Did a team earlier this year but now having seen the first 7-8 rounds of competition I feel I'm a bit more educated in my selections:
1. Jarryd Hayne (If he finds any kind of good solid form he needs to be in here. If he returns to the Titans unmotivated and lazy I would put Tedesco right in there. Hayne has the experience that our young NSW team needs)
2. Tom Trbojevic (Debut #1. Mansours out, he's the only guy who can play left wing that has really put his hand up. He'd be one of the couple in here I'd put in City Vs Country to see how he performs)
3. Jack Bird (Played well last year, doing better than Jennings this year and is a big future Origin star. Give him this spot as his own for the next 5 years and watch him make it his own)
4. Josh Dugan (We're going with one of Ferguson/Dugan this year and in my mind Dugan is the frontrunner right now. He's capable defensively but Ferguson may start hitting massive strides for the Roosters and be impossible not to select. Dugan for now but if Ferguson puts his hand up, pick him)
5. James Roberts (Debut #2. One of the quickest men in league and NSW desperately needs pace. Playing well at the Broncos and I think much like Jack Bird if you give him a shot and have patience with him he'd be someone who could make the position their own. He'd play City Vs Country this year as well to give him some experience.)
6. James Maloney (Easy selection, he's one of the best goalkickers in the state and the Australian selectors as of last year viewed him the second best five eight in Australia. Maloney has to play.)
7. MItchell Pearce (Nobody else has really put their hand up. Hodkinson is busted, Reynolds has been solid but not spectacular whilst the likes of Townsend/Cleary/Sezer etc just aren't good enough/ready. Having a running halfback whilst Maloney focuses on organising and setting up plays could be beneficial and Pearce does bring something like 12 games of experience to the table)
8. Aaron Woods (This is one where I hope he comes good but he's allegedly quite unmotivated for the Tigers right now. Shouldn't effect his NSW performances so he gets the nod here)
9. Nathan Peats (Debut #3. Robbie Farah shouldn't play this year which really leaves Wallace and potentially Rein both who I think aren't as good as Peats. Peats isn't a gamebreaker but he won't do anything stupid or cost us the game either. He gets the nod although I'd give him a run in City Vs Country and see how he does.)
10. Andrew Fifita (Good player with experience. Is doing well at the Sharks and deserves his spot. Will do everything needed and more)
11. Boyd Cordner (Best second rower NSW has. is playing well at the Roosters and has never let NSW down at all. Should easily get the nod and will be there for years)
12. Wade Graham (Second best second rower NSW has on offer. Just won a premiership, debuted last year and didn't let anyone down. No reason he doesn't play this year)
13. Trent Merrin (C) (Simply because of how well he played last year for Australia and how he has seemingly got the lock position for Australia under lock and key. Not a lot of really good alternatives either)
14. Matt Moylan (20 minutes left in the game with NSW down by four desperately seeking a try I'd trust nobody more coming off the NSW bench than Moylan. Dude has the ability to change a game very quickly and shake things up. Also a good utility bench player since he could probably play hooker, anywhere in the halves and anywhere in the back)
15. Shannon Boyd (Debut #4. Has been doing well for the Raiders, looked good for Australia last year and at 122 kilograms he'll come off the bench and knocked tired QLD forwards for a loop. Another guy who should be in the team for many many years to come)
16. Paul Vaughan (Debut #5. I'd give him a run in City Vs Country and see how he does. Him and Russell Packer have done a lot of positive things for the Dragons pack and Vaughan has been playing well enough to deserve his spot here. If he doesn't impress in City Vs Country and his form drops you have Tamou and Klemmer snapping at his heels to take his place)
17. Tyson Frizell (Has a good offload, played last year and was really quite good and he'll build on that this year. No reason to exclude him)
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For me that team is big and strong but also has some really good attacking players. 5 debuts which isn't too overwhelming and some experienced players to help guide the ship. Not entirely sure I want Merrin as the captain but I'm confident that team could win the series.
