NSW STATE OF ORIGIN - CHANGES NEEDED - GAME 1

As I was looking across the NRL.com 'Predicted Round 1 Line-Ups', I starting thinking of what new players are ready, what current players are on the chopping block, what up and coming players may be surprise inclusions and what we need to outscore the Queenslanders. 

No Thurston and no Cronk will hurt their cohesion/kicking game for game 1, but their halves depth is not their weakness with Morgan,  Munster, Hunt, Cherry-Evans, Milford, Norman and Taylor to choose from.  Scott and Inglis will be returning from injury to bolster their experience lost from Thurston and Cronk.  

When I think back over the past several SOO comps defence oriented players have been somewhat popular and we seemed to be more of a defensive team then attacking team.  We had the attitude that all we need to do is defend brilliantly and win by 1 point.  As opposed to lets pick an attacking team so we can score 4 or more tries and completely blow them off the park.  As that defensive orientated mindset had made us competitive in nearly every game, you never expected us to blow Qld away, and or were never overly confident we could score enough points to win away from Sydney.  

Changing the Coach was the first right move and I think Freddy will be a good move, but the main change is moving on guys that did not perform, did not play to their ability and or were too much of a defensive oriented player.  Freddy won't be conservative in team selections and big name players will only be picked if they are in good form (ie., he won't be scared dropping guys like Hayne).    

Obviously the first 8 weeks of the NRL competition will impact the game 1 selections, but at this stage I would drop the following 6 players - Josh Jackson (poor attack, too defensive), Blake Ferguson (didn't perform, off field issues), Jarryd Hayne (liability in defence at centre, wasn't fit), Mitchell Pearce (poor game management), Brett Morris (past it, too slow), Nathan Peats (poor in attack).  The team I would like to see for game 1 is:  

1.  James Tedesco

2.  Tom Trbojevic - new

3.  Josh Dugan

4.  James Roberts - new

5.  Josh Addo-Carr - new

6.  James Maloney

7.  Nathan Cleary - new

8.  Aaron Wood

9.  Api Koroisau - new

10.  David Klemmer

11.  Boyd Cordner

12.  Tyson Frizell

13.  Jake Trbojevic

14.  Jack Bird

15.  Wade Graham

16.  Reagan Campbell-Gillard - new

17.  Andrew Fifita 

 

The new inclusions of turbo Tom, Roberts and Addo-Carr, would mean NSW would have the three (3)quickest players in the game and genuine try scorers, and turn us into a real attacking team with far greater options on both sides of the field.  Qld would hate to see these three guys in our team.    

Cleary's first month will make or break his NSW inclusion.  Partnering up with James Maloney at club football will help his chances.  Mitchell Moses will put pressure on Cleary as the coach does have a man crush on Moses.  Cleary and Moses could be a long term halves partnership, but it may be too early to have both in the team this year?  

Api Koroisau is an attacking hooker and many thought he would have been a better option over Peats last year, but as expected NSW selectors were conservative and went a defensive player in Peats.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard impressed me during the World Cup and most of last season.  He is a powerful runner and runs with no fear off the back fence.  McLean, Vaughan, Jr Paulo's early season form could see them leap-frog Campbell-Gillard.  Vaughan was the best frontrower in attack last year for the first 2 to 3 months.  If Vaughan starts the season again like last year he will get selected at some stage.     

Andrew Fifita may not be available and may stay loyal to Tonga.  He had a great game 1 last year, but struggled in game 3 and ran sideways at nearly every chance.  But when in form there is no better bench big attacking impact frontrower in the game and he can single handledly change a game with one or two big runs.  McLean, Vaughan or Jr Paulo would be good replacements.  

Angus Crichton (bench backrower), Tyrone Peachey (no.14), Jarryd Hayne (centre/wing), Josh Mansour (wing) and Mitchell Moses (7 or 6), could easily make the team if they have a strong first month in the NRL.  

Lets have the new attitude, "I don't care how many points Qld score as we will score more!".  

What do you think?  Should we have more attacking point scoring players, or stay defence oriented?    

 

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  • BD I think that early season form will make or break a lot of chances. I also agree with the players you have chopped. Of those Ferguson is physically capable but sometimes just does not read the game. Not the smartest footballer.

    I also agree with your assessment on Moses. He will play one day but I am happy if he misses 2018. Cleary came out pretty confident in the paper today so he thinks that he will be picked.

    I think by playing defensively they play into Qld 's strength. As in SOO 1 last year rack up a big score and blow them off the park. See Qld panic for a change with no Thurston to fall back to.

    • Ferguson is a player that could be there and as he plays for the Roosters he will have a good chance if his form is good.  Turbo Tom would have played last year but for his injury.  Addo-Carr was once a defence liability but he is not anymore and has become a superstar in attack.  Roberts is pure pace and when in form is brilliant in attack.  

  • The contest of origin is dead. It’s awesome to watch don’t get me wrong, but couldn’t give a rats arse who wins anymore.
    • I don't think it is dead, just many vocal NSW supporters have lost interest for being on the losing team for so long.  I also think the game has shifted too far to a defensive orientated focus.  By selecting more attacking players like Turbo Tom, Roberts, Addo-Carr, Koroisau and Campbell-Gillard we will see a lot more options to score.  

    • One thing I would say on that is if NSW were to win a couple of series on the trot, Qld would be agitating to end the SOO concept. This is because it would be messing with their local teams by loosing players. At the moment they are happy to overlook that whilst the Maroons are winning. Wont be the same if the Maroons start loosing.

    • World Cup showed that international games are the way forward. Origin passion seems manufactured and despite what media try make us believe I don't know many supporters qld or nsw who are interested now as they were 5-10 years ago.
    • I live in qld and yes they are passionate but I also remember before qld dominated and lost 2 series in a row they talked about origin fading away.
      Qld origin fans are just like Aussie soccer fans who love a success story. Difference is Socceroo fans watch couple games every 4 years to be experts on soccer and qld origin fans watch 3 league games a year and are suddenly league fans. If socceroos miss world cup you don't hear anything till they winning again and chance of next world cup and qld the same even after lost 1 series against blues interest died.
      There is lot of passion which seemed to increase exponentially as they won more series against NSW. But considering the most vocal people I hear come origin time are usually fans who watch only 3 games a year it is not a fan base that will stick around if they lose couple series in a row again.
  • Big no to James Roberts, the guy is a turnstile in defence. I’d go with Jenko & Lattell Mitchell in the centres. 

    1) Teddy

    2) Mansour

    3) Jenko

    4) Mitchell 

    5) JAC

    6) Bird

    7) Maloney

    8) Woods

    9) Peats

    10) Klemmer

    11) Cordner (c)

    12) Wade Graham

    13) Jake Trbojevic 

    14) Fifita 

    15) RGC

    16) Frizell 

    17) ????

    • What about that centre from the Storm Scott. Played well for them in the finals. Also I am not sold on Wade Graham. He is a good player but has a lot of errors in his game. Everybody picks him so he must have something.

    • Hi Brett.  Yes, Roberts can be a defence liability, but so can Mitchell.  Mitchell went missing last year and was dropped to Wyong due to form and fitness.  Roberts was on fire early last year prior to getting injured.  Roberts defence has improved and the first month of footy this year will make or break him as he will be the main attacking player with Bird out injured and Hunt gone.  Jennings is no longer an attacking player and is now a specialist defensive centre.  I would only consider Jennings if Moses was inside him.  Freddy heavily criticised Peats last year, therefore I don't think he will be there.  Bird doesn't pass the ball at 5/8 and would cut off the backline.  No Turbo Tom?  I'd pick Turbo Tom at fullback if I thought Teddy would be suitable at wing, that's how highly I think of Tom.  All in all very similar team and strong in attack.    

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