Kurt backs Mullen to shake off omission
BY NEIL GOFFET
NSW captain Kurt Gidley believes Knights teammate Jarrod Mullen will get another shot at playing State of Origin despite being overlooked for the Blues team to tackle Queensland in Sydney next week.
Canberra's Terry Campese was dumped after making his Origin debut for NSW when they were beaten 28-18 by Queensland in Origin I.
Mullen, who played his only game for the Blues when they lost the opening match of the 2007 series 25-18 at Suncorp Stadium, was in the frame for selection but selectors went with Cronulla veteran Trent Barrett.
Barrett will replace Campese in the No.6 jumper after leading the Sharks to consecutive wins over Parramatta, New Zealand and Canberra.
"Jarrod will be disappointed because he is so close but he just needs to keep at it," Gidley said. "He just needs a chance and I've got no doubt he will take it and play well but I'm sure he will be disappointed he missed out.
"Baz [Barrett] is really experienced and he's been doing it for a long time so he will be great to have in the side.
"He's got a great passing game and I'm sure he will add something to the team."
Gidley was the only Knights player selected after winger James McManus, who made his debut in game one, was not considered due to an ankle injury he suffered last Friday night against the Warriors.
The Knights right winger was replaced by Manly flyer David Williams.
"Jimmy's out injured which is a shame for him but I really rate Dave Williams as a player," Gidley said.
"He fast and he's strong."
Gidley also welcomed the addition Manly back-rowers Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough, who both missed game one in Melbourne.
Stewart missed the match through suspension and Watmough was overlooked by selectors despite playing for Australia in the Anzac Test against New Zealand in May.
"Choc [Watmough] is a character and he's good to have around the camp," Gidley said. "On the field he carries the ball as hard and as fast as anyone in the game."
NSW coach Craig Bellamy said the NSW performance in Origin I had demanded new personnel.
"We think we had to make some changes to try to improve the team's performance and that's what we've done," Bellamy said.
"I thought we had to make a change in the halves and we didn't want to make huge changes by leaving both of them out.
"Peter [Wallace] has played really well for us in the two games he played last year."
The return of Barrett is a huge about-face by the Blues, who had adopted a youth policy in Origin I by selecting eight debutants.
Bellamy said Barrett's experience of seven Origins was why he had been recalled to the representative side despite being left out of the initial 40-man squad.
"It certainly gives us a bit more experience in the halves," Bellamy said.
"We thought Trent was the best option there.
"He is 31 years old, he has had plenty of experience and hopefully he will add a bit of experience in that position.
"The side we picked in the first game was all about game one. There might have been a little eye on the future but at the end of the day we're not picking a team for three years' time, we're trying to win the game."
But Bellamy's 17-man side is almost certain to change with the players under injury clouds.
Gidley, Jamie Lyon and Michael Jennings failed to play for their NRL sides over the weekend while Craig Wing sustained his hamstring strain in South Sydney's loss to Melbourne on Saturday.
Bellamy will give the injured quartet until Friday to prove their fitness, but has drafted Canberra's Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Joel Monaghan and Bulldogs centre Josh Morris into the
Herald
