Do journalists have inside info on selections?

[imported_justme]

<span>Greg Pritchard on radio today and in an article inthe Sun Herald made the following bold selections for the NSW team.</span>
<span>
1. Brett Hodgson or Luke Patten
2. Timana Tahu
3. Jamie Lyon
4. Shaun Timmins
5. Jason Moodie
6. Trent Barrett
7. Andrew Johns
8. Mark O'Meley or Paul Stringer or Matt Parsons or Josh Perry
9. Danny Buderus
10. Jason Ryles
11. Nathan Hindmarsh or Steve Simpson
12. Ben Kennedy
13. Luke Ricketson
14. Braith Anasta or Scott Hill
15. Parsons, O'Meley, Stringer or Perry
16. Simpson or Hindmarsh
17. Bryan Fletcher
</span>
<span>Buggered if I know but I can't see how either Hindmarshcould miss out orwhere the hell Moodie has come from but on the bright side, NO BLOODY GIDLEY

</SPAN>

 

[El Duque]

Don't understand his Hindmarsh thing as he's one of the few that don't even have to bother with city/country.
If Gidley plays there's a gift 2 tries to Qld so fingers crossed he's not picked.

 

[AuckMel]

Scott Hill has been the form stand-off so far this year. He deserves selection ahead of Barrett.

 

[imported_Kaon]

On the footyshow this morning, Phil Gould said that Timana Tahu is a certainty and that he wants Jamie Lyon to play in his regular position.

Jamie Lyon plays on the same side as Matt Gidley.

 

[imported_Roopy4246]

This could be the best thing that has happened for Tahu. He has lived off Gidley's talents for the past few years, and I think he has failed to develop his own abilities because of that. Tahu was not much of a centre because he didn't have the smarts at 20 to read the play well. On the wing he has nearly always played outside Gidley, and all he does is follow Gidley while Gidley draws the defence, makes a hole for him and puts him through it with a perfectly delivered pass. Tahu should take a look at the way Blacklock plays wing, and go looking for his own gaps and opportunities. Playing at the highest level without his mentor and partner in crime alongside him will make Tahu start to think about his role more and will eventually improve him as a player. Mind you, I don't think he will go well in his first SOO game in this unfamiliar situation

 

[legend]

Gidley will not be there for Origin 1. Gould said as much yesterday. His defence is very suspect and Lyon is playing much better in a side struggling for form. He said he would not be doing anyone any favours if he picked Lyon on the wing. It would be a waste and maybe Gould has listened to the tide of public opinion who see nothing in Gidley and rightly so.

 

[Johns07]

If your talking about what Gus said on the Sunday footy show, then ur totally wrong.
He was saying that it was a toss-up between them both because they are both right centre specialists, and that he might not be able to find a spot for Lyon that would be a benefit to the team.

He never said Lyon was in front of Gidley and being picked.

Look im a big fan of Lyon, but just because he can run with the ball in one hand, dosent meana thing.

 

[El Duque]

"Look im a big fan of Lyon, but just because he can run with the ball in one hand, dosent meana thing."

The fact he can TACKLE means something

 

[legend]

My interpretation of what Gus said is this: Gould said he would not be doing Lyon or the team any favours by playing him out of position on the wing and as he is exempt from the City-Country gameand Gidley is not, I belived he was a certainty for the centre position and not reserve. Hagan has also come out defending Gidley saying he should not have to play the city-country game next week which I also assume means Gidleys place in the Origin team is no sure thing. Gould aslo confirmed Tahu is in(and rightly so)and he would like to avoid playing players out of position. You can make up your own mind about all this but I dont think Gould will risk playing a poor defensive centre in such a big game.

 

[imported_justme]

If they do end up picking Gidley, which I seriously doubt now, then it will probably be his last appearance for the blues. Qld will target him as they have done in the last 6 origins and he will once again be deficient. Lyons &amp; Timmons do make a good centre pairing, both solid defenders and strong in attack with plenty of pace. Gidleys days are numbered.

 

[imported_justme]

Guessthis guy did have inside info after all as apart from Ryles missing out on suspension he got it perfect.Don't think anyone at that stage would have nominated Moodie and he certainly got Gidley's omission right.

 

[imported_Kaon]

Gould and this bloke both work together at the SMH soi think this proves that Gould had made up his mind well before the city v country match.

 

[imported_justme]

Argh yes, good point. Makes a bit of a joke of the City/Country game then eh!