I'm pinning my hopes on you guys finding a spot for Chris Sandow in the 17
A Cronk/Thurston injury.... oh please.
Sandow is in the Emerging Maroons Squad.I'll pray that he never gets picked for Origin.
Cherry-Evans' rise has earmarked him as a future origin player.I'm no Sea Eagles fan,but it was delicious watching him play for them this year.That lad has a rare talent.He sees opportunities during a game in a manner that escapes most of all who pull-on the number 7.He has a spontaneity that seems to arise in indigenous players like Bowen,Preston Campbell and Jonathan Thurston,but is not frequently seen in Caucasians.
Whether it is Cronk(who reminds me of Lockyer in the way he is a settling influence on the field) or Cherry-Evans who partners with Thurston,there is no doubt that either combination will be light years ahead of the now predictable pairing of Pearce and Soward(Pearce being the weakest link).
The QLD team next year will be different without Locky.Not necessarily weaker.
One of the greatest assets of the QLD team is how many good kickers we have.Aside from the half/five-eight combination of Lockyer/Thurston we have seen beautiful kicks placed by Smith and Cronk.The QLD team is excellent all over the park.Who would argue successfully that Ennis,Gidley,Pearce were in the same kicking echelon?They all have their moments,but reaching those heights consistently is not something they seem able to attain.Pearce psychs himself out of the game.He can be physically tough,but is mentally brittle and shatters.His game them goes to pieces,following along after his psyche.Gould came out years ago and said that he wasn't ready for Origin.If anything he is in a more precarious state now than he was originally because he has been damaged by his costly errors at Origin level.This year would have devastated the guy,because he knows that he can't pull the Game 2 performances out of the hat whenever he simply wants to.He doesn't know how to play like that on a consistent basis.Game 2 would be like a tease to him.A pleasant memory,but a torment also.To all those who would counter,that he only has to recapture that level of performance,I'd counter that if there was ever a time to do it,it was in the Origin decider Game 3 this year.When the opportunity was there to capitalise on the momentum,take hold of the series and win the trophy,Pearce simply crumbled.
Crumbling,is Mitchell Pearce's natural game.Game 2 was uncharacteristic.If he only plays well 1 game out of 6 at Origin level(his track record as it stands),then as long as he has the number 7 Blues jersey on his back,don't expect to be winning any Origin series whether Lockyer is there or not.
Selection for NSW is key to minimising the impediments that they face.Once they get rid of the excess baggage,then they can begin the hard work that needs to be undertaken to beat the Maroons.At the moment,with the player roster that NSW are fielding(courtesy of the sole selector Ricky Stuart) inconsistent,self-sabotaging exhibitions can be relied upon.
I'll re-emphasise for all those who prattle on about Game 2 and ''catching-up with QLD'';No-one was boasting about Game 2 or ''catching-up with QLD'' in the hours after Game 3(except Gallen).Start afresh.Learn that Game 2 was irrelevant because you couldn't repeat it(or even come anywhere near it),when the chips were down and the Blues had the momentum.
Actually,I love what Gallen said about ''This group of guys learnt what Origin is all about'',after Game 3.He was correct.If you are a member of Stuart's selected team,it is about getting your arse handed to you on a platter.
).I didn't see anyone wearing a Blues jersey........
