David Klemmer has been left out of the New South Wales State of Origin side for 2020, with Brad Fittler only naming one Newcastle player in his latest squad announcement.
The Blues are naming their squad as each player’s side is eliminated from the NRL finals, but after Newcastle were knocked out by South Sydney at ANZ Stadium, Daniel Saifiti was the only Knight added to the 27-man group on Sunday evening. Zac Lomax was the only other player named, joining Saifiti in bolstering the quartet of Jake Trbojevic, Cameron McInnes, Tyson Frizell and Payne Haas, who were the first selections last Sunday.
Tom Trbojevic had initially been named in the squad, but was later ruled out due to injury. His omission has paved the way for Lomax to come into the side, with the St George youngster now a chance of taking Trbojevic’s place in the centres for Game 1 in early November.
Klemmer’s omission, though, is a massive surprise. The Knights forward has been one of the better props in the competition all season, and one of the Blues’ most consistent performers in their back-to-back series victories.
His omission – and that of Paul Vaughan, who wasn’t amongst the first round of selections at the end of the home-and-away season – likely clears the way for Parramatta prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard to make a return to the Origin arena.
Klemmer is not the only Blues incumbent to be left out of the squad this year, with Sharks second-rower and captain Wade Graham, who played a starring role in the Game 2 win last year, also overlooked.
Mitchell Pearce, who helped NSW to their series-sealing win in Game 3 last year, is another notable omission from the squad, although that comes as far less of a surprise with Luke Keary and Nathan Clearly hotly favoured to be Fittler’s starting halves pairing.
NSW Origin squad so far
Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Cameron McInnes (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
You are correct of course, and my wording was poor. I was really trying to say that even if he fallen from favour he should still be ahead of Tyson who’s form and variety have been ordinary this year. :thumbup: And Freddy should be out to develop his rep skills more. I did hear a whisper that it could have something to do with his attitude last year; apparently when finally selected in place of another he had a bit of a chip on his shoulder in camp.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I like him too, but maybe the Club combo of Martin beside Cleary has benefits ? But there are plenty of good backrow options to choose from for the Blues.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I'm guessing Freddy may be looking for more mobility in the pack rather than size , to match the increased pace in the game under the current rules ? Though for a train on squad , not knowing who else is going to come through the finals unscathed, it wouldn't harm you to include Klemmer & Graham now , and trim them later if your preferred numbers come through .
Gods Country
Guest
Has he been axed ? Or just not named. ? I’d put my house on it that he runs out in the starting 13 in the first game . Watch this space .
mbp
Guest
great decision giving a spot to zac lommax. a real talent and so young. i hope there are also eyes cast over matt duffty. the guy has set up most of lomaxs tries.... virually all of the the dragons tries on the right hand side. absolutely electric this year...!
Rossi
Roar Rookie
I'd have Haas, Klemmer and Vaughan, as I don't believe NRL form is overly important for proven Origin players, though maybe someone else for a point of difference but I guess with Jurbo and other edge forwards able to play middle that's all you need.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The replacement is the interesting part of the equation Drop Klemmer if there’s three better props I’d accept Haas as one. Saifiti isn’t for mine. Earlier in the year I’d have listened all day to calls for RCG and Paulo but they’ve been butter soft in the last 8 weeks or so... Who else...?
Rossi
Roar Rookie
I remember Aitken having a blinder for a decent Country team a couple years back; Lomax playing alongside Teddy, Cook and Cleary will carve up
The Barry
Roar Guru
Has Klemmer regressed? My biggest knock on Klemmer has been the lack of variety in his game. No step, no offload, no change in direction. In his last season at the Dogs he developed a bit of an offload and did a bit of ball playing before the line - not terribly effectively He’s improved both those skills and as mentioned above he’s no 2 in the comp for effective offloads behind Paulo Maybe Fittler thinks Haas and Klemmer are too alike as big minute metre eaters?
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Cleary and Wighton my pick. Keary is a Queenslander at heart and Walker is not an Origin player. On Klemmer, I think it's poor form dropping a proven Origin performer from a winning side, especially if RCG is set to be selected
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha...yep, the same people that call conspiracy theory are usually the ones saying the NRL are inept, bungling, incompetent, etc Can’t get the bunker to work but can seamlessly run a fix on the biggest game of the year without a whisper ever escaping... :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
With the exception of Haas I don’t think any of those fellas are as good big middle third forwards as Klemmer Fittler’s shown the last couple of years he only wants three big middle third forwards in the 17, with two mobile middle players like Murray/JDB/Jurbo. Then Crichton and Frizz to play middle as required I’d guess the plan is big minutes from Haas and then have the other two props rotating in shorter stints and using Murray/Jurbo/Crichton/Frizz in the middle to pick up the pace Also Qld are likely to have a more mobile middle third with guys like Papalii, Arrow, Welch...are there likely to be any genuine big boppers in the Qld 17...?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Personally think Hudson Young is a real smokey..stronger at the line than Martin.
R N
Roar Rookie
When they started picking Klemmer for rep teams I couldn't understand why! I always thought he was overrated. I changed my opinion on Klemmer in rep games, he always played well, actually more than well... often outstanding. Now they aren't picking him I can't understand why!
Aiden
Guest
This old chestnut. Never made sense to me. To fix games you need a lot of buy in from the players. Does anyone really think that over the decades with all the nonsense that they get up to, ups and downs in their lives, that this group of IQ challenged space cadets could keep a secret as big as that. Ha.ha.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The Blues have plenty of good forward options for Fitler to still chose from, with Haas, Safiti, Jurbo, Frizell and McInnes already there. Likely additions from the still "alive teams " must include plenty of in form types like Cam Murray, Cordner, Crichton, Yeo , Martin , Paulo , RCG, Matterson, Nathan Brown, Finucane & Hudson Young. Throw in a couple of hooker options in Cook & Api and Freddy should be reasonably happy I would think.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I’ve got a lot of time for Klemmer. He’s a good lad and tough as teak. He’d be in my team, but Freddy has his appendage on the block. Good to see Lomax in. Be interesting to see him play in a good team.
Randy
Roar Rookie
Welch is a Queenslander
Big Daddy
Guest
One of the problems with Klemmer and I'd put Woods in the same boat they are very predictable and very much alike. In saying that Klemmer can play big minutes . You look at the alternatives that Fittler may consider is Paulo and Campbell- Gillard. Qld have Papali but not much else. Haas is a guy who can go all day so it's a matter of who partners him and 2 back up props.
Nat
Roar Rookie
You can only assume it's RGC maybe Paulo. Yeo and Finecan but they're #13.