NSW Team 2014

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Why are so many people thinking Will Hopoate is a good chance of making the team?
He's played 1 season and he's been out of the game for 2 years.
I wouldn't want him in the NSW team, not next year anyway.

 

[watatank]

Hopoate only played a handful of games the year before he debuted and was quality on debut. A lot can happen in 6 months, I wouldn't rule it out. Jennings and Morris are obviously the favoured pairing and I don't know whether Hopoate will be ready but I think Hopoate has more upside. I would probably also say he has more upside than most wingers too.

As an extension to that, just putting it out there but I think NSW would do well to seriously consider Wighton, Ferguson and Hopoate for centre spots in the team, or at the very least monitor their progress closely. Jennings/Morris pairing is "solid" enough and experienced but I think the others can be better. If not they should be considered for wing spots too.

 

[timka4]

Because he is an excellent player with a lot of skill. He smashed his debut. Obviously his first 11 games for parra will show if he is up too it or not. IF he plays well for the 11 games beforehand he is a chance of being selected, in that case who cares if he was out for 2 years.

 

[DOGS AND EELS!!!]

Didn't he play origin after like 15 first grade games? The guy is a natural athlete and wouldn't take him long to adjust especially since he's more developed now.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Bob Fulton said hopoate is the most professional young player he has ever seen. He hasn't been on a contiki for 2 years, he would have kept himself fit. Sure it's not the same as playing but I've got no doubts he will pick up where he left off very quickly

 

[BranVan3000]

Hoppa is in the Eels team though so he won't have many chances to look good

 

[joshie]

I just won the 2014 origin series 3-0 on Rugby League Live 2! NSWgot dis

 

[Jason Maher]

Not enough utility value there JM

Needs more J. Reynolds or K. Gidley

So they can pick splinters out of their arse or contribute sod-all? The last time a NSW utility had a point was when Wing was playing. If we desperately need utility, we have Bird, and to a lesser extent, Lewis. I think what we need is forward depth, and we need to use it. Keep all 10 of them as fresh as possible.

 

[little_aza]

Hayne's proven he is more versatile than anyone else other than Gidley (but Gids is past it). Therefore Hayne to centre.

1. Dugan
2. Morris
3. Jennings
4. Hayne
5. Morris
6. Maloney
7. Carney
8. Tamou
9. Farah (vc)
10. Grant
11. Watmough
12. Bird
13. Gallen (c)

14. Lewis
15. Fifita
16. Merrin
17. Cordner

18. Mannah

Huge team, but NSW need to smash QLD to pieces to win.

 

[Tone83]

Lol why is maloney still there? You realise he was only there to make Pearce comfortable. As shit as Pearce is, there are some people who consider him rep material, NO ONE considers Maloney rep material, it's just the people who consider Pearce rep material thought Maloney might get the best out of him. That's all. Maloney will never see a rep jersey again. Unless he comes out with the funniest line on the footy show, I dread to think how funny it would have to be.

Albert Kelly will kick the door down for a halves spot next year.

Also I expect Hoppa's start to the season will change your tune about leaving him out, but we'll have to wait and see. I'd have Hoppa on the wing outside Jarryd, very scary.

 

[Joker's Wild]

So they can pick splinters out of their arse or contribute sod-all? The last time a NSW utility had a point was when Wing was playing. If we desperately need utility, we have Bird, and to a lesser extent, Lewis. I think what we need is forward depth, and we need to use it. Keep all 10 of them as fresh as possible.

Jeez that was out there so long I thought the bait had gone off

Tagged and released

 

[Jason Maher]

Seriously though, Reynolds was picked for game 1 this year and not used. Why not have an extra fresh forward instead?

 

[Tone83]

I agree with Jason. In SOO you have a tonne of great players that can cover so many positions, the importance of a "utility" (aka ordinary mediocre player) just isn't there. All you want from the bench is impact and spark. You actually want the opposite of a utility, not necessarily versatile or consistent or hard working, just especially good at terrorising tired D. 3 big boppers (the bigger the better) and 1 little quick zippy evasive guy is probably ideal. I think qld made a mistake not having Matt Bowen as their number 14 over the past 8 years or so, but their mistakes were easy to overlook. Now barba is the man perfect for number 14.

For nsw, I'm not sure who there little fast guy should be, but probably albert kelly if they aren't gonna pick him in the halves.

 

[Jason Maher]

If we want a zippy bugger in 14, then Albert Kelly is the man.

 

[Helmet Man]

I think the best halves pairing would either be Carney/Maloney or Carney/Kelly.

 

[Tone83]

Carney/Kelly out of those, don't second guess yourself. Maloney is not even a good nrl player, let alone a good origin player.

If Kelly doesn't have a barn burning start to next season I will concede he's still too green, but I wouldn't then say Maloney is the man. A Carney/a.Reynolds pairing would be the right call, with Kelly at 14 and with the intent of preparing him for the years to come. What's certain is pearce/maloney sucks, and also they both suck and neither of them can be included.

 

[timka4]

How can A.Reynolds be a look next year, he was average this year.
Mullen and Carney are and were nsw best halves this year and last year

 

[Hutty1986]

I think the best halves pairing would either be Carney/Maloney or Carney/Kelly.

They would be potentially great in attack.. but both those combos would get brutalised in defence

 

[hardbaby]

The halves question eh? I'd stick with Maloney. That's for sure. But who to team up with him? Pearce has to go. It's obvious to everyone except the selectors. I plugged for Sutton this year but he didn't stand up in the games that count. Same with Reynolds. I have to say, I think the best option is Mullen. Much better player than he was when first selected.

 

[hardbaby]

Dugan
Morris
Hayne
Jennings
Unsure (Hopoate if on song; Ferguson if actually playing; Taufua if he tightens up)
Maloney
Mullen
Tamou
Farah
Gallen
Hoffman
Watmough
Bird

Reserves:
Fifita
Grant
Merrin
Lewis