I’d swap C. Walker for Cam Murray, quick play the balls and versatility. He can play lock, second row and centre. Wade Graham covers the halves if one gets injured.

"Fittler has developed into a fine human being with age , and is now leading by example." I agree. The talented, determined and highly focused young competitor I saw in his early years has matured into a reflective and thoughtful leader in the game, with impressive standards and a high sense of responsibility to encourage the pursuit of personal improvement. He has learned much from the likes of Gould and Polites.

Let's get some perspective here - we're playing Queensland not the All Blacks so Freddy only needs to select three reserve grade Jersey Flegg players to do the job - easily done! ;) #Blues-threepeat #BlueDawn (courtesy Papi Smurf - hope you're well big fella!)

Does this even matter? What are the odds that the competition will make it that far this year? How are players who couldn't even follow the directive to stay home and not hang out with friends going to cope with the bio-security demands of even the next few weeks? I have no confidence that right now some idiot isn't out there making the TikTok video that will end it all.