NSW Blues narrow right-centre role down to three candidates
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the much-discussed NSW right-centre position has come down to three players — and each has shock value.
There’s the reserve grader, the retiree and the veteran.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the much-discussed NSW right-centre position has come down to three players — and each has shock value.
There is James Roberts, Josh Morris and Mitch Aubusson — and they have just 160 minutes of football remaining before NSW’s side is announced.
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Roberts, 26, has been dumped by Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold for the second successive week but his chances of representing NSW haven’t been completely dismissed.
There are elements within the NSW camp that believe Roberts could be plucked from obscurity to play State of Origin I in Brisbane on June 5.
“Seibold doesn’t like Roberts but we do,’’ one source close to the Blues said. “He did the job last year and would love nothing more than to come out and show up Seibold on the massive Origin stage.
“It would be like Dale Shearer in the old days for Queensland.”
Roberts hasn’t played since round eight against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
It would be brave to pick him for Origin while he’s playing in the Intrust Super Cup but it has happened in the past.
In 2012, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary dumped centre Michael Jennings to reserve grade and a stint with Windsor Wolves. The then NSW coach Ricky Stuart was unconcerned and chose Jennings for State of Origin.
Veteran Aubusson, 31, has been a wonderfully consistent player since his Roosters debut in 2007.
Brad Fittler and his coaching staff are more than aware a steady Aubusson would do a job if called upon.
He has twice represented NSW Country, and his utility value is also appealing.
Morris, 32, has played 14 games for NSW between 2009 and 2016, the year he retired from Origin football. He would now make himself available if needed.
While predominantly a left centre, Morris has played right centre in Origin and was known for his great defensive efforts on Queensland star Greg Inglis. His recent form at Cronulla has been also been splendid.
NSW have already lost two centre candidates to injury in Jack Bird and Joey Leilua.
Other strong prospects include Jesse Ramien, Jack Wighton, Clint Gutherson, Jarrod Croker and Josh Dugan.
Ramien is deemed an outside chance, while NSW would be reluctant to play Wighton at centre given he has played the past seven years at fullback and now five-eighth.
Gutherson and Dugan are experienced but are unlikely to be selected, while Croker is deemed a specialist left centre.
Dylan Walker, Will Hopoate, Tyrone Peachey and Michael Jennings will be discussed but overlooked at centre. Peachey would be likely to clinch a bench utility spot.
Roberts was on Tuesday left in Brisbane’s reserves and won’t play in Friday night’s big match against the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.
In just eight weeks, he has become Brisbane’s fourth-string centre.
Roberts could play Intrust Cup this weekend when feeder club Wynnum-Manly meet PNG Hunters in Port Moresby.
However, it is understood Roberts’ visa has expired and he will remain in Brisbane to train over the weekend.
The Intrust Cup teams had a bye last weekend while a NSW Residents versus Queensland Residents match was played, meaning Roberts missed out on valuable game time.
Meanwhile, Blake Ferguson, Nick Cotric, Daniel Tupou and young Campbell Graham will be candidates to replace injured NSW winger Tom Trbojevic.
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