Hayne's omission shows that the more things change
Glenn Jackson
May 17, 2011
NSW have done everything right. They have done everything right in overhauling their systems and selectors. They have done everything right in appointing a full-time coach, especially one of the calibre of Ricky Stuart, who would be passionate about beating a Queenslander to the breakfast buffet.
Everything right. Up until, that is, the first name that was read out in the new era of NSW rugby league.
When NSWRL chairman John Chalk named Josh Dugan to play at fullback in game one of the 2011 series, could it be that the more things change, the more they stay the same?
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Stuart, a premiership winner with the Roosters and the last Blues coach to be successful in a series (2005), has been making all the right noises.
So much so that on Friday night, Queensland's greatest coach, Wayne Bennett, lauded Stuart's efforts so far in turning around NSW fortunes. He argued that Queensland's success over the years, particularly in the past five, had come about mainly through their policy of picking the rest of the side around a core group of players. At the same time, Bennett criticised NSW's habit of chopping and changing and reacting largely on the run, game-by-game. So, if NSW were going to pick a core group of players to wrestle fortunes back south of the Tweed, Jarryd Hayne would be No.1 in terms of the jersey he wears and probably No.2 in terms of importance. Mitchell Pearce, like Hayne, has hardly set the world on fire, yet he has been given the benefit of the doubt that he can lift when required.
Stuart's argument that he believes Hayne is a better five-eighth than he is a fullback is flawed. He was the best player in the world, a Dally M winner and grand finalist, at fullback. He was also NSW's best player in a series from the wing in 2009. Even out of position, he can turn a match and, in Parramatta's case that year, turn a season.
Certainly, he has not been in that sort of form since, but neither has Greg Inglis. Would the Maroons consider not picking him if he was available? Bennett long believed Darren Lockyer was a better five-eighth than a fullback. Did that stop him picking Lockyer at fullback for Queensland?
Darius Boyd is a player who is showing signs that he will one day make an outstanding five-eighth. He might never play fullback for Queensland with Billy Slater available for selection. Will the Maroons find a spot for him?
Let's consider Dugan. He has the talent to push Hayne all the way. But until his Canberra side beat Melbourne on Saturday night, the Raiders had lost eight on the run. Dugan has been injured much of the year but impressed Stuart with his willingness to play for Country with a painful boil under his arm.
He will make his debut for the Blues tomorrow week. Four others will do the same. So against the experienced, brilliant Queenslanders, Stuart will send five players to Suncorp who will have played in the stadium but never in that arena. Hayne the Queenslanders have been constantly watching. Yet it is he who will be watching.
