Monday Buzz: NSW Blues team for State of Origin I

AHEAD of what looms as the biggest selection room shake-up in NSW’s State of Origin history, PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals his Blues side for the series opener. BLOG WITH BUZZ FROM 1PM

Buzz Rothfield has picked his Blues team.

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IT will be the biggest selection room shake-up in NSW’s State of Origin history.

When Brad Fittler announces his side for the opening game of the series, 11 players will be missing from Laurie Daley’s 2017 line-up.

Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Blake Ferguson, Mitchell Pearce, Aaron Woods, Nathan Peats, Andrew Fifita, Josh Jackson, Wade Graham and Jack Bird. It’s all about form, injuries and Fifita’s commitment to Tonga.

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Brisbane flyer James Roberts has surely locked in a jersey after his sensational try against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night. The only debate now is who plays centre on the opposite side.

Buzz Rothfield has picked his Blues team.

It’s a tough one because the two leading candidates, Latrell Mitchell and Euan Aitken, are such different players.

Mitchell is the more explosive and more brilliant. Aitken is the more solid and more ­reliable.

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Aitken performs every week for the Dragons, while Mitchell has the occasional poor game for the Roosters.

The fact he is a goalkicker will work in his favour. Obviously the halves positions are creating most debate.

Fittler told me over the weekend he hadn’t decided yet.

That Phil Gould claimed he knew who would wear six and seven was news to Freddy.

“That’s just Gus being Gus,” Fittler laughed.

The big game at Penrith on Saturday night will surely give Fittler a better idea.

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If Nathan Cleary and James Maloney get the job done against the Dragons’ Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop, surely they will be the NSW halves.

It’s their final opportunity before the teams are announced.

BUZZ’S NSW STATE OF ORIGIN TEAM

1 James Tedesco (Roosters)

2 Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)

3 James Roberts (Broncos)

4 Euan Aitken (Dragons)

5 Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)

6 James Maloney (Panthers)

7 Nathan Cleary (Panthers)

8 Regan Campbell-Gillard (Panthers)

9 Damian Cook (Rabbitohs)

10 David Klemmer (Bulldogs)

11 Boyd Cordner (Roosters) >

12 Tyson Frizell (Dragons)

13 Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)

14 Tyrone Peachey (Panthers)

15 Jack De Belin (Dragons)

16 Paul Vaughan (Dragons)

17 Angus Crichton (Rabbitohs)

Originally published as Monday Buzz: NSW Blues team for State of Origin I