Update: Kurt Gidley will miss the entire State Of Origin series. He has been replayed by Josh Reynolds for game one.
New South Wales has named its team for Game 1 of the 2013 State Of Origin series. This is the first team named by new NSW coach Laurie Daley as the Blues stare down the barrel of 8 straight series losses.
The side include a couple of new names but there are no huge shocks in the lineup. Its clear Daley has decided to stick with the bulk of the team that lost last years series.
The official New South Wales lineup is:
NSW State Of Origin Team – Game One
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Brett Morris
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Blake Ferguson
6. James Maloney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Paul Gallen (C)
9. Robbie Farah
10. James Tamou
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Luke Lewis
13. Greg Bird
14. Kurt Gidley (Replaced by Josh Reynolds due to injury)
15. Andrew Fifita
16. Tren Merrin
17. Anthony Watmough
There’s nothing too surprising about the lineup. I’m disappointed that Mitchell Pearce gets another run despite having never performed well in an important game. Kurt Gidley also gets another run in the side because he has incriminating photos of someone he holds in a safe somewhere.
The back line looks interesting. I think its bloody disgraceful that Nathan Merritt isn’t in the side though.
Jarryd Hayne basically selected himself at fullback over the last couple of weeks and the Morris twins are safe selections. Michael Jennings might have had a bad game against the Storm on Saturday night but his form this season has been good and he is a player that can really cause problems for Queensland.
Selectors went with Blake Ferguson on the wing which worries me. I wrote a couple of weeks ago that I don’t trust Ferguson at Origin level.
James Maloney is a great selection in the halves but I’d have liked to have seen him selected alongside Todd Carney, who should feel very unlucky to have been left out.
The forward pack looks as expected with Gallen pushed up front while the bench includes a couple of Origin newcomers.
Overall, I think its about as good of a side as New South Wales could select. I wouldn’t have a couple of the players they have named but hey, lets hope they can finally get the job done!
