Daily Telegraph NRL experts pick their NSW Blues for Origin 2019
With less than a week until Brad Fittler unveils his NSW Blues squad for the 2019 series opener speculation is still rife as to how he will structure the team. Our experts give it a shot and come up with their Blues squads to run out for Origin I.
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With less than a week until Brad Fittler unveils his NSW Blues squad for the 2019 series opener speculation is still rife as to how he will structure the team.
The dumping of James Roberts at the Broncos, poor form from halves incumbents Nathan Cleary and James Maloney and the injury of Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic means the door has been flung wide open for a host of new names.
The Daily Telegraph’s NRL experts look at the NSW candidates and name the team they think should run out for Origin I in Brisbane on June 5.
Toughest call: The bench was tough to decide on with so many pushing for claims.
Cruellest cut: James Roberts’ problems might be as simple as a fallout with the coach but contributing for your club was one of Brad Fittler’s staples last year.
On the verge: Victor Radley is so close he can smell the liniment. His chance will come.
Toughest call: Leaving Tyrone Peachey out. Yes, he’s been painfully ill-disciplined for the Gold Coast, but I can’t get away from the fact the Peach is also just one member of the most ill-disciplined side in the NRL. Put him in a Blues jersey and watch him deliver.
Cruellest cut: James Maloney. Say what you like about the cheeky play maker, but he’s a winner on every stage he’s asked to perform on. He was a huge support for Nathan Cleary in his Origin debut last year, so I just hope Luke Keary can do the same.
On the verge: Broncos young bull Payne Haas. He’s my bolter for a bench spot. Given I’d only want 20 minutes out of him — he’d be an absolute freight train off the bench for NSW.
Toughest call: Picking the halves. The way the Panthers have been playing to start the season they give you little confidence that either Nathan Cleary or James Maloney could step up into the Origin arena. You desperately wanted to pick either Cleary or Maloney but you just can’t do it. Adam Reynolds’ kicking game and his previous combination with Luke Keary has him just ahead of Cody Walker. Keary, Latrell Mitchell and Boyd Cordner is the best edge in the game. Maloney was huge for the Blues last season but his form his dipped way too much this year. Peachey very lucky to be in the squad.
Cruellest cut: Tariq Sims deserves to be in the NSW squad. He narrowly misses out on a bench spot to Angus Crichton who has nothing to warrant being axed. Sims only had an opportunity in game three last year but has again been solid to start the year for St George Illawarra. I expect him to feature again at some point this series.
On the verge: Aside from Cody Walker, there are a host of good performing players who are very close to making their Origin debut. Cameron Murray has been great for South Sydney but I feel Dale Finucane deserves his shot after being overlooked for too long.
Toughest call: You could easily make the case Angus Crichton did enough to retain his spot on the bench and I wouldn’t argue too hard if you did but to me Dale Finucane is demanding selection and can fill the same role Jack de Belin did last year, handling the heavy opening minutes and paving the way for Jake Trbojevic once the game opens up. That means there’s one less spot on the bench and Sims seems better suited for an impact role than Crichton.
Cruellest cut: Damn you, James Maloney. When they wanted you gone after three weeks I stood up for you. When they wanted you gone after six weeks I stood up for you. When they wanted you gone after nine weeks I stood up for you. But I can’t do it anymore, not after the season you’ve served up, not after what Penrith have become. You are the best Blues half since Andrew Johns, you were my player of the series last year, but it’s over.
On the verge: The two Broncos boys — Matt Lodge and Payne Haas — are both likely to play Origin in the near future. Lodge would be my next prop picked ahead of Junior Paulo, and everyone knows how good Haas has been. Haas is still a little unproven for my liking — six good games should not be enough for a rep jersey — but if he keeps this up he’ll be undeniable before long.
Toughest call: Blake Ferguson ahead of rising Raiders winger Nick Cotric. Cotric has been enormous for Canberra this season — running for a whopping 1118m in his 10 games thus far. He has also scored two tries and made five line breaks. Like Ferguson, Cotric is also a big body that would perfectly suit the Origin arena.
Cruellest cut: I know Nathan Cleary hasn’t been playing well for Penrith but I found it really difficult to drop him. Cleary played a vital role in last year’s series victory for the Blues and in an ideal world you’d like to give him another shot. You also don’t want to burn the young man like we did with former Blues playmaker Jarrod Mullen.
On the verge: As I said above, Canberra flyer Nick Cotric is banging down the door to play Origin football. Cotric possesses the size, skill and speed to star for the Blues and I have no doubt that his chance will come.
Toughest call: Having to find a right centre. Injuries and form has left NSW scratching around. Josh Morris would be my choice. You know exactly what you will get from a player who won’t be overawed and intimidated by Origin.
Cruellest cut: Nathan Cleary. His form and body language haven’t been great. Is playing under excruciating pressure and could probably do with a rest from the biggest stage in rugby league.
On the verge: Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Wanted to pick him because he is an Origin player — tough and aggressive. But his form this season has been modest at best.
Toughest Call: Right centre. Maybe not the safest pick, but we’re rolling the dice on James Roberts shaking off whatever issues currently have him in reggies at Brisbane. Once Freddy puts an arm around ‘The Jet’, he will lift. Or should. And, hey, it worked with the late, great Artie Beetson.
Cruellest Cut: They’re all cruel when you drop someone from an Origin series win. But the phone call I’d least like to make is with Penrith No.6 James Maloney, who was instrumental in the Blues 2018 series win.
On the verge: Cody Walker. Filthy on ourselves for not finding a spot for the Rabbitohs livewire but we simply couldn’t add Cleary’s name to that list of young halves who’ve been played, cut and subsequently ruined by Origin. And Walker off the bench? How would that work? Wighton likely a better option there.
Toughest call: Canberra coach Ricky Stuart’s own outside back injury crisis has forced him to shift Cotric from the left wing and into right centre. It gives him two weeks to earn Fittler’s No.4 jumper for game one, which will likely be at the expense of teammate Jack Wighton, who I couldn’t find a spot for on the bench. Instead I’ve opted for Cody Walker. I toyed with shifting Cotric onto the wing to make way for Cronulla’s Josh Morris at centre.
Cruellest cut: Had I travelled down the path of popular opinion and flicked Cleary, then I think that would have qualified as the cruellest cut of them all. However, leaving out Tyrone Peachey and Tariq Sims didn’t weigh on me in the same way. If we are really ushering in a new era for the Blues and Cleary really is our long-term halfback then Fittler needs to persevere with him. The 21-year old has the temperament needed to deliver in the decisive, clutch moments. While his attacking numbers over the course of last year’s series hardly set the world alight — which I think was a directive from Fittler, to take a step back from running the side’s attack — he did enough in defence.
On the verge: Payne Haas will probably be included in the squad by Brad Fittler to give him a taste of Origin but calls for him to play this year are premature. The Broncos forward has played eight NRL games, including five this year in an underwhelming Broncos outfit. At the tender age of 20, Haas’ maturity is also a point of concern. He was fined $20,000 and banned for four matches after failing to co-operate in an NRL integrity unity investigation. Then he was charged with two driving offences in March. If Canberra’s Cotric doesn’t make the cut first time round, then he obviously slips into this category. It’s not a matter of if but a matter of when for the Raiders young gun, who in time will hold a mortgage on his sky blue jumper.
Toughest call: Sticking with halfback Nathan Cleary. Adam Reynolds is going great and Luke Keary can play No.7 but I’m backing goalkicking half Cleary to steer the Blues to another series win.
Cruellest cut: I couldn’t find room for Cody Walker despite his outstanding form for the Rabbitohs. I’m going with proven big-game player Keary. His club combination with Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco will be dynamite for the Blues.
On the verge: Sydney Roosters youngster Victor Radley is very close to securing a bench spot. His ability to play hooker and backrow would come in handy for Brad Fittler but South Sydney’s Cameron Murray is playing too well to leave out and provides plenty of spark off the bench.
Toughest call: Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds are tough to split. While I reckon Walker’s form is undeniable, it wouldn’t surprise me if Brad Fittler goes for the South Sydney halfback as Luke Keary’s halves partner. Reynolds’ general kicking game and goal kicking is top notch and he is running the ball as well as ever. He also won a comp playing alongside Keary.
Cruellest cut: Jack Wighton is made for Origin but I’d be equally happy to see Mitch Aubusson get a crack. The Roosters utility is a wonderful team player who gets the job done no matter what position he plays. He has proven he can play any position bar front row. For mine that versatility gives Aubusson the edge over Wighton.
On the verge: While there is a host of outstanding backrowers in contention including the likes of Josh Jackson, Tariq Sims and Angus Crichton, I would throw young man mountain Payne Haas into the mix right now. He is ready for the next step.
Toughest call: The toughest call was certainly at right centre. I’ve locked in Will Hopoate with James Roberts battling away in reserve grade for Brisbane. Due to a class factor, Hopoate narrowly edges the likes of Josh Morris and Jesse Ramien who all offer completely differing styles of football. Nick Cotric is another who could play his way into this spot if he can excel at centre for Canberra. While Tongan duties may force him out, Hopoate has the silkiest hands in the NRL at centre and would be a reliable option in a side filled with strike power.
Cruellest cut: There would be few more deserving Origin debutants than Canberra skipper Jarrod Croker. With his window for a call-up closing by the year, it appeared to many the stars were aligning for a berth in 2019. However, many are underestimating the difficulty in shifting edges as a centre. Croker has mastered the right foot step, fend and offload, but doing all this on the opposing edge is a difficult task for a one-off series. While I’m sure he’d do a fine job on the right, there are too many other options who are specialised in the position.
On the verge: Payne Haas has been a revelation since entering the top grade and will be an Origin warhorse for years to come. I don’t doubt the big fella could make an impact off the bench in Game I, but after just nine NRL games I don’t feel the need to rush his development. Get a full season under his belt and reap the rewards from 2020.
Originally published as Daily Telegraph NRL experts pick their NSW Blues for Origin 2019
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