Suitman said:
It's just dumb to pick El Masri at this stage of his career.
It offers NSW nothing for the future, in a series we have already lost.
I'd rather lose the next game by a missed goal kick and have played someone who will help us win next year.
Ok, so you are guaranteeing that El Masri won't be picked next year, are you?
And even if Grothe does get picked next year he won't play any worse for not playing in this game. Why not? Because it's bloody Eric Grothe - he does the same thing every week no matter what. He doesn't learn. He hasn't learned when to come in off his wing, hasn't learned when to hold on to the ball. One extra game of Origin this year isn't going to teach him anything.
He is the most damaging ball-running winger around, but that won't change just because he missed Origin 3.
I thought it was hilarious that for the last two weeks people have been saying Lyon out, Grothe in. It shows total and utter contempt for the skill and importance of goalkicking. Lyon's not even good enough to be an Origin goalkicker, El Masri should have been there from game 1.
If you can find a young goalkicker that deserves a centre or wing spot then fair enough.
Tokenism? Rubbish. El Masri deserves it. I hope he kills it.