I don't get the fascination with everyone picking Uate.
The guy's reading and positioning in Defense is absolute disgraceful and I honestly think it outweighs his pro's with the ball and his finishing, He's let in 5 or 6 tries and you could pretty much say solely in the last 2 or 3 origin games. How many tries has he scored?, In 2 or 3 games I doubt it would amount to 5 or 6?.
I also question the selection of Jennings, his attitude and everything he has offered to Penrith doesn't warrant selection and to top that off he runs 30 metres and cops Tate square in the head which sent him for ten and cost his game big time i feel.I think he also deserves to be dropped until he fires for Penrith and he gets a good attitude check.
What presidence is that setting for NSW?. A guy who really has been under the radar in terms of Origin selection is Kane Linnett. The guy works out and has been literally faultless in defense where as he only missed 2 tackles all year in something like 9 games. He is also a very consistent performer and makes good ground everytime he runs the ball. I would pick him without question next season Ready or Not Ready in opinion!.
That being said, Chris Lawrence is the safer option as he has experience in Origin games and is a good defender. He too I think will stand up for the occasion and also is proving to be a bit of a versatile player also able to play five-eighth or perhaps in the backrow.
Nathan Merritt has the game of an Origin player, Not many people will see this and will accuse me of bias. What not many players in our game can do is function well in both attack and defensive aspects. Despite being injured he has shown growth in a few areas in the short time he has been back. He saved two try-savers and scored two tries in the All-Stars game and on his first game back came up with two spectacular players in both saving a try and catching a very difficult low projectory ball. He also is seen to be lurking somewhere in the background for an Offload to hit space and that's why he is seen as one of the best support acts in the game. Many people see Uate as the best winger in the NRL because of his power game, But there is so much to Merritt's game in comparison and a particular bust against the Dragons last week made me realise he is much stronger than last year and has a bigger fend and it was only the momentum lost from losing balance and fending off tackles is when Soward saves the try. He has the all round game to attack origin and the Indigenous game has proven he can match it with the best players in the world. I'd pick him 7 days of the week.
The left side of Morris and Hayne i'd certainly persist with. Hayne really steps up to the occasion for Origin and I sympathise for the Eels and I see Jarryd actually trying for Parramatta, with limited go to guys in attack the bloke is going to struggle with a massive target on his back. It's pretty much welcoming them to heavily target him.
Morris had some issues but the ball and all tackle on Inglis showed he can manage Inglis in part.
I resisted temptation to pick Dugan only because there is far more important positions that need to be addressed.
The only other changes is Watmough coming in for Buhrer with Lewis reverting to the bench, Aaron Woods for Creagh and TLL for T-Rex.
NSW Team
1. Brett Stewart
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Josh Morris
4. Chris Lawrence - Defense, slight versatility and belief he will stand up
5. Nathan Merritt - Comes up with special plays when his team needs it and that is exactly what NSW needs. Looks stronger with the ball this year.
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. James Tamou
9. Robbie Farah
10. Paul Gallen [c]
11. Glenn Stewart
12. Anthony Watmough - first forward picked aside from Gallen, origin toughness.
13. Greg Bird
14. Luke Lewis - Better for impact
15. Trent Merrin
16. Aaron Woods - Size is needed over Creagh
17. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs -Automatic change for T-Rex.
