NSW State of Origin team: South Sydney greats call for six Rabbitohs to be selected
As South Sydney firms into premiership favouritism, a group of Rabbitohs legends have united to call for Brad Fittler to load his NSW Origin team with Bunnies stars. HAVE YOUR SAY.
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This may be Queensland’s rabbit punch.
A group of former South Sydney champions have united in a push for six in-form Rabbitohs stars to form the backbone of NSW’s side for this year’s State of Origin series.
With Souths moving into equal premiership favouritism, chuffed Rabbitohs greats have urged NSW coach Brad Fittler to consider club combinations by selecting Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook, Cam Murray, Campbell Graham, Cody Walker and Alex Johnston for Origin I in Adelaide on May 31.
Mitchell and Murray are certainties, Cook is odds-on to grab a place, Graham’s chances are firming daily, Walker is regarded by many as the NRL’s form five-eighth while Johnston scored his 171st try on Saturday over 200 games.
Walker and Mitchell have created a freakish telepathy while Graham continues his storming push for a centre position alongside Mitchell.
All six players have formed lethal combinations in a Souths side which recorded its fifth successive win on Saturday night against Melbourne. TAB bookies now have Souths and Penrith equal $4.50 premiership favourites.
“Freddie has shown he sticks with club combinations, like he has with the players from Penrith, but the Panthers just aren’t going that well this year,” said former Souths captain, Sean Garlick.
“The improvement of Campbell Graham has been phenomenal while Cody and Latrell just keep producing; it’s like they’re doing it with their eyes closed. Damien Cook is still an unbelievable danger out of dummy half. He makes opposition sides nervous.
“If there is a more reliable winger than Alex then I don’t know who it is. He never makes mistakes and I love the fact he does his job with such humility. What Cam does in the middle, it takes so much pressure off everyone around him.
“I can’t remember a time — even in 2014 (when Souths won the grand final) – when Souths have been stronger or the team has been more impressive. In terms of form, they are at their absolute peak.”
Walker has shown his immense gifts as a player this season but may find himself behind incumbent Jarome Luai and Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes.
Tom Trbojevic’s form this season has been modest given his lofty expectations and Graham has been dubbed the NRL’s form centre. The Mitchell-Trbojevic centre combination has experienced strong success when previously partnered together at Origin level.
“Campbell Graham is a certainty,” said Souths legend, Craig Coleman. “He went to the World Cup last year as a young bloke and has come back a superstar. He is the best centre in the comp.
“On form, Cody deserves a chance. His combination with Latrell, give them a shot. There isn’t a better form five-eighth around than Cody. He reminds me so much of Cliff (Lyons, former Manly star) and ‘Napa’ was a genius.
“Alex wouldn’t let them down. He just scored his 171st try so he’s doing something right.”
Johnston will certainly be considered for his remarkable try scoring feats. Brian To’o will be picked although Josh Addo-Carr will be unavailable through injury. Daniel Tupou is another splendid option and Graham could also be considered as a winger.
“Cook, Murray and Latrell will be there,” said ex-Souths and NSW player, Tony Melrose. “Take Alex Johnson, the bloke obviously knows how to score tries.
“On form, Campbell Graham should be the first centre picked given Latrell isn’t a specialist centre. There is a three-way debate at five-eighth but Cody has a great combination with Latrell and Campbell Graham.
“It could be a blessing if they pick these Souths blokes because they all know each other so well.”
ORIGIN WATCH: MEET FREDDY’S BOLT FROM THE BLUE
David Riccio
Under the radar Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey has been thrust into NSW State of Origin discussion by three former champions of the sky-blue jersey, who believe he is the answer to denting the impact of Queensland’s Harry Grant.
At a time where Cronulla playmaker Nicho Hynes is making it impossible for Blues selectors to ignore him, it’s his younger teammate Brailey who has emerged in stealth-like fashion as a NSW Origin bolter.
With 22 Origins and four series wins between them, ex-NSW forwards and Sharks co-captains Dale Finucane and Wade Graham have joined their coach Craig Fitzgibbon – a former series-winning player and assistant coach of NSW – in declaring Brailey ready for the game’s biggest stage.
Brailey has been labelled as “ready to go” should anything happen to first-choice NSW hooker Damien Cook or the Wests Tigers club form impact Blues incumbent Api Koroisau.
In backing Brailey, Graham made a pointed reference to how Queensland have used Grant to provide impact from the bench.
“If they’re (NSW) looking for a one-two punch from the bench, or an opportunity to blood a young star, who could possibly be there for a long period of time, Blayke’s the perfect player for it,’’ Graham said.
“Queensland have had that one-two punch with Ben Hunt and Harry Grant coming on and rolling the ruck and that’s what Blayke could do for NSW.
“He plays 80-minutes for us, he’s certainly got all the skills and the toughness, I think he should be in the conversation for sure.
“He might even already be in the conversation because he’s come through those (Origin) pathways.
“Mentally he’s cool as – he wouldn’t be overawed.’’
It was prior to last year’s series that Cowboys hooker Reece Robson was widely-considered the likely back-up should anything happen to Cook or Koroisau.
However, Brailey, 24, has jumped Robson in the eyes of many.
Brailey’s increased running-game and stunning aerobic capacity to play 80-minutes in the middle, where he is averaging 41 tackles per-game, plus his combination with Hynes is behind the respected trio’s push.
Brailey has also been a member of the NSW under-20s, NSW residents and Junior Kangaroos teams.
“I’m actually surprised that his (Brailey) name hasn’t been spoken about more in terms of being in the frame,’’ Finucane said.
“He deserves to be in the picture. His craftiness around the ruck has gone to another level this year.
“Not that he wasn’t a crafty hooker before, but in terms of creating that bit of deception around the ruck for us, he’s been huge.
“He’s a threat when he runs and he can kick, as he’s kicked 40/20s for us.
“In terms of his demeanour, nothing fazes him.
“I’d imagine that it wouldn’t matter if it was a grand final or an Origin, I feel like he’s going to carry the same in his mentality regardless.
“He’s sort of unflappable in that way.’’
One of the hardest-working backrowers to have ever played the game, Fitzgibbon spoke of Brailey’s toughness. “He would be (able to handle Origin),’’ Fitzgibbon told Triple M radio.
“His toughness is underestimated.
“With Blayke, you see it happen often with a smaller guy in the middle, the bigger guys in a forward pack try and square him up.
“But he’s got such a good tackle technique. He gets under the ball and in defence he’s super fit.
“He plays the 80 (minutes) quite comfortably and then on top of that you can see the skill-set that has always been there.
“He could handle it if he got the opportunity. He’s definitely tough enough.’’
Originally published as NSW State of Origin team: South Sydney greats call for six Rabbitohs to be selected
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