Origin 2013 NSW side

[Spot On]

Nah, the problem is that they aren't suited to anything more than really general comparisons. It is hard to tell whether someone really deserved one or not and they can get inflated by playing in a good team. It is too easy to pick them up for throwing the last pass in a back-line maneuver and a lot get awarded for kicks too, which often muddles them further.

You just need to be able to appreciate their limitations when you are looking at them, particularly using them to form really specific comparisons between players. But they do alright for giving a rough guide.

They are obviously not as good as actually watching the game. However, I don't have the time or the inclination to make a video of Dugan's game to justify my views to a couple of Canberra fanboys.

Please make one of his Origin debut and include every time he chimed in to touch the ball in attacking raids. This will prove your point beyond doubt.

 

[Joker's Wild]

What's your take on Soward? Just curious.

As a halfback? Sits in the same boat as Carney and Mullen imo. His strengths are running and passing, not organising or directing. Simply put he isnt a halfback and NSW have better 5/8s

 

[Dragon2010]

I wouldn't have Soward in my NSW side either. Our halves are a tough one.

RE Dugan. Passing is a skill that Dugan has improved with and he will only get better. His Raw talent and ball return though is what makes him who he is, all we have to do is tell him that NSW are playing the Dragons and he will have the game of his life.

 

[southwalesrabbitoh]

01. Jarryd Hayne
02. Brett Morris
03. Michael Jennings
04. Josh Morris
05. Aquila Uate
06. Todd Carney
07. Aiden Sezer
08. James Taamaw
09. Robbie Farah
10. Tim Grant
11. Paul Gallen(c)
12. Tariq Sims
13. Luke Lewis

Interchange - Kurt Gidley, Michael Weyman, Tim Mannah, Greg Bird

I know no Tony Williams, but Bird is awsome when he comes on, down that left side. I prefer Gallen on the edge too.

 

[GB!]

everyone leaving watmong out of the NSW team, qld says thanks!
apart from gallen, he's been the best NSW forward for a while. built for origin

 

[southwalesrabbitoh]

Watmough is susceptible to dropping the ball, which he has done in some big matches, Luke Lewis or Watmough? Has to be Lewis at loose-forward.

 

[@MarTiger]

I read (and I am paraphrasing) that Mitch Pearce is all but certain to be our number seven again in 2013. Really? This is the problem with NSW. We are guilty of being loyal to the wrong players at times and this is one such occasion. Mitch is a good young player though at Origin he is has proven time and time again to be out of his depth. Yes, this is a GREAT QLD team, though Pearce doesn't give us the direction we need to counter QLD.

Adam Reynolds needs looking at as an alternative option. I loved what I saw from him last season and I sincerely hope Daley hasn't nominated Pearce as a certainty. A lot can happen between now and Origin time though Pearce is far from a "certainty" in my eyes. Pearce has an abysmal winning % as a Origin player. It's time to look at Reynolds.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Reynolds may be a better option but based on 1 and a bit seasons its a pretty big call right now. Our options are very thin.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find any current NSW player with a good winning percentage

 

[SuperiorEasts]

1. Brett STEWART
2. Jarryd HAYNE
3. Michael JENNINGS
4. Josh MORRIS
5. Brett MORRIS
6. Todd CARNEY
7. Mitchell PEARCE
8. Tim GRANT
9. Robbie FARAH
10. James TAMOU
11. Luke LEWIS
12. Greg BIRD
13. Paul GALLEN (C)

14. Tim MANNAH
15. Tom LEAROYD-LAHRS/Keith GALLOWAY
16. Anthony WATMOUGH
17. Tony WILLIAMS/Tariq SIMS

 

[bellyache]

1. Brett STEWART
2. Jarryd HAYNE
3. Michael JENNINGS
4. Josh MORRIS
5. Brett MORRIS
6. Todd CARNEY
7. Mitchell PEARCE
8. Tim GRANT
9. Robbie FARAH
10. James TAMOU
11. Luke LEWIS
12. Greg BIRD
13. Paul GALLEN (C)

14. Tim MANNAH
15. Tom LEAROYD-LAHRS/Keith GALLOWAY
16. Anthony WATMOUGH
17. Tony WILLIAMS/Tariq SIMS

Maloney at 6, his defense will improve under Robbo and his combo with Pearce will be the best in the comp. Carney is due to go AWOL...

 

[RWB]

Watmough is susceptible to dropping the ball, which he has done in some big matches, Luke Lewis or Watmough? Has to be Lewis at loose-forward.

Lewis is best on the fringes, the extra workload in defence when he plays lock doesn't suit him.

Shaun Fensom surely has to be a shoe in this year, we can't ignore him any longer can we?

 

[Señor]

Please make one of his Origin debut and include every time he chimed in to touch the ball in attacking raids. This will prove your point beyond doubt.

I though Dugan's Origin debut was very good but one game does not prove a point. I could just as easily make a highlight video of his finals performance in 2010 and use that as proof of why he should never be allowed to pass the ball again. Or I could easily select a game where he did pass well, such as against the Knights this year.

A single game means nothing. Dugan's ability with the ball is demonstrated by his play over a longer period.

everyone leaving watmong out of the NSW team, qld says thanks!
apart from gallen, he's been the best NSW forward for a while. built for origin

Never heard of Greg Bird?

Watmough hasn't been close to NSW's best forward. He has had a few good games (and one great one) but he has also had more than a few where he has been close to invisible. In 2012 he offered nothing. He stuttered his way to the line and didn't bring the dangerous ball-running that he is in the team for.

Lewis is best on the fringes, the extra workload in defence when he plays lock doesn't suit him.

Shaun Fensom surely has to be a shoe in this year, we can't ignore him any longer can we?

Fensom definitely should be in the team this year. The only reason why you would omit him is if you wanted Gallen at lock so you could play an extra prop, which is a strategy that has some merit.

 

[firechild]

1. Stewart (B)
2. Hayne
3. Jennings
4. Morris (J)
5. ?? Surely we have a better option than Brett Morris?
6. Maloney
7. Reynolds
8. Tamou
9. Farrah
10. Grant
11. Watmough
12. Stewart (G)
13. Gallen

14. Bird
15. Simms
16. Lewis
17. TLL

 

[Joker's Wild]

Uate will be back for his right wing spot

 

[firechild]

As an attacking player, Uate is fantastic but his defensive weaknesses make him a liability. If he can improve in this area then it'd be great to see him back in the sky blue.

 

[Señor]

Uate will be back for his right wing spot

I figure Michael Gordon would have a strong claim to that spot if he can stay healthy.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Funny thing is, when Uate played SOO in 2011 he showed very little weakness in his defence. In 2012 Wayne Bennett changed a fair bit about how he played and it took him a fair while to settle in. His confidence early on was down and it bled into his SOO games.

He bounced back in the back end of 2012, with some help from Gagai actually linking up with him unlike other centres Newcastle had used inside him, and his defence improved dramatically.

Im confident he'll be in too good a form for the selectors to ignore.

 

[Jason Maher]

Did I just see bhP name Brett Morris in his Blues side? Someone has clearly hacked his 17th account. Might be time to create account no. 18.

 

[RWB]

Fensom definitely should be in the team this year. The only reason why you would omit him is if you wanted Gallen at lock so you could play an extra prop, which is a strategy that has some merit.

I don't think that'd be the worst selection decision we've ever made but I think it'd be the wrong one for a number of reasons.

1) No other prop has proven themselves at origin level, Tamou & Grant have shown some promise but have yet to put in constantly strong performances. I wouldn't move Gallen out of the prop rotation until at least one player who can play long minutes has stepped up

2) Gallen's performances at lock in origin left a lot to be desired, why it took a move to prop to finally see him transform his club form into origin form I don't know. One theory I've heard is that in the front row he's forced to take the extra hitups and does less ball playing.

3) I'm not convinced our 5th best prop is any better than Fensom

4) Fensom would lessen the workload of Farah who whilst great in defence should be kept as fresh as possible in attack.

 

[Special K]

Wade Graham > Fensom. But in saying that Sims > them both and I think you need all of Gallen(if he isn't pushed up), Bird, Stewart, Lewis and Watmough. Plus there is T-Rex if he is fit... A bench that could have T-Rex and Sims coming off it could be awesome.