NSW Team 2014

[big hit!]

Your halves ........?

Bench ...............?

Easy to criticize, harder to state your opinion....

at least i'm backing it up with reasons. a few of us like Jason Maher and Joker Wild are. it's called constructive.

i've stated opinion many times.

 

[Fat Krion]

i think there is much agreement here with the personnel in the back line.

plenty of opinion with regard to the halves.

can't have that back row. all middle forwards. Williams starting on the left and Lewis on the right with Watmough and Merrin interchange to rotate through the middle. Idris ordinarily would be a waste on interchange. Would only really come on at LC or LF, but Williams won't play 80 minutes so could be a very good option.

Rather Williams and Lewis be brought on after 20.

Both Williams and Idris can't be relied upon to play big minutes but a forceful 10 may have an impact.

Tolman is the bolter...

Canterbury halves pairing only real alternative....

NSW does not possess a standout ball playing half, the Tigers kid is still a few seasons away.

 

[Fat Krion]

He's loving the space he's getting at Parra this year and it's showing in his brilliant form. If we had a capable, organizing half then it wouldn't be an absurd thought.

Agree

 

[JJ]

if Hayne doesn't get picked at NSW fullback, QLD win their 9th straight. Dugan has been solid this year but Hayne is on fire and you cant play him on the wing or in the centres.

pick the best players in the best positions.

Hayne all 3 games, and with the ball in his hands a lot... that is NSW best chance - the forwards can match it, NSW halves are ridiculous, so brilliance from Hayne is what's needed, Inglis is the only other player who can do what he can

 

[Tweed Titan]

1. Hayne
2. B Morris
3. Jennings
4. J Morris
5. Topou/Hopoate/Taufua
6. Mullen
7. Kelly (Mullen/Maloney in the halves otherwise)
8. Woods
9. Farah
10. Tamou
11. Lewis
12. Gallen (c)
13. Watmough

14. Merrin
15. T. Sims
16. Grant
17. Mannah/Peats

Also don't understand the Hoffman suggestions. He has done very little at this level.

 

[DOGS AND EELS!!!]

is a left centre.

Jennings says hello.

And Justin Hodges says thank you again!

 

[Tweed Titan]

And Justin Hodges says thank you again!

Justin Hodges is an old gimp.

 

[big hit!]

And Justin Hodges says thank you again!

i'm just saying that there is one of NSW's best players of the last few series in that position.

Overall, i guess it comes down to what Daley's primary tactic is. stopping QLD scoring points or NSW scoring more points than them.

 

[Joker's Wild]

I know it's fruitless because our selectors are guaranteed to do something stupid, but here's one last go at pissing in the wind:

1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Brett Morris
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Jorge Taufua
6. Jarred Mullen
7. Todd Carney
8. Paul Gallen (c)
9. Robbie Farah
10. James Tamou
11. Luke Lewis
12. Anthony Watmough
13. Trent Merrin

14. Aaron Woods
15. Tim Grant
16. Tim Mannah
17. Nathan Peats

I'd also consider Hopoate either in place of Jennings or Taufua or Mead in place of Taufua. You could also start with Gallen at 13, Merrin on the bench, and probably Grant up front. I'm just thinking we want Gallen leading the way in the middle for the first 20, then shift him wider and start rotating the other front rowers. I went for Peats because I prefer an actual hooker to give Farah a rest over a utility.

Edit: f**k it, forgot Tariq Sims. Possibly include him in place of either Woods or Mannah.

Edit edit: if you consider the forwards we have available, if they were all fit: Gallen, Tamou, Fifita, Lewis, Watmough, Bird, Merrin, Woods, Grant, Mannah, Sims, Cordner, even blokes like Tolman and Graham, it's actually rather encouraging. Our pack is not the worry. Nor is hooker if Farah is fit. Nor is our backline. It's 2 things, and 2 things only that are against us: our halves, and the sheer weight of talent in Queensland's spine, coupled with their experience of playing and winning together. To win, we need to pick the right halves (which we won't), hope our forwards can win the battle in the middle (which is very possible, as we've seen over the last couple of years), and hope our key players have the games of their lives, and that Queensland's have an off night. It's just maddening that our selectors continually hamstring us at the first hurdle.

You are off your head JM. Carney has been terrible all year and does not deserve a rep jersey

 

[Spot On]

And Justin Hodges says thank you again!

Agree. I don't think Hodges worries too much being confronted with Jennings. Never has.

 

[big hit!]

1. Hayne
2. B Morris
3. Jennings
4. J Morris
5. Topou/Hopoate/Taufua
6. Mullen
7. Kelly (Mullen/Maloney in the halves otherwise)
8. Woods
9. Farah
10. Tamou
11. Lewis
12. Gallen (c)
13. Watmough

14. Merrin
15. T. Sims
16. Grant
17. Mannah/Peats

Also don't understand the Hoffman suggestions. He has done very little at this level.

Apart from Bird (who played on the edge prior to last year's series) and Lewis, practically every other edge forward NSW has selected over the last few years has been quiet in attack. hoffman, Scott (although his role was more defensive), Williams, G Stewart, etc...........selected for one off games or series and struggle. crucially, when you don't have the right halves in the team who can bring them into the game, playing as an edge forward can be a no-mans land.

Bird & Lewis have been in the team forever. they are regular and senior members who will demand ball. they deliver.

 

[Spanner in the works]

I think I'd be happy with something like:

1. Stewart
2. Morris
3. Jennings
4. Hopoate
5. Gordon

6. Hayne (as a running 5/8)
7. Mullen (organiser/playmaker)

8. Tamou
9. Farah (organiser/playmaker)
10. Woods
11. Watmough
12. Lewis
13. Gallen

14. Merrin
15. Sims
16. Graham
17. Kelly

For mine it's either you pick Hayne at fullback, leaving Stewart out of the side completely, or you pick him at 5/8 so we get Stewart in the side. I'm of the view Hayne + Stewart + Mullen is a more dangerous grouping than Hayne + Mullen + Maloney/Reynolds. NSW has traditionally had big bodies who can run the ball at 5/8 anyway. Hayne gets free reign to do his stuff - leave the organising to Farah and Mullen.

Gordon solves the GK problem and he is a quality player. Hopoate is getting back to his best and the confidence boost of an Origin jersey could do wonders.

Gallen will rotate to prop later in the game, but for the opening exchanges I think we need big boppers to start. Once the game opens up later you can have the more mobile Merrin, Gallen and Sims up front if need be.

Graham and Kelly provide utility value, although I'd use Graham primarily as a backrower.

 

[kokz2014]

i'm seeing a bit of Watmough on the left in these teams. I think it's a waste. I'd want him where he is most effective. In the middle. Unless Gallen is named as a prop, he'll be interchange for the middle rotation. This will be more important throughout the game. Even with Bird and Cordner out, there are still options in Hoffman and Williams who play on the left every week. Just need a decent left-side half who can utilise them and I don't think Maloney can effectively when the chips are down.

Hmm, good spotting. I only know Watmough plays 2nd row. As for Maloney, I think he deserves a 2nd chance compared to Pearce's 10th.

BTW, that bench is woeful. Do you expect all of Woods, Tamou & Gallen to play big minutes? Merrin is the only regular middle third forward there. The rest are edge players. You want at least 2-3 interchange players to be able rotate through the middle.

I expect Gallen to play big minutes, in fact I normally see him play a full game sometimes? It was hard in 2012 SOO when they used him up front until Tim Grant got the call up. Tim Grant played hard and well but due to injuries maybe they won't consider him in the team. I think the bench will work well

I think your above is spot on with players position. So the team could like this now:
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Brett Morris
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. James McManus
6. Maloney - One last chance to produce some results
7. Pearce - One last chance to produce some results
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah
10. James Tamou
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Paul Gallen (c)

14. Trent Merrin
15. Luke Lewis - Utility and leave out Josh Reynolds
16. Jamal Idris - Utility forward or back
17. Tariq Sims/Tony Williams or another Prop

The only problem is NSW will need to find a good goal kicker. At least 3-4 players who are opt as backup kickers are below 80%

 

[Rod]

When's the team announced?

 

[whall15]

Tuesday.

 

[natheel]

1. Hayne
2. Morris
3. Jennings
4. Morris
5. Hopoate/Tupou
6. J. Reynolds
7. Hodkinson
8. Tamou
9. Farah
10. Woods
11. Hoffman
12. Scott
13. Gallen
14. Williams/Graham
15. Merrin
16. Sims
17. Tolman/Mannah/Douglas

 

[Vic Mackey]

Judging off comments today I think we'll see:

1. Hayne
2. Tupou
3. Jennings
4. Morris
5. Morris
6. Reynolds
7. Hodkinson
8. Tamou
9. Farah
10. Gallen
11. Lewis
12. Hoffman
13. Watmough

14. Woods
15. Merrin
16. Williams
17. Simms/Sutton/Graham

 

[Liddell]

Wingers are just geniused fullbacks.

So Dugan might be the man for the job after all.

 

[mozza91]

Hodkinson's kicking and defence were average today. He'll get eaten alive if NSW pick him.

 

[chrisD]

If the alternative is Pearce or Maloney then Hodkinson is likely no worse.