Lack of fitness cost Noddy
By Daniel Pace
May 24, 2006
BRETT Kimmorley missed a New South Wales call-up due to lack of match fitness, not his below-par performance in last year's Origin opener in Brisbane, his club coach, Stuart Raper, said today.
Blues selectors sounded out Andrew Johns (retired from representative football) and Matt Orford (injured) before calling Brett Finch in as halfback when Craig Gower broke down with a knee injury last night on the eve of the opening State of Origin series match.
Some thought Kimmorley's considerable experience, including 14 Tests for Australia and six Origins, would give him the edge over NSW Country halfback Finch, who made his lone Origin appearance in a losing Blues side in 2004.
But the Sharks skipper has played just one game in the past six weeks, because of an ankle injury, and Raper believed Finch's superior match fitness won him the coveted NSW playmaker role.
Selectors were also mindful that Finch plays club football alongside Blues five-eighth Braith Anasta at Sydney Roosters.
"I think they probably looked at Noddy's match fitness," Raper said today, adding that Kimmorley "didn't have an issue" with the selectors' decision.
"He had his first game back on Sunday and ... he hadn't played for six weeks.
"I'd like to think that was the major consideration why they didn't go for him.
"The physical aspects probably outweigh the experience that Noddy has.
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"Noddy would've been ideal for them because he would've been able to handle the pressure (coming in) so late."
Kimmorley was dropped from the Blues side after last year's opening game, in which his kicking game was not at its best and he threw the infamous pass intercepted by Matt Bowen for the try that gave Queensland a golden-point victory.
Former NSW halfback Des Hasler also doubts that one game is still counted against a player of such experience.
"Brett Kimmorley's only had one game back and Finch has been playing pretty solid football all year," Hasler said.
"Finch probably deserves his shot after performing well in the City-Country game."
Hasler said he sympathised with his Manly halfback, Orford, who could not take up an Origin debut call because of injury for a second time.
Orford also missed out due to injury in 2004.
"While it was a tough decision, it was probably made for him," Hasler said.
"It's just bad timing. I really feel for him but there's two more games. He's right in the picture and he'll get his chance when it comes up."
AAP
