Some interesting discussions here, allow me to touch on a few:
- Yes, Roosters fan but I have to agree with the other fella who was saying Pearce is the best halfback NSW has. If you look at the options there isn't really anyone better that is regularly playing in the 7 and doing well who is eligible for NSW except Pearce. Hodkinson and Reynolds are playing poorly (Reynolds offered NOTHING the other night against Manly) and don't deserve to be selected. Chad Townsend has been okay in a Sharks team that seems to struggle and to me those three are the only realistic choices. Everyone else isn't good enough or experienced enough.
- Someone suggested Maloney to 7. A good idea in theory but he's most comfortable in the 6 so why weaken a position just to screw Pearce? To me Maloney and Pearce are a proven halves combination that have grown a lot since 2013 when they won a competition together. Maloney has improved and is now a better leader and is viewed as the second best 6 in the country whilst Pearce hasn't really set a foot wrong since 2014 and has managed to participate well in big games since. These two should probably be the halves combination until Maloney retires from rep football and then bring a new 6 to play with Pearce unless a new 7 rises up and takes his spot.
- So where does that leave Moylan? I think he should make the side especially if he has a strong performance this Sunday but it should be off the bench. I think if NSW desperately need a try you could throw a fresh Moylan on with 20-25 minutes left in the game, have Pearce move to hooker and have Moylan try to break the line at halfback. With tired QLD defenders a guy like Moylan could carve them up coming off the bench and I'd trust Pearce at hooker for a 20-25 minute stint (Not a full 80 though as someone else suggested)
- Left centre and left wing seems to have got a few people talking. I think if we insist on having Tedesco in the team he could take the left wing spot but I'd prefer to have a specialist there. Tom Trbojevic has played left wing before so I'd give him the nod but Daniel Tupou has been good for the Roosters as well. Tom T gets the nod for me.
As for left centre, Dylan Walker all the way for mine although there are other good options there in Jennings and Bird. Very hard position to pick.
- Hayne must be picked after finding form these past 2 weeks. 2 tries last weekend and I believe a try assist the week before. Hayne should play fullback and we're really not a chance of winning without him playing. He will lift in the game and provides great experience in a team that is kind of lacking it. While we're at it, why not give him the captaincy?
- I'd like to see City Vs Country and the ANZAC Test decide the hooking role and the 1-2 prop forward positions that are now available with Shannon Boyd being out. You'd have to think Jake Trbojevic gets a spot in the team.
---
1. Jarryd Hayne (C) 2. Tom Trbojevic 3. Dylan Walker 4. Josh Dugan 5. Blake Ferguson 6. James Maloney 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Peats/McIness 10. Andrew Fifita 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Josh Jackson 13. Trent Merrin
14. Matt Moylan 15. Paul Vaughan 16. Paulo/Tamou/McClean 17. Tyson Frizell 18. Jake Trbojevic
---
That team has 2 runners in the spine, two organisers, a strong backline that is at the very least on par with Queenslands offering and a strong pack with plenty of size that should easily dominate Queenslands aging pack. The bench is the strongest we've had in years and will only improve once Woods and Shannon Boyd are in the team. For game 2 we could be looking at a forwards rotation of Woods/Fifita and Klemmer/Boyd. Salivating.
I have a really good feeling about this year.
Walker is a right centre. If you have Tom alongside him, he should be on the right too for the combination, and he has actually played the bulk of his time as a winger on the right. Furthermore, you can't leave Tedesco out of team.
Re halves, it doesn't matter what number they have on their back. Maloney is predominantly a left-sided player and will look after this side. Pearce will look after the right. This is what they did together at Easts.
I think it's a bit sudden to give McInnes a cap. The fact he is being mentioned really highlights the shallow pool or lack of a stand out NSW have at acting half at the moment. The weak link of NSW - the 3 halves - is a massive strength for QLD and has been for years.
Seeing all these teams without Bird is surprising too. He has to be nurtured to be in the next crop of NSW players. I really think this is the best opportunity NSW have in bringing in the new brigade. The emphasis each season seems to try and win the series. With Gallen gone, and Farah possibly gone too.....it appears the brain trust and many here are still looking back to take NSW into the future. Sure, the team needs some experience, but it's time to overhaul and look ahead - J.Bird, Tedesco, Turbo, Chubby T, Moylan, Cordner, Roberts (if available), Frizzell, boyd, etc. these guys have not been a 5-game flash in the pan. they have been consistently very good young players for at least a couple of seasons. sprinkle the team with incumbent seniority such as maloney, jennings, Hayne (a special case - he's performed at this level), for experience, but it is long overdue to invest in the youth who can dominate Origin into the future. perhaps not this season, but into the 2020s. going back to Merrrin and Pearce in particular just proves NSW haven't learn't anything
the blues really need to unearth an acting half and another half though.
