Dean. I find such a comment very crude when Suncorp is always attracting big crowds to games. 41 000 attended across the two matches last night and it’s understandable fans of the first two teams would depart after the first match. Especially those with families and people who had to work the next morning.

I will say that is a good point, BB is a guy that though had many solid touches last night, just doesn’t seem to be enjoying playing with those around him. Theres always being the argument that he doesn’t take the line on enough but I don’t see that as his problem or one that he isn’t trying to do on a regular basis. If only someone could get inside the poor guys head.

I was indeed referring to Micheal when I wrote this article (it seems the editorial had a mix up). He is the only one of the older players I would still select at this point abit, as I said his walking the tightrope.

The crowds can certainly grow if CA choose the right paths and give the fans teams that they can be ‘passionate’ about to support. Obviously people are interested, but I hope for the good of the game it’s not just a temporary rush of blood with Warnies comeback the main motivator and that people really give the BBL of 2011-12 a proper chance.

Mate Just to point out a few flaws in your argument with the whole Lockyer vs Johns argument.

1. Lockyer had a lot less injury in his career then joey and was able to take the opportunities given to him to gain such records.

2. When it came to general playing ability Andrew Johns had more vision then Darren Lockyer on a whole even though I believe Darren Lockyer was a better captain. Joey was instinctive and had the foresight, that J.T seems to show a lot when he plays.

3. Joey ultimately had more much more influence as a player over his club team then Lockyer did, as he was part of a Broncos team of the late Nineties and early 21st century with a team full of super stars in itself similar to Melbourne of 2006 (abit illegally) and beyond.

4. Statistics never tell the whole story.

Behold

I really like your thinking on this. While I wrote an article last week before Hobart defending the older guys in the team I will swallow my words and admit changes are definetly needed. In my opinon your team is very close to the revamped one I would have picked abit with afew minor changes. I still think Wade should we given ago at WC in both test and ODI as apart from being handy with the bat as you mentioned his technique is developing nicely as keeper and should be given a chance against India. Also I believe Hussey should be retained for Marsh as I think he still is the one older player who still has the goods and will deliver if retained. If he fails in the 1st test however, then Marsh should be a certain starter.

My team for first test is Warner, Cowan, Watson, Clarke (c), Hussey, Khajawa, Wade, Siddle, Harris, Pattinson, Lyon

The fact is that the Wallabies are now taking their opportunities more and as I posted in my last article O’Connor and Barnes in a 10-12 combination or vice-versa both seem to know their roles and where they should be. With such a big 2012 coming up, this is something Deans should definitely pursue instead of wasting O’Connor on the wing and Barnes for 60-70 odd minutes on the bench.

Jiggles

Barnes has a different, less eccentric game to Cooper it doesn’t make it any less effective. I don’t think either that it is Cooper who makes the difference when it comes to wins against New Zealand or South Africa, the pressure that got to him in RWC finals nearly lost us the game against SA anyway. Additionally, in the past he was always playing outside Giteau at number 12. I reckon if he was given more chance to control the game and as I said allow O’Connor to have more involvement from 12 it still gives Australia a backline with both flare, creativity and most importantly control.

Jeznez

Let me clarify what I mean in this statement. I believe that BB has the best tactical kicking game in Australian Rugby. However at the same time we all know he has that tendency to simply ‘throw’ away possession far to easily when it’s not necessary, it still doesn’t change the fact that he has a second nature with kicking placement when he does pick the right time to do so.

I think the Wallabies also don’t really know who they want where in the backs. Do you start Mitchell or O’Connor on the wing, whats the correct centre pairing?
To me only AAC seems to have cemented one of the starting centre positions, while you have Faing’a and Mc’Cabe also battling for spots in the starting side.

You also make a good point about the forwards and who is in good form for the Wallabies of late!

Oikee
I do say I love the the way you put this, especially the part about Queensland inherting the earth lol. Very interested though to see if it actually comes true =p……………..

Al let me clear this up

I still believe Ennis shouldn’t be in the NSW team as he dosen’t really bring the spark needed and is a thug. However, I can’t actually say he did a bad job in game 1 apart from the obvious knock on lol. Farah would definetly be a better pick for mind.

Gareth
Very good points, though I was also thinking more on the players actual approach to the games. They seem to me to have no pride anymore in the blues jersey., I just hope it’s different come next Wednesday night at Suncorp.

Having already written an article based on each rugby franchise this year I can say a few things for certain. The tahs definetly have major problems at the moment especially with their “no risk approach”. However, I wouldn’t go as far to say that they have been disappointing for a number of years at all. Over the years I have very much enjoyed watching them play lead the way in Australian rugby, though I do agree and forgive me for been another Tah basher. Something has to be done, their culture just hasn’t looked the same this year, we ozzies like attrackive and flamboyant rugby where not SA or in the Nornthern Hemisphere thank god. Point two is the brumbies, they have the most problems of all and I applaud Tony Rea for doing what many people in his situation wouldn’t have the guts to do. I watched the Lions game the other night and have to say it is the most disgusted I have ever been in any Australian rugby side for many a year. I can deal with simply not been good enough on the night, but that mob simply didn’t turn up didn’t want to be their. As for the other Rebels and Force, I think they’ll be just fine. Melbourne will blossom in the years to come and the Force I believe as well might just surprise a few people in the coming years, I see real hope their. Finally, my beloved Reds and let me tell ya I”ve been their through the hard times but look where we are now, I couldn”t be more satisfied as a fan. Love the culture, players and our supporters all the way baby.

I like what i’m hearing James. Origin’s about the putting your body on the line and representing your State with pride. NSW supporters need to get behind their team all the way this year, we can win if we have confidence and believe. Otherwise whats the point?

Charles I agree
Our forwards need to be able to both punch holes into the Queensland defensive line and have a good offloading ability in my view. I disagree on leaving Uate out though. I like Morris, but if Gordon gets picked on his excellent form this year then I would sacrifice Morris for the Figian flyer. Uate is one of the hardest players to contain in the NRL and pairing him with someone like Gasnier who knows how to exploit opposition and get his wingers over the try line would be a lethal combo.

Yes but Lockyer made the transistion from fullback to 5/8. Having being a fullback for many years before becoming a playmaker he would have had to of known how to defend without a forward always shadowing him. Besides I’ve seen him consistentaly up in the defensive line, tackling isn’t a weakness of his (if there is one).

Back to Soward though, it’s not that I don’t think he won’t do a good job. It’s just that I think we need to pick a team based on what they can bring to Origin as a whole. Mullen and Pearce as a combination together will both go to Origin with experience behind them and in my believe on the back of form. Mullen more so then Pearce, however in a well beaten side this year I’ve seen Pearce commit every week and that’s what is needed in Origin. Soward has such a wonderful host of players around him week in week out, and is always protected in the Dragons defensive structure. In Origin Qld will know how to catch him out.

As I previously said, I wouldn’t be disappointed if he was picked however, I still think the Mullen/Pearce combination is the way to go.

Sch
If Gordon is to come into the side, I would pick Jennings to partner him in the centres. The Morris boys I still feel are the strongest combination for that left side, though i’m not gonna harp on Gordon or Jennings being picked there either. Gordon has been playing very well this year in a side that it otherwise null and void in attack. Jennings on the hand, has had a very quiet year but I don’t believe thats his fault. Penrith just don’t seem to like giving him the ball for some reason. However, he showed for City what he could do when given a chance, as did Gordon for Country.

Stewart I believe would be a great inclusion. Payne on the other hand would just be another Ennis trying to ‘bully Qld’ which we all know aint gonna work.

Vaha
Thankyou for your great input.
Regarding soward, I do agree that his kicking game is great and he may be able to cause Qld some problems. However, there are two things I still feel working against him. Firstly, I feel he isn’t as good at adapting his game as other player’s in a different surronding. Secondly, though he has shown improvement in defence since GI barreled him, I feel this will still be a problem that Qld would target constantly when he was back in the defensive line. Having said this, he still has come along way and I wouldn’t be disappointed if he was fit and they gave him 6 and Mullen 7. Mullen has to be one of the two halves thats a certainty. It’s good as well though to me that for the first time this year since 2008 we actually have some solid selection headaches.

On your point regarding Dugan, I feel that even though I think he is still a year to young. If the NSW selectors would rather a backline utility then one for the halves/hooker Dugan is my pick easily for that 14 jumper if thats the way of their thinking. This way you still have Farah playing the full 80 and a lethal player who like Idris can cover a variety of positions. Hayne to me must be fullback though, he had a few bad games this year (aka Dogs) however his a game breaker and an established super star who to me breathes confidence.

Thenry
I actually feel Brett Morris has been in quite consistent form througout the year and wouldn’t have any trouble or let anyone down in the sky blue for the left side. Especially when you factor in partnering his brother playing in the centres this gives NSW a real lethal/potent attacking combination to work with. Micheal Gordon was also very close in my thinking however I just feel the Morris has matured and had more exposure at this level and deserves the position more.

Thanks Charles for your input. Don’t get me wrong I indeed think Jamie Soward will enter the Origin arena in the near future. But at present, I believe NSW need to pick a team and especially in the backline of players based on the form player who plays that position week in week out, something they havent done since 2008 when we nearly won the series.

With my selections, I think this is a team with both youth and experence which is exactly what NSW has been lacking over the past two series. Apart from Gasnier, I feel Pearce should be persisted with as he has a strong kicking game and nice passing off dangerous ball runners if NSW pick the right players in the engine room aka. Gallen, Bird, Creagh and Snowden. Mullen is really coming into his prime now and I believe he would combine very well with Pearce in an Origin setting.

Dugan to me as previously stated, still isn’t in my Origin side as I’d rather have a five eight/hooker utility on my bench then a backline one. However, I cannot say I would be disappionted if he was selected at this point as a utility back coming off the bench.

Even though Soward maybe in doubt after tonight, he still shouldn’t be considered as of yet. Scott additionally, there are some points I really like about your backline and others I just think are too unrealistic. Firstly, Hayne should be the NSW fullbac hands down. Daniel Anderson has already tried the number 6 experiment with him back in 2009 and this failed miserably (before he switched back to fullback and got the Eels all the way to a grand final). Second, I believe Jamal is better as an impact player off the bench, Mark Gasnier simply has been in too good a form this year before, coupled with the fact that his been there and done this all before. Finally, Josh Dugan isn’t as good a player as Jarrdy Hayne and I don’t feel his quite ready for Origin football.

Having said all this I believe your other selections are very good and overall would make a very stable backline with both attacking flair and controlled aggression to take Queensland on.

My Backline in full would be:
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Brett Morris
3. Josh Morris
4. Mark Gasnier
5 Akuila Uate
6. Jarred Mullin
7. Mitchell Pearce

LAS
To be honest I think they are going in the right direction, they’re still a little inconsistent as has been evident all year. Apart from the disgraceful display put up against the Cheetahs they have had a pretty fair season I believe. Whether their experimenting to play a more pick and drive game of punching through the middle and then going wide I’m not sure.

Through injury I really don’t think they’ve been able to show their full potential all year but, I do believe their is still a good chance them to prove afew people wrong this year.

The Tah’s don’t have the wrong idea with their style of rugby, but I do agree they need to embrace some of the newer dimensions and directions in which rugby is going. In my recent summation of their season I viewd their season as one of inconsistency and it was what really let them down again the other night.

Having had so much of the ball and territory and campep on the Reds line for so long they really should have scored, though as to whether they did Tom Carter actually grounded that ball on Saturday night ill never know. I do believe however, that Warratahs can still certainly push for a finals appearence this year which will most likely be a tight contest between them and South Africa’s only real contender in the Sharks for sixth position.

Additonally, I very much agree with Damo on their current structure needs to be looekd at for the future so that they don’t slip in contrast to the other franchises with the Reds in supreme form and both Rebels and Force looking at brighter days ahead IMO!!