Your NSW Origin Side for 2013

Realistically, what squad do you guys think Laurie Daley will select?



New South Wales Blues
1. Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
2. Brett Morris (Dragons)/Blake Ferguson (Raiders)
3. Josh Morris (Bulldogs)
4. Michael Jennings (Roosters)
5. Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs)
6. James Maloney (Roosters)
7. Mitchell Pearce (Roosters)
8. James Tamou (Cowboys)
9. Robbie Farah (Tigers)
10. Tim Grant (Panthers)
11. Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles)
12. Greg Bird (Titans)
13. Paul Gallen (Sharks)
14. Kurt Gidley (Knights)/Willie Mason (Knights)
15. Luke Lewis (Sharks)
16. Trent Merrin (Dragons)
17. Tariq Sims (Cowboys)/Ryan Hoffman (Storm)
 
That will be close i reckon. I think B.Morris will miss out game 1 with Fergusson to play. Gidley won't be picked with either Fifita or Mason being picked imo.
 
I can't see how Mason is being considered as an option, he's been well down on his 2012 form.
 
I think he has been in pretty good form. And the fact Laurie is looking at Big guys off the bench may help. Also think Trex might find a way into the team somehow. Thinking about it

1 Hayne
2 Ferguson
3 Jennings
4 J.Morris
5 Merrit
6 Carney
7 Pearce
8 Tamou
9 Farah
10 Woods
11 Watmough
12 Bird
13 Gallen (c)
14 T.Sims
15 Lewis
16 Merrin
17 Trex/Fifita/Mason
 
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Lozza name Woods.

1. Hayne
2. McManus
3. Josh Morris
4. Jennings
5. Merritt
6. Carney
7. Pearce
8. Tamou
9. Farah
10.Woods
11.Merrin
12.Bird
13.Gallen(C)
14.Grant
15.Lewis
16.Watmough
17.Fifita
 
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Cronulla Sharks beat Canberra Raiders 30-20 in NRL round 10 clash






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Ben Ross (C) celebrates scoring a try with Jeff Robson (L) and Andrew Fifita (R). Picture: Porteous Gregg Source: The Daily Telegraph

STANDING 194cms and weighing a colossal 114kgs, Cronulla forward Andrew Fifita scored a thundering try before declaring: ''I feel I'm ready for Origin.''


Fifita is poised to be rewarded for his stellar season by winning a bench spot for NSW in State of Origin I on June 5.In the 70th minute during Canberra's second half comeback, Fifita took the ball 10 metres out from the Raiders tryline and went through, past and over four defenders to score a barnstorming try.It was not only the match-sealing try but a four-pointer which could shoot Fifita in the Blues squad to tackle Queensland.''I feel like I am ready for Origin,'' Fifita said after Cronulla's 30-20 win at Sharks Stadium.''My job is easy. To get the ball and run as fast as I can. There is no doubt Fifita would terrorise Queensland. He is one massive unit.''He is big, mobile and would make an impact off the bench,'' said Sharks skipper Wade Graham. ''He would be hard to handle.''Andrew is really enthusiastic and confident. He would bring plenty of energy.''He does the job for us each week.''


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Andrew Fifita scores the match-winning try. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph


Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan offered up more reasons why Fifita should be considered for NSW selection.''He can carry the ball - don't worry about that,'' Flanagan said.''Andrew scored the match-winning try when we really needed him to stand up.''He is a big unit, he's an athlete and he's getting better and better every week.''NSW coach Laurie Daley added: ''If he continues his current form, who knows what is around the corner.''



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ers-match-report/story-fni3fbgz-1226646199060
 
NRL 360: NSW Blues are half way there






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Champion in the making... Daly Cherry-Evans. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph

DALY Cherry-Evans took the ball and, with the composure of a statesman, reefed it downfield. It was a kick that set off trumpets.


The 40-20 bit off more than 50m in territory and gave Manly the feed. But more than that, it said here was an Origin play.It was as much about the moment. Tension was high, the score was 8-all, there was less than 20 minutes left, and it was totally unexpected - but no better time to be executed.That it came on Monday night when Cherry-Evans was against the Queensland State of Origin halfback only added to a developing back story.Cherry-Evans or Cooper Cronk? It might seem a legitimate debate.Cherry-Evans' form continues to develop, and the bigger the games the better he seems to play. He truly is a champion in the making.Cronk, we all know, is a wonderful talent. The only reason debate even arises about his selection is that Origin is nearly on us and Melbourne have gone three straight without a win after opening the season with seven straight victories. The two losses can be blamed on fatigue, and Monday's draw on the grit of Manly's defence.As Cherry-Evans makes his claim, though, and Cronk nurses himself through to Origin, the lack of debate north of the border should be a lesson for Blues fans.And could be a lesson NSW have finally learned...Queensland's strength is what is always Queensland's strength. They are not allowing it to become a debate.

The moment it is given breath, Mal Meninga gives a broad sweep of his hand and the state goes quiet.Cooper Cronk will be halfback. Johnathan Thurston will be five-eighth and Cherry-Evans is right in the picture for the bench.Seven straight series wins buys such control.Yet if Cronk and Cherry-Evans were playing for NSW, with what's at stake, everyone would be fighting like a sack of cats right now.Past Origin greats would be calling for their guy to be the guy. Newspaper columns, radio talkback, all devoted to one man or the other.So with Origin near we look around NSW and find that ... there is no debate.For one, if anything is different this year it is that for the first time in, oh, seven years or so, NSW look set to go into the series with the form halves of the two states.Cronk is down on his fast start to the season and Thurston is trying hard but without success. North Queensland's form has been frustrating.Against that, Mitchell Pearce is playing better than ever before.

Part of that is the lack of external pressure.When Laurie Daley declared him a certain starter for the Blues in his first newspaper column as Origin coach, before round one, criticism came from everywhere. But as Daley stayed solid, a lot of those cats in the sack realised he wasn't changing his mind. Debate dropped off and, freed from the persistent speculation, Pearce's form has flourished.At the same time, James Maloney, who will likely be picked at five-eighth ahead of Todd Carney on Sunday, stepped forward and made his case while Carney was injured.Maloney is one of those scallywags, always looking for a rise, happy to create chaos where there is none. Such characters have a high threshold for pressure - perfect for Origin.While nothing has changed in Queensland, everything has in NSW.




http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...e-half-way-there/story-fni3fh9n-1226647840714
 
NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley reserves Paul Gallen's front row spot






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Paul Gallen is expected to start in the front row for Origin I. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph

HE is ready to again lead NSW from the front - literally.


Cronulla's Paul Gallen is set to shift from the back row to prop for another 80 minutes of hardship in State of Origin I.Blues coach Laurie Daley told The Daily Telegraph last night he was leaning toward using Gallen up front alongside James Tamou as his starting props for the ANZ Stadium series opener.In other Origin developments:

* MANLY'S Jorge Taufua has now slipped alongside Nathan Merritt, Akuila Uate and Brett Morris for a NSW winger spot;

* CANBERRA'S Blake Ferguson has secured the other wing position;

* JAMES Maloney has moved ahead of Todd Carney for the five-eighth spot;

* MANLY'S Glenn Stewart has come back into contention despite missing six matches through injury;

* NEWCASTLE'S Willie Mason is still an outside chance for a forward position.

Picking Gallen at prop leaves the backrow open.Stewart, Luke Lewis, Greg Bird, Anthony Watmough and Ryan Hoffman are pushing for game one spots.Daley is also tossing up whether to have a utility player on the bench - which would be Newcastle's Kurt Gidley - or run with four forwards.

Two backrowers who miss starting spots could revert back to the bench along with candidates Trent Merrin, Tim Grant, Andrew Fifita and Mason. It appears Aaron Woods has been overlooked.Asked where Gallen would play, Daley said: "It's a tough one. Paul has been a warrior for NSW. He is our skipper."We have to determine where he best fits the team.

There are other contentious spots but I still have a few days to go before the team is announced. I am mulling over a few positions with (chief adviser) Bob Fulton. But I know whoever is chosen will represent the sky blue jumper with pride and passion."A wing spot remains open. Morris will be selected if he can make a miraculous return from a knee injury.Failing that, Taufua, Uate and Merritt are level-pegging. Taufua's power running coming out from his own line may give him a small edge.Maloney and Carney are close but - as revealed in The Daily Telegraph last week - the Roosters star's goalkicking has put him slightly in front.

As expected, Robbie Farah will be named hooker.Daley said he was ready for the ANZ Stadium match - after months of waiting."I'm excited," he said."It is the start of a long process. I have been waiting patiently - or impatiently - for eight to nine months. We will do the state proud and are ready to give it our best."Already 70,000 seats have been sold for Origin I and, remarkably, 52,000 seats have been sold for Origin III.




http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ns...s-front-row-spot/story-e6freuy9-1226648718246
 
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I still can't get over the fact Ferguson is getting selected after 2 good games, this is why NSW lose.
 
Saw an interesting stat this morning...Johnathon Thurston is the worst defender in the NRL.... He has missed 35 tackles this season including 5 against the Roosters last week...

MEMO TO LOZZA - TARGET HIM!!!:lol:
 
Matty23 said:
Ferguson automatically in the side after 2 or 3 good games? That will do me.. bloody hell.
Click to expand...

Yep I can't understand the ferguson love, and worst of all he has been playing good in the centres... He does do some freakish things, i give him that, but so does many other players in the comp

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and you'd better hope pearce's best is yet to come
 
I really hope Paul Gallen doesn't play prop for game one or two and three for that matter! I don't think either Willie Mason or Blake Ferguson should be picked either!
 
I think picking ferguson on the wing is a great move but the blues. Will offer a lot more to the team then any of our other wingers with his ability to get on the outside of the defender almost the best in the game.
 
I remember we all thought the same thing when Hayne debuted, and he scored a memorable try in QLD on half time. He was quite young then too. Better to give Ferguson a go then Merritt.
 
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