Should Soward be the nsw 5/8?

[Spanner in the works]

I'd prefer us to keep Pearce at halfback, with Mullen at 5/8.

 

[APRIL BELLE]

You cant be serious even contemplating it. Ricky Stuart will lace on the boots himself before he has Soward anywhere near a blue jersey.

 

[hellteam]

f**k I hate seeing people rule players out cause they're out of form this year. Form is temporary class lasts forever

Agreed. The Qld philosophy. But still nsw and the media are obsessed by form form form and end up picking geniuss like Glenn Stewart, Anthony Quinn, the wolfman and Trent waterhouse.

For the record, yes, soward should be five eight for nsw

 

[Noname36]

Agreed. The Qld philosophy. But still nsw and the media are obsessed by form form form and end up picking geniuss like Glenn Stewart, Anthony Quinn, the wolfman and Trent waterhouse.

I hate it when people bring up this argument, because most of the Queensland squad have actually earnt their incumbency. When most of that QLD side was being put together a few years ago, no they weren't winning right away, but you could see that they were going to be something as a unit. The QLD selectors had a wealth of talent at this time in the key positions, so of course they knew that they were going to fire soon enough. The players that make up the core (i.e. Lockyer, Smith, Thurston, etc) have performed well enough in the past to show that if kept, they're going to perform again at Origin level even if their club form is down.

NSW however don't have that luxury. Everyone's saying that Mitchell Pearce has to be picked in the halves because he's an incumbent, and we need to start sticking with players. However, what has Pearce done to deserve us sticking with him? He's had more than enough chances in Origin, and has been terrible each time, and his club form has been awful as well. The only times he has really fired was when Carney has been next to him, and that isn't going to happen in this years series. So I don't see why we have to pick Pearce just because we're assuming that if we stick with him (and others) they'll do what that QLD side did. Those Queensland players had proved that they deserved to be there, but a player like Pearce hasn't. Why should it be his given right to a spot just because he's been handed more chances than say Soward or Mullen?

On topic, yes Soward should be the 5/8. I think his defensive issues are extremely overrated. My only issue is whether he is able to play physical enough. He plays very deep at the Dragons, and very rarely goes to the line (at least not when I've seen him play). He's not going to get that space in SOO.

 

[2010Dragons]

I think he is ready to play but don't want him to play.

It is a waste of time and prone to pick up injuries.
I would rather he play for us and win another comp.

Take the booze bottle out of Carney's hand and sober him up then chuck him in there.

 

[Goddo]

it should be

1. hayne
6. soward
7. mullen
9. farah

I agree. The options in the spine are pretty much:

1 Hayne/Stewart
- I'd rather Stewart, see how he is after his injury.

6 Soward/Carney
- Carney will be in rehab, so its Sowies time to shine

7 Mullen/Pearce
- Mullen. Maybe Pearce if we had Carney at 6, but Mullen is better

9 Ennis/Farah
- Farah is the better attacking 9, which would complement Sowards kicking/metres game.

Second row/bench second rowers should be a mix of work horses like Lewis/Creagh/Scott and tough nuts like Watmough/Gallen/Bird.

Outside backs should be best available, but also work with the spine - eg Gasnier (Soward), Morris (Soward), Lyon (Stewart), Uate (Mullen) Gordon/Jennings (Penrith connection)

Props - best available.

EDIT:

We then need to stick with that spine for the whole series, and only replace players if need be (injuries).

All this talk of Sowie being no good for origin reminds me of the attitude to Alfie Langer in the late 80s. Bennett said himself it would be a failure - how did that work out?

If a player has the star quality, you need to include them, even if their game has weaknesses - its up to the coach to work the side around the strengths and minimise the weaknesses.

 

[hellteam]

I hate it when people bring up this argument, because most of the Queensland squad have actually earnt their incumbency. When most of that QLD side was being put together a few years ago, no they weren't winning right away, but you could see that they were going to be something as a unit. The QLD selectors had a wealth of talent at this time in the key positions, so of course they knew that they were going to fire soon enough. The players that make up the core (i.e. Lockyer, Smith, Thurston, etc) have performed well enough in the past to show that if kept, they're going to perform again at Origin level even if their club form is down.

NSW however don't have that luxury. Everyone's saying that Mitchell Pearce has to be picked in the halves because he's an incumbent, and we need to start sticking with players. However, what has Pearce done to deserve us sticking with him? He's had more than enough chances in Origin, and has been terrible each time, and his club form has been awful as well. The only times he has really fired was when Carney has been next to him, and that isn't going to happen in this years series. So I don't see why we have to pick Pearce just because we're assuming that if we stick with him (and others) they'll do what that QLD side did. Those Queensland players had proved that they deserved to be there, but a player like Pearce hasn't. Why should it be his given right to a spot just because he's been handed more chances than say Soward or Mullen?

On topic, yes Soward should be the 5/8. I think his defensive issues are extremely overrated. My only issue is whether he is able to play physical enough. He plays very deep at the Dragons, and very rarely goes to the line (at least not when I've seen him play). He's not going to get that space in SOO.

Yeah I understand what you mean, but apart from the obvious players such as Lockyer, Smith, Thurston, Queensland have picked a few players (especially in the forwards) who aren't all that great really. But because they've stuck with them, even though they might not be showing good 'form' in the NRL, they've got the rewards. Examples - Nate Myles, Matt Scott, Ashley Harrison, Dallas Johnson, Neville Costigan. Plus you've got Willie Tonga who always steps up when needed.

I blame the newspapers. Always picking some random player and pressuring the selectors to select them. And they always do..

 

[hellteam]

Stewart has not done anything since 2008, it boggles my mind how people can be saying he should be in Origin. He only ever does anything good playing at Brookvale anyway.

Anyway, Stewart at his best is nowhere near as good as Hayne. And Hayne always steps up in Origin and is dangerous.

 

[Noname36]

Yeah I understand what you mean, but apart from the obvious players such as Lockyer, Smith, Thurston, Queensland have picked a few players (especially in the forwards) who aren't all that great really. But because they've stuck with them, even though they might not be showing good 'form' in the NRL, they've got the rewards. Examples - Nate Myles, Matt Scott, Ashley Harrison, Dallas Johnson, Neville Costigan. Plus you've got Willie Tonga who always steps up when needed.

Yep, totally agree. With that brilliant core group of playmakers though, QLD can afford to keep selecting some of the "not so good" players around them. NSW's issues all seem to come back to the fact that we don't have any playmakers who can even go close to matching the group QLD has. Farah for example is a brilliant player (and by far the best hooker NSW has), but next to Cam Smith he just pales in comparison. Same goes for the halves and fullback. They throw these young kids like Mullen, Wallace, Pearce, Campese, etc into it before they're ready, and then toss them out again when they realise that they're not ready yet to match it with the far more experienced QLD halves...sometimes completely destroying the kid's confidence in the process in Mullen's case.

I don't think the selectors should be forced to stick with anyone, especially if their club form is terrible and another player is banging down the door, begging to be picked. However I wish they wouldn't expect these kids to match QLD...because they're not going to unless they're ready.

 

[Goddo]

^ which is why when you have a bloke like Soward, who has a proven record as a player should be picked, even if there are "percieved" weaknesses in his game.

Better throwing Sowie in there than using a has been like Barrett last year, or someone who isn't ready like Campese last year.

The solution for NSW 5/8 is Carney or Soward, at least until someone better comes along. Carney has pretty much ruled himself out, which leaves Soward.

 

[Goddo]

Stewart has not done anything since 2008, it boggles my mind how people can be saying he should be in Origin. He only ever does anything good playing at Brookvale anyway.

Anyway, Stewart at his best is nowhere near as good as Hayne. And Hayne always steps up in Origin and is dangerous.

Stewart has still got it. He was superb in the Manly vs Melbourne game a few weeks back. Been out injured since then. That is what will probably rule him out - not enough game time. He is still Origin quality though.

I really don't rate Hayne in defence - he is prone to hissy fits, and is often lazy in defence - how many times has a kick on the 4th or 5th been taken against Parramatta and Hayne was nowhere to be seen? Great in attack, but I can see him fking it up in defence.

 

[Noname36]

The only real danger I can see to Soward in the #6 this year is Gidley, and as a Knight's supporter I hope for NSW's sake that doesn't happen. Gids is deadset terrible in the halves, but idiots like Rothfield seem to be pushing him there because the Knight's halves looked good on the weekend against the Sharks.

What Buzz was obviously too dumb to realise though, was that for the majority of the game, Tyrone Roberts was in the the halves with Mullen. Gidley was playing hooker. He saw the #6 on Gidley's back and just assumed that he was playing well at pivot...which he wasn't.

It's obvious though that Pearce will get the #7, so I'm hoping that the selectors realise that there's no reason at all for Gidley to be in the halves if Mullen isn't as well...and Soward will get the nod.

 

[bennySW]

Dear NSW Selectors,

Please pick Soward as he is a perfect 5/8th to play in attack, perfect winger in defence (dont look for the sideline just look where Soward is he's always out there as he cant tackle 1 on 1) and perfect to kick 2 points when a try is on offer or needed.

Yours sincerely

QLD Origin Team.

 

[Jason Maher]

Do you actually watch the footy?

 

[BM1979]

He deserves a shot , but i would pick Bird to be honest. I have never seen Bird have a bad game for NSW no matter the circumstances

 

[mrpwnd]

Wtf does Pearce offer in origin? Honestly? I don't see it.

 

[Dragon2010]

Wtf does Pearce offer in origin? Honestly? I don't see it.

A name?

 

[ANTiLAG]

He deserves a shot , but i would pick Bird to be honest. I have never seen Bird have a bad game for NSW no matter the circumstances

Agreed. At origin level G Bird could pass as a Queenslander. His passion for origin enables him to grow an extra leg. But Bird can play lock...

Carney Soward, Mullen Soward, Mullen Bird, Carney Bird, would be the smartest attempt at trying something new....

I mean Ricky's not really under any pressure - noone expects NSW to win but people do expect NSW to at least try to come up with a new competitive formula...

 

[Vic Mackey]

id pick him

as long as you pick mullen at 7 and farah at 9

if they pick him with pearce and ennis it will be a disaster

 

[dragonfire]

Yes and no. I dont know what the plans are but NSW need to go back and play a grinding game and try and physically beat down QLD in the forwards to win. You do that on the back of a good kicking game and Soward offers that. Plenty of speed to burn and a great passing game. I would rather him not play purely because i would rather him at the Dragons. Doubtful they will pick him anyways, if they were willing surely he gets a run last year