Having watched both games I can't help but think that NSW lack a bit of grit and leadership. Surely Gutho on the bench brings more to the table than the selections so far. We see what he does week in week out for us and I'm sure he add some ticker to a pretty weak (in character) NSW side.
And his form warrants selection
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No ...he should do a Wighton and formally retire from rep footy (not that anyone would give two shits) to concentrate on getting Parra a premiership.
Guthos not a bench player , by all means have him the one to change positions within the game but not start off the bench . He is a high energy player .
'one thing I have noticed these days is the specialist interchange player who comes on and turns the game on its head is long gone with coaches in the nrl just using the bench for forward rotations and injury covers .
for all his faults one thing I liked when we had will smith in our squad he was that type of player who would come om and try things ..a bit like ray stone who would come on and bring energy and try big hits and change momentum of the game .
gutho is better than teddy as he brings others into the game compared to teddy who relies on bumping off players
Gutho plays for Parramatta, automatically makes him unlikeable. He should play Origin again.
Get over your complexes. If J'Maine was eligible he would have played for NSW. I wonder if this can be arranged like if you don't make Australian side you can play for another team. He received some special award from Panthers last year and highly valued there as well. One of my favourite players.
In many ways, NSW needs to look at the way Parramatta attacks. It's an easily repeatable style that doesn't require always reaching a certain point on the field. Our style looks to "win the collision" (which is the core of Origin), then playing off either offloads, or generating a quick play the ball and isolating slow defenders.
J'maine Hopgood is probably key to this and is why I think Cameron Murray is best suited to NSW lock. He gets in behind the ruck, generates a fast play the ball or throws a late offload, or digs into the line before passing. All of that compresses the defence, enabling the dummy half to quickly sling the ball to the half on an edge who can then threaten the four in defender.
Moses is an expert at attacking the edges, particularly if it's a prop or middle forward forced to fill in. His probing of the Queensland left edge would have resulted in a try if Crichton and To'o were pushing up in support. Their inability to see the opportunity is symptomatic of them playing in the Penrith system. The ball was on the short side and Penrith generally don't raid the short side.
The game needs a ball playing fullback these days and Teddy doesn't do that. You look at the best sides and their fullbacks can all ball play. In game one he had an unmarked Addo-Carr on his outside and he decided to go on his own. A ball playing fullback attacks the inside shoulder of the winger, gets him to turn his hips and puts JAC over untouched.
I think Tedesco's form was the same playing for Australia. Being captain (he has been NSW most experienced player). He was the face of NSW in ads as well couldn't drop him. Loyalty is a good thing sometimes. I wondered if he and Mosses being good friends from juniors may have been able to agnite something together I was waiting for it all game.
I think you have hit the nail on the head. Time for NSW to pick a team that can win, rather that just filling it with the best players on paper. We are going to need a coach and brains trust that have the balls to make these decisions however.
Teddy in his prime was a weapon. You're 100 correct he has not transitioned from a running fullback into a link one. As he's out of form ( maybe just older) he no longer is at origin level as a running fullback.
Gutho would be a great SOO fullback but not a centre.
Hynes and Burton should be in the team. How many games has Luai had JAC outside him and never found a way to use him.
Not bench. Give him the 1 jersey. The bloke plays 100% every match and is the best defensive FB in the game hands down not even close. He also knows how to pass to his wingers.
Forget the bench thing. That's a waste and he'd make zero impact from there
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