NSW Team for origin 1

Hard Yards

Hard Yards

Brett Shore
TBH I’m only thinking about this to take my mind off the Knights dismal form at the moment.

I reckon the Blues should be favourites on paper, but having Loz back as coach is a worry in my opinion.
Great player, but not so great coach, and already has a pretty ordinary record as Origin coach and has never coached first grade. I know he will give it 100%, but tactically and game plan wise he might struggle to match it with Slater in that department.
All these selections are my personal opinion, and obviously don’t take into account injuries and suspensions before the game.
Anyway, here goes. Please join in and give your teams and thoughts too

1 Edwards
2 Turbo
3 Latrell
4 S Crichton
5 To’o
6 Luai
7 Cleary
8 May
9 Korisau
10 Hass
11 A Crichton
12 Martin
13 Yeo

14 Watson
15 Barnett
16 Olakau’atu
17 Young
18 Burton

Also should be in the squad: Garrick, Kiraz, Robson, Katoa, D Lucas, Moses, Utoikamanu , JSaf
 
1. Edwards (always looks like he’s about to get injured though. Speaking of, I’m really hoping Papenhauzen can stay injury free and kick on for potential selection next year)
2. Lomax if fit- his height is a good target. (Kiraz)
3. Latrell or Best - likely Latrell if he keeps up his form.
4. Crichton
5. To’o if fit - workhorse, next to some height in Crichton
6. Luai - think he’s just pipping Moses at the moment. Has a bit of mongrel about him. See how he goes.
7. Cleary
8. May
9. Robson - no strong opinions atm.
10. Hass
11. Young
12. Martin
13. Yeo

14. Watson - good versatility. Maybe Burton.
15. Olakuatu
16/17/18. A Crichton/Leniu/utoikamanu

Burton V Watson for the 14 battle is probably the only way Burton makes it.
Just depends if we want Watson to play 9 for a bit to spell Robson and be an option. Or if we want centre/halves coverage with Burton. Probably can’t carry both on bench.
Think Jurbo is great to be around the team etc, but he offers very little in my opinion to other options.



Would love to see Lucas rewarded, but I think he’s probably 12 months away from getting the recognition he deserves. Always a bit of debate around “mongrel and physicality” versus “consistency and hard work”. Think he probably comes up a bit short of being in frame for selection as he doesn’t really have that “in your face” style about him. Would love to see him involved in some way.
 
Moses single handedly won the Blues the series last year. Something Cleary hasn't been able to do despite having a mortgage over the 7 jersey. This says a lot about the capacity of either player at that level.

Not saying I'd leave Cleary out, but Moses has to be there.

Lucas is a good player but he isn't Origin quality yet. He needs to be stronger with the ball post contact (more consistently) and show a little more aggression defensively before I'd pick him ahead of some others
 
Bracing myself to be branded a lunatic:

1. Papenhyuzen
2. To’o
3. S Crichton
4. Best
5. Lomax
6. I Katoa
7. Moses

13. Yeo
12. L Martin
11. A Crichton
10. Barnett
9. Egan
8. Haas

14. Watson
15. May
16. Olakuatu
17. Leniu

18. Burton

Obviously thought long & hard about Latrell, but I think Pappy has been the best fullback in the game this year, and while he’s not a wimp obviously his workhorse stuff isn’t as good as Edwards. So I think you want Best for yardage. Stephen Crichton can’t be left out.

If you’d take Edwards over Pappy, Latrell over Bradman at left centre.

Elephants in the room are Cleary and Luai. Luai has been playing terribly this year don’t @ me. Yes he had his moments in last year’s series but I simply don’t think he’s that good and Moses was the far more consequential player. Cleary may be the best club level halfback in the game but I just don’t think his game is suited to Origin. For me it’s Moses or Cleary, not both. I choose Moses.

Katoa at 6 because I think he’s more versatile than Cleary - he’s played as both the dominant half and the secondary one and looked good either way, whereas Cleary I think needs the game to run through him - and the natural deception in his ball playing is something we want to nurture. I think it will translate to Origin. Get him in there now and maybe the eternal dream of having our own Thurston or Langer, a 30+ game Origin halfback, may be achievable. Playing beside an intense dominant 7 like Moses means he won’t have huge responsibility - just get himself into good spots and pull the right reins. Pappy as a fullback has a bit in common with the fullback he plays with at club level, fast & elusive attacking weapon for him to get into good spots.

I’ve got Barnett starting because I want a starting middle whose best asset is hard nosed, physical defence. And honestly he’s been consistently elite for like three years now rather than one, and we should reward that.

May plays big minutes off the bench. His offloading and ball playing as fatigue comes into the game is very valuable.
 
I’d go Turbo/Crichton.

If Cleary doesn’t deliver again questions have to be asked about him, he’s never delivered for NSW when it mattered and is approaching Mitchell Pearce levels of Origin ****ness. Except Pearce had the excuse of playing against legends of the game most years.

Like the Papenhuyzen call tbh. Edwards and Tedesco are the same shade of vanilla. Teddy stifles the attack and Edwards just isn’t that good a footballer.
 
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If Turbo was at 100% he’d be the clear choice, I agree, but I reckon he’s playing on 1 leg at the moment, and has been for a while now.

It shows how ridiculous he is as a player that he’s still great at club level, honestly if he didn’t get the injuries we may be looking at the GOAT here, but for me that’s a worry at Origin level.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Bracing myself to be branded a lunatic:

1. Papenhyuzen
2. To’o
3. S Crichton
4. Best
5. Lomax
6. I Katoa
7. Moses

13. Yeo
12. L Martin
11. A Crichton
10. Barnett
9. Egan
8. Haas

14. Watson
15. May
16. Olakuatu
17. Leniu

18. Burton

Obviously thought long & hard about Latrell, but I think Pappy has been the best fullback in the game this year, and while he’s not a wimp obviously his workhorse stuff isn’t as good as Edwards. So I think you want Best for yardage. Stephen Crichton can’t be left out.

If you’d take Edwards over Pappy, Latrell over Bradman at left centre.

Elephants in the room are Cleary and Luai. Luai has been playing terribly this year don’t @ me. Yes he had his moments in last year’s series but I simply don’t think he’s that good and Moses was the far more consequential player. Cleary may be the best club level halfback in the game but I just don’t think his game is suited to Origin. For me it’s Moses or Cleary, not both. I choose Moses.

Katoa at 6 because I think he’s more versatile than Cleary - he’s played as both the dominant half and the secondary one and looked good either way, whereas Cleary I think needs the game to run through him - and the natural deception in his ball playing is something we want to nurture. I think it will translate to Origin. Get him in there now and maybe the eternal dream of having our own Thurston or Langer, a 30+ game Origin halfback, may be achievable. Playing beside an intense dominant 7 like Moses means he won’t have huge responsibility - just get himself into good spots and pull the right reins. Pappy as a fullback has a bit in common with the fullback he plays with at club level, fast & elusive attacking weapon for him to get into good spots.

I’ve got Barnett starting because I want a starting middle whose best asset is hard nosed, physical defence. And honestly he’s been consistently elite for like three years now rather than one, and we should reward that.

May plays big minutes off the bench. His offloading and ball playing as fatigue comes into the game is very valuable.
Click to expand...
Forgot Egan was from NSW. He should definitely get a look in, and Watson still at 14
Paps for 18 maybe over Burton
 
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