Newcastle Knights five-eighth Kurt Gidley is suddenly in contention for a spot in the New South Wales State of Origin side after he was selected to play for Country in Friday's City-Country Origin match in Dubbo.
Ahead of him in contention are Penrith's Craig Gower and Sydney Rooster Braith Anasta, both of whom have been chosen for City, but Gower is battling injury and Anasta is battling for form, which potentially opens the door for Gidley.
The Blues are unexpectedly lacking in playmakers now that Gidley's Newcastle captain Andrew Johns has retired from representative football and St George Illawarra's Trent Barrett has made himself unavailable due to an end of season move to England.
With Cronulla's Brett Kimmorley out of action due to an ankle injury Gower would normally be thought of as the ideal man to take on the No. 7 jersey but because he can also play at five-eighth, a role he has taken on for Australia, he now appears to be the first choice there for the Blues.
But his well-publicised battle with a rib injury has him in doubt even for Friday's match so the Blues' selectors might be left with the choice of a mis-firing Anasta, who will play lock for City, or Gidley, who was once again strong in Newcastle's win over Brisbane.
And if he does win the Blues job – even if by default – he could playing outside Manly's Matt Orford, who will line up for City in Dubbo.
Ahead of him in contention are Penrith's Craig Gower and Sydney Rooster Braith Anasta, both of whom have been chosen for City, but Gower is battling injury and Anasta is battling for form, which potentially opens the door for Gidley.
The Blues are unexpectedly lacking in playmakers now that Gidley's Newcastle captain Andrew Johns has retired from representative football and St George Illawarra's Trent Barrett has made himself unavailable due to an end of season move to England.
With Cronulla's Brett Kimmorley out of action due to an ankle injury Gower would normally be thought of as the ideal man to take on the No. 7 jersey but because he can also play at five-eighth, a role he has taken on for Australia, he now appears to be the first choice there for the Blues.
But his well-publicised battle with a rib injury has him in doubt even for Friday's match so the Blues' selectors might be left with the choice of a mis-firing Anasta, who will play lock for City, or Gidley, who was once again strong in Newcastle's win over Brisbane.
And if he does win the Blues job – even if by default – he could playing outside Manly's Matt Orford, who will line up for City in Dubbo.