Below is the NSW Players from 2018, and my amended for 2019 as of today if a team had to be picked. Yes I realise it's still weeks away and a lot can happen etc etc, but had a spare hour on my hands.
- Shows starters for Game #1 last year / Game #2 / Game #3 where applicable.
- Interchanges - no order and Vaughan not shown to avoid duplication.
- Doesn't include "shadow" players.
- Players/Positions in Bold incumbents > replacements . Trbjoevic injury and De Belin Suspension, others I'd replace
- Rest as is.
1. James Tedesco
2. Josh Addo-Carr
3. James Roberts > BJ Leilua
4. Latrell Mitchell
5. Tom Trbojevic > Blake Ferguson
6. James Maloney > Luke Keary
7. Nathan Cleary > Adam Reynolds
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard #1 / Matt Prior #2 / > Paul Vaughan #3
9. Damien Cook
10. David Klemmer
11. Boyd Cordner (capt)
12. Tyson Frizell
13. Jack de Belin > Josh Jackson
Interchanges:
14. Jake Trbojevic
15. Angus Crichton > Matt Lodge
16. Tyrone Peachey > Jack Bird
17. Tariq Sims
Of the above, assume some would raise eyebrows.. especially Matt Lodge.
Reasoning for changes - for what it's worth..
Roberts > Leilua. Not due to his recent off field concerns. Form is ok at best even accounting for the form of his whole team being average. Was ok last year. I hope he does pick up his form as I like him as a player. Leilua has been very good, and pleasingly seems to have a lot of the rubbish out of his game.
Trbojevic > Ferguson. TT injury. Ferguson very strong performances. May have cards marked though by Fittler.
Maloney > Keary. Keary is light years ahead on form. Penrith backline has only scored one try all season - in the last minute against the Tigers. Says enough.
Cleary > Reynolds. Similar to Maloney - Panthers Backline horribly out of form, one try all year and cleary has been very average at best. Reynolds has been good from what I've seen (although I missed the manly game), and can kick goals. And has played with Keary @ Souths, winning a comp at that.
RCG & Prior > Vaughan. Vaughan outstanding. Dunno who stole the diesel out of Campbell-Gillards' engine but he's not the guy he was early last year (maybe the jaw..). Prior is steady but best at NRL level.
De Belin > Josh Jackson. Like for Like replacement for mine, although Jackson could play the full 80.
Crichton > Lodge. With Jake T, Jackson, Frizell, Cordner, Sims all in - I think Crichton would be somehwat surplus. Replacing him with a mountain. This one would probably make most people go "You farkin' kidding!!!" - but I reckon Lodge was great all last year once he played a few games. Always gets jeered and carries on regardless - Lang Park wouldn't phase him. Rotating Klemmer Vaughan and Lodge would hopefully suck the life out of the Queensland Middle, then Cook can go to town. Definitely a long shot and I don't think NSW will go this way - but I would. If he did get picked it would cause a huge stir though.. I'm not focussed on the sins of his past, those are being dealt with and so far he has lived up to the high expectations of him by the NRL to return and stay in the league.
Peachey > Bird. I love Tyrone Peachey but he remained wasted last year - was only ever gonna come on for significant time if a back got injured. When he did come on, he was limited. Possible replacement for Roberts but I'd take Leilua. Jack Bird is only back this year but he's the ideal utility who could play backs or forwards when needed.
Righto that's an hour passed...
