On NRL 360 tonight Ben Ikin, Paul Kent and James Hooper were discussing NSW's half back selection and they were saying that the word is that Fittler still favours Nathan Cleary for the opening Origin match. Prior to this year Cleary has rarely shown many signs of nerves but with the season Penrith are having he is not playing anywhere near his best. Footage from Penrith's dressing rooms, presumably after last week's loss, showed him with head in hands and the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The form of Luke Keary, Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker is outstanding and far and above what young Cleary has shown this year. The pressure on the kid is massive and pressure in Origin is much higher than club footy and never lets up during the entire 80 minutes. Cleary wasn't outstanding in the series last year as he was content playing second fiddle to James Maloney's leading role. He didn't make any glaring errors, his defence was pretty good, with least one crucial tackle and overall it was a good beginning to his Origin career.
Reynolds played with Keary at the Rabbitohs where they won a comp together and Keary at half inside of Walker could work, too as Keary has played great at half when Cronk has been injured this season. Reynolds, Walker and Cook play together at the Rabbitohs, a combination that is on fire this season and that's 3/4 of the spine, perfect for Origin.
The question is do you play a combination of 2 of these 3 players who are all in career best form or stick with Nathan Cleary? Personally, I would have Reynolds at 7 and Keary at 6 to take advantage of Reynolds outstanding kicking game and steering the Blues around the field and have Keary orchestrating the attack but any combination of the 3 would be great. Cleary might respond positively to being in camp away from whatever is screwing up the Panthers' season but maybe he won't. He would have to play a lot better tomorrow night than he has all season to persuade me he is worthy of selection and I hope he doesn't play too well for Parra's sake. If he does get selected, he might receive a flood of negative comments on social media and possibly in the press because I think most fans would believe the other 3 candidates had leap -frogged him in selection preferences, I could be wrong. If Cleary is selected and he doesn't aim up it might do serious damage to his career and at 21 he has many years ahead of him to regain his Origin position. Non-selection would not put him in the never to be selected again category. There's a lot at stake in this selection dilemma and I don't envy the task the Blues' selectors have before them. Winning the first game in Qld would put us in the box seat for the series.
Anyway, what thoughts do others have?
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I thought Ivan Cleary's comments on the issue yesterday were very true, and it's refreshing to hear because it is pretty obvious to most people. He said words to the effect of 'players in rep teams have never been chosen on form. There is so much pressure and scrutiny on the coach that he will invariably pick the player which he feels will actually win the game. Form doesn't really come into it.'
He also said it's been that way for as long as he could remember and he didn't care what anyone else had to say on the issue, he is comfortable that is the truth.
He also said he actually understands why Nathan Cleary was selected last year, not many others do, and that his role would be similar again this year.
I agree with what Ivan has said, except I strongly disagree with the philosophy behind it. In my view, payers should be picked largely on merit. The old school boys club method of picking rep teams is outdated in an industry that generates so much interest and money.
I actually think Luke Kearys form has tapered off a bit. I’d go with the South’s halves. Still, Keary at half and Walker at 5/8 is still a very viable option. Cleary didn’t do much last year in the Origin. He did nothing wrong but Maloney steered the ship last year. If they pick Cleary and the Blues get lapped it would be the end of his Rep career. Not really fair on Cleary. You can’t be that much out of form with your team running last and still get picked for origin. It makes absolutely no sense. The in form players have earned their chance. I’d have anyone but Cleary and that includes Mitch Pearce.
Cleary should be picked. Sure he's in a struggling team but history also proves us chopping and changing our team has never worked.
Just on this whole Penrith are in trouble garbage. All week I'm hearing it. Yeah sure we are higher up and had some early good results but all this Panthers talk will probably fire them up like when we played Newcastle and Melbourne.
The talk about Melbourne being out of form leading into our match was particularly ridiculous.
Face facts media please. Ignore the table, look at parra's named line up, look at our recent form, look at our recent spoons, ask yourself honestly which team is better overall?
Melbourne and Penrith are a long way apart. When Melbourne play poorly, they get beaten by two points. When Penrith play poorly they get lapped by the Tigers.
Cleary did nothing in origin, it was Maloney that created every chance. It also isn't like they have been there for a long time it was 1 series. Qld failed by not selecting DCE for game 1 and Cleary showed in game 3 when the opposition is on top he was not up to it so don't understand why he even in conversation.
Rep footy should be in form as it was when players such as sterling and Mortimer shared the spot depending on form, same as Lewis and Kenny. Now that origin is worth so much money $30k each game it can influence where players sign and if not chosen on form is just another way to rort the cap if club has links to origin selectors or coach..
The idiots don't get , it's great to pick the incumbents if they are playing decent, they don't need to be the best , but if they are playing like busteds why pick them ? especially when the player wasn't the person who won u the match
if Cleary gets in , 1) I'll support qld 2) all NSW eligible players should tell Fittler and future Nsw coaches to go get f**** and not give a damn about them
Probably why all these Tongans are choosing Tonga over Australia they understand the bs that's gone on in rep teams these days
I've got a feeling they'll go for Cleary/Keary. Keary is one of the form halves of the competition, has a good relationship with Cordner, Tedesco and Mitchell and performs in big games. They won't drop Cleary because they won't want to damage his confidence and he'll be given a simple role to play and simply help get the team around the park.
Origin could be just the thing to get Cleary back to the level he is very much capable of and it provides some continuity in the Blues spine.
I'd favour Reynolds/Keary as the halves, Walker off the bench to come on and use his speed and evasion at the back end if each half.
Cleary and Pearce would be my choice. Then again I'm a Qldeeeeer.
How about Geoff Toovey having Alex Twal on the bench