State of Origin 2016: Phil Rothfield names his NSW Blues team for Game One
PHIL “Buzz” Rothfield has chosen the NSW team he believes will win State of Origin 1. Check out his side - and pick your own with our Blues Team Selector!
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IF Mitchell Pearce and his doctors say he is fit to play, the halves for NSW will be among coach Laurie Daley’s easiest choices for State of Origin 1 next month.
There is no question the combination should be Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney.
Fullback will be the biggest talking point.
Do we play Dugan like last year or go for Panthers skipper Matt Moylan?
TEAM SELECTOR: Pick your NSW Blues team for Origin 1 now!
I’d be going with the boom Panthers fullback because his selection adds so many options if some in the backline gets hurt.
Plus he has that important relationship in defence with Josh Mansour at the Panthers to cover late tackle kicks.
In the forwards I’d be starting with Bryce Cartwright on one of the edges.
He has been one of the standout forwards since the beginning of the season and had a blinder in City-Country. He will add much more to the team than recent years with the likes of Ryan Hoffman and Greg Bird.
The rest of the pack picks itself with the only arguments on the bench.
TEAM SELECTOR: Pick your NSW Blues team for Origin 1 now!
Jack Bird deserves a start. He lacks experience but he’s got a stack of class and energy. Plus he can cover so many positions.
Andrew Fifita has also done enough at the Cronulla Sharks this year to warrant a recall. He has grown up and got his life sorted away from the game.
PHIL ROTHFIELD’S NSW TEAM
1. Matt Moylan
2. Josh Mansour
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Dugan
5. Blake Ferguson
6. James Maloney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Aaron Woods
9. Michael Ennis
10. James Tamou
11. Beau Scott
12. Bryce Cartwright
13. Paul Gallen
Interchange:
14. Boyd Cordner
15. David Klemmer
16. Andrew Fifita
17. Jack Bird
TEAM SELECTOR: Pick your NSW Blues team for Origin 1 now!
Originally published as State of Origin 2016: Phil Rothfield names his NSW Blues team for Game One
Cleary’s advice for injured Storm rival
Jahrome Hughes only has to look at Nathan Cleary’s return from a shoulder injury for inspiration as he looks to come back for the finals, as one of the men in the mix to replace him opens up on his future at the Storm.
‘We would never bench David’: Walker brothers pledge to fix Fifita
The Walkers brothers have contacted the Titans to lodge their interest in coaching Gold Coast, and a key part of their pitch involves how they would help Dave Fifita find his mojo again.