He got 5 minutes of Origin football. I have no idea how anyone can judge whether he is ready based on 5 minutes of football, and I never drop anyone after one game, especially when they had very limited game time.
The point isn't the amount of mins he played or limited opportunities he had.
His introduction at the time of the match, and in the role that was asked of him was needless. The young bloke isn't ready to play the role he had and the responsibility of carrying out at this level. Absolutely cannot have him handling the ball every play as acting half for any period of time for the rest of this series. It is a waste of a fresh body to have him sitting on the bench for this purpose when another high-level interchange forward can be used to keep the pressure on.
His selection was a mistake when it was made, and hindsight confirmed it. He may have his time in a season or two but it is not now.
Keep the Game 1 starting 13, but make the changes to the INT:
Hinchcliffe - is proving himself as a very good right-side forward so can interchange with G Stewart, is capable in the middle so can relieve Bird, and he provides great service as acting half when required as alternative for MEL. Knows the QLD spine and will be an invaluable intellectual asset in addition to his ability.
Watmough - what needs to be said about this bloke and his Origin credentials? he's an incumbent Kangaroo, FFS. Get him in there. plays as a left-middle forward at MAN so will balance the bench with Hinchcliffe a right forward at MEL. Can give Lewis or Bird a spell and can really bend a defensive line as well as find a hole.
Merrin - INT prop #1. Is one of the best in NSW at the moment and should retain his position.
Woods/Mannah/TLL - INT prop #2. With all of Hayne, Lewis, Bird and introducing Hinchcliffe, the utility needs to be given the punt and another genuine middle third big bopper included in the rotation. Gallen is an 80min player but the team constantly needs someone who can hit the line hard and bend it like Tamou did in the opening 15 min in Game 1. Gallen will lose effectiveness as the game wears on and generally slow drags defenders anyway rather than hitting the line hard with good metres and quick play the ball. Creagh isn't the player suitable for this purpose. Apart from Watmough, only another real prop is up to this task. Gallen will better serve the team by playing fewer minutes but with much more effectiveness.
