After last year’s capitulation against ‘Queensland’s worst-ever team’ many assumed that Jack Wighton was a lock to start at five-eighth.
However, a couple of contenders are seriously challenging the Raiders star for the job.
The first challenger to the 6 throne is the current incumbent Cody Walker.
The Rabbitohs’ walking highlight real has carried his scintillating form into the new year, standing out in a star-studded team. Walker’s claim to the spot is under pressure as the star man has failed to bring his club form into the Origin arena.
Whilst some may assume Walker is nearly a walk-on, doubt is brewing over whether his single try in a blow-out win against a Cam Munster-less QLD is enough to keep his spot.
Some of the positives for the Walker choice however include his club combination with NSW’s beach-sprinting star hooker Damien Cook, which demonstrates both player’s raw ability to break open a game and produce the second-best support play in the competition.
There is also the conversation of when, not if, Latrell Mitchell makes his return to the NSW squad. With the Rabbitohs’ star fullback shining this season it will be hard for Brad Fittler to keep Mitchell exiled from the squad. If Mitchell is selected that opens up a dangerous left-edge combination for the Blues.
The next number 6 in question is Jarome Luai, the Penrith Panthers’ dynamic playmaker who is setting the NRL alight. Luai’s case for the starting jumper is clear and club-based.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Luai partners the incumbent NSW halfback Nathan Cleary in clubland for the Panthers and together they form one of the most damaging one-two punches in the NRL. This move would give Cleary a player he knows how to work with and a combination that would only give Cleary more confidence in his game-managing skills.
The Luai move is also interesting because it gives the Blues a platform to grow the two 1997 babies together and form a strong partnership in the Origin arena for the coming years.
Finally, we come to Jack Wighton, a true superstar in the NRL and a top-quality playmaker capable of turning a game in a single move. Wighton’s shout for the 6 jersey is the most interesting of the three.
Wighton has all the attributes to be an Origin half: he is a big body, a strong defender and he has an x-factor that few others can conjure.
However, the issues with being such a well-rounded player are that through transferable skills players become versatile and through their versatility they might not always get the position they want, but more often one they can perform in.
This has been the case for Wighton, who has managed to secure a starting centre spot after a stint off the bench in his first Origin game.
Wighton’s versatility also brings into question where he can best help the squad. Do you have arguably the best 6 in the squad at the 14 to come on and impact the game in different ways?
Let’s say Freddy decides to pick Walker as his 6 and Mitchell as his left-edge centre. Does that push Wighton to the right centre position currently occupied by Clinton Gutherson or does it push Wighton to the bench to offer a different style of attack in key moments in the game?
Due to his skillfulness, Wighton might find himself missing out on that 6 jersey he wants so badly.
Angus Nicholls
Roar Rookie
Cheers everyone for the great discussion! loved hearing all of your thoughts on the NSW 5/8th choices!
Angus Nicholls
Roar Rookie
Thanks Tony! But then what do you do with the workhouse Gutherson? does Turbo then play on the wing instead? (if fit) A lot of talent and A LOT of choices for Freddie to make!
Angus Nicholls
Roar Rookie
Cheers, I feel like it's a great topic of discussion! Walkers fiery play style can certainly blow up in his own face, However I think that if he is picked a big part of Freddie's job is to get Walker to control that temper and use it for the good of his team and when Walker is on he is ON!
egbert
Guest
Excellent summary, nail hit on head, thoroughly agree.
Rob
Guest
I reckon it's almost guaranteed that Papenhuyzen get's that #14 jersey. You'd think Latrell is a lock for left centre. Right centre is probably between Lomax, Wighton and maybe Turbo if he's fit. Couldn't possibly have Crichton in there the way he is going this year.
Paul
Roar Guru
Thanks for a really interesting first piece Angus. You've presented a good case for Walker, but I wonder if you've covered all his "attributes"? I agree Walker's an unpredictable player - except he can be predicted to be easily baited by opposition teams. It's almost a guarantee of the gets a game, the Maroons would go all out to provoke a reaction and Walker's odds-on to provide the wrong one. I don't look to see who's the best 5/8, I look to see which 5/8 would match up in SOO against the opposition 5/8 and the only one who comes close to fitting that bill is Wighton. Sure Luai and Walker are explosive Club players and both might be value off the bench for NSW, but I'd have a Clive Churchill medallist in my starting side at 5/8 every time, assuming he's in form & fit.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Freddy, being Freddy will pick players out of position again, like having multiple fullbacks in the team, and wonders why his team was beaten. He won't pick Mitchell, having dropped him before due to laziness, and rightly so. If Wighton is the best 5/8 on form then he must be picked at 5/8,not centre. If he's not the best then he shouldn't be selected. There are plenty of good centres to choose two from so it would be silly to pick another fullback or 5/8 and throw him in at centre. The same with wingers where the Fox has one spot and possibly To'o the other.
egbert
Guest
For 5/8: 1. Wighton 2. Luai 3. Walker Centres: Mitchell and Lomax (or Trbojevic in centres if you can find a right winger) 14: Papenhuyzen
Harry
Guest
My main concern about Luai at the moment would be that he hasn't been tested in adversity. Playing Queensland in Brisbane at Origin level is a lot harder than playing, say, North Queensland in Penrith at club level. At the moment you'd have to pick Luai on form because he's going brilliantly but how will he perform when things aren't going his way?
Tony
Roar Guru
Yep. Luai is a constant threat in attack
Tony
Roar Guru
Freddy stuff up selections? You can't be serious. 5 fullbacks and 7 middle forwards is the way of the future.
Tony
Roar Guru
The more I see him the better he looks
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Gee I'm glad I'm not the only Kelly fan in the world. Hes a genuine centre with class .
eels47
Roar Rookie
I would go with Cleary and Wighton in the halves, and bring Luai off the bench in the 14 jersey. Although that means there is no room for Papenhuyzen? Lomax/Crichton and Mitchell in the centres. Gutho won't be there, he is behind Teddy and Papenhuyzen at fullback and is not a centre. His best position at rep level would be 14, but he is probably a couple of spots down the pecking order there too.
Rob
Guest
The way things are going at the moment, I think Luai has to be the front runner. He's in fantastic form and I think he offers more as a player than Wighton does. Maybe another go in the centres for Wighton?
Nat
Roar Guru
This is always the biggest quandary. If Jack wants to play 5/8 at state level he should have signed with a glamour club. The Daly M medalist had to play center because Keary has "earned his spot" because he was injured in previous years... Cody has all the skills in the world but he's a flat track bully. NSW have center depth beyond compare but Freddy wants to give jumpers to the best players irrespective of their position. Now with Paps, Turbo and Mitchell available (potentially) he is more likely to stuff it up. IMO, Wighton would be a better, more consistent and dangerous 5/8 at that level w/ Cleary running the show.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Pick players in their positions. Probably Lomax and S Crighton. We seem to have this obsession with finding an Origin position for every one of the 101 star fullbacks running around.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
On current club form, Cleary is the obvious choice for halfback, but he also struggles in the big games. In Origin and the GF last year he looked like the pressure got to him.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Big question marks over Turbo's fitness
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Penrith at 6 and 7. Thus far in the 2 best genuine centers in the NRL are Lomax on the right and Brian Kelly on the left. Fox outside Kelly and To’o running with Lomax.. Back to reality, it’ll be Mitchell and Turbo..fullbacks. Wighton and Gutho have done their dash.