Hindmarsh should be nowhere near the side.
His talk of incumbancy on The Footy Show is all part of that old guard mentality that saw no players blooded during NSW's successful periods with players leading into retirement/ESL.
That and he just isn't that good anymore
Pfft. You do know that players 'blooded' during 00-05, our 'successful period', would now be late 20s? Incumbency has plenty of merit. Of course during 03-05 players were going to keep their spots, we were winning, but there were still young players blooded. Debutants in 03- Minichiello (23), Wing (23), Perry (22), Mason (23). Already in the side were Tahu (22), Lyon (21), Ryles (24). Then in 2004, Hornby (24), Lewis (21), Gasnier (22), Cooper (24), Rooney (21), Finch (22), Waterhouse (23), Kite (23), O'Hara (23). 2005- King (24), Watmough (21). 2006- Grothe (26), O'Donnell (25), Gallen (24).
So between 03-06 there were no players 'blooded', except of course for those eighteen. But then we also still had players like Gidley, Fitzgibbon, Hindmarsh, Ryan, Kennedy, Johns, Barrett, Bailey, Buderus, Menzies who were undoubtedly the best in their positions at the time. So what did you want them to do? Blood 18 year olds so we can win in 2010? Or keep swapping 25 year olds for 20 year olds?
We pick the best team, or we should (they haven't been for the last few years however), just like we will next year, hopefully. And is Hindmarsh good enough to be in the side? Of course he is. As is Gallen, Lewis and Watmough. It's pretty simple what we have to do, pick the best players in their right positions and stick with them. For me, our best players are Hayne, Morris, Jennings, Soward, Pearce, Hindmarsh, Gallen, Watmough and Lewis. They should be there for the next four games at least. Our best props at the moment are probably Snowden and Mannah, so we can add them as well. If we can keep eleven players together for the next four games, it will be a pretty good start.