Forget passion, talent wins State Of Origin games.
While some selections are already leaking out for NSW I’m going to ignore them and post the team I would select.
A few players are injured and some are suspended. That means that no NSW team anyone selects is going to be ideal. That being said, this is the way I would go if I was selecting the NSW team:
League Freaks NSW Team:
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Brett Morris
3. Josh Morris
4. Michael Jennings
5. Daniel Tupou
6. Josh Reynolds
7. Trent Hodkinson
8. James Tamou
9. Robbie Farah
10. Aiden Tolman
11. Paul Gallen
12. Anthony Watmough
13. Trent Merrin
14. Adam Docker
15. Josh Jackson
16. Tariq Sims
17. Jamal Idris
Jarryd Hayne
Had someone stood up and showed they could have played at fullback for NSW, I’d have moved Hayne into the centres. His form for Australia at the World Cup in the centres was unbelievable. As it stands, we have to play him at fullback. He’s the best available and we have good depth in the backs.
Daniel Tupou
He is a proven finisher and gives NSW a player that is dangerous in the air. That is something we haven’t had for a long time.
Reynolds and Hodkinson
NSW can not go into another Origin series without an attacking kicking game. We can stick with the same comnbinations that we KNOW lose games, or we can try to win the series. Josh Reynolds has to be selected. His game is well suited to Origin football. I wanted Adam Reynolds to stop up and take the halfback spot but right now, I think Trent Hodkinson is the better selection.
Robbie Farah
I would have gone with Nathan Peats as I was concerned Farah wouldn’t have been fit enough. Those concerns were unfounded thankfully.
Aiden Tolman
I want a front rower that will simply get in there and get the job done. Tolman fits that role.
Paul Gallen
This is his last State Of Origin series in my opinion.
Anthony Watmough
I wouldn’t have had him in my team originally but a number of injuries to back rowers means he gets a chance once again. Hopefully he doesn’t make too many mistakes.
Adam Docker
He hits like a truck. When we need to hold on in defense it will be good to have him out there.
Jamal Idris?
Hear me out on this one. NSW have a lot of forwards that naturally play a lot of minutes. The rotation on the bench ahead of him is also good. I want someone that can come in and just give pure go forward. Idris is making a lot of meters so far this season. He has Origin experience and all I want from him is 10-20 minutes of hard running football. He can do that. He is the last player a tired Queensland pack want to have to deal with.
No Utility On The Bench
Yes its a risk, but its one I’m willing to take. If Farah gets injured I’d push Reynolds into hooker. Hayne can be pushed into the halves and Morris moved to fullback. You can also move Idris into the back line to help cover any injuries there.
Players Not Selected
James Maloney And Mitchell Pearce
Please….
Aaron Woods
There is no way in hell I would let the softest forward in the entire NRL anyway near State If Origin ever again. His one and only game in a sky blue jersey was the most pathetic display I have ever seen at Origin level. No one at all in the game fears him. No one.
Pat Richards
You don’t select players at rep level because they do fancy kickoffs. People need to wake up to themselves.
So do you agree or disagree? Leave a comment below (You dont even need to log in!) and post your own State Of Origin teams for people to see and compare to my own.
