SOO 13 Game 1: Official NSW Squad

[BranVan3000]

Koribete ran straight over the top of Merritt last week to score a try didn't he?

Also drove him into touch on another occasion

In any case, he is in better form than Brett Morris who is coming back injured and had a shocker on the weekend

 

[Dragon2010]

Gidley wasn't in the team last year. But performers like Tim Grant, Todd Carney were.mWhat has Gidley done to earn a recall after a forgettable 2011 series?

Not when I'm getting at, but I get your point. I wasn't saying Gidley warranted selection. I'm saying, we need to back the team 100%.

Is Gidley the best selection? No way in hell. Is there better? 100%. Did Grant deserve to be there? 100%.

 

[BranVan3000]

When the going gets tough Merritt goes missing. Merritt is the kind of player that will score 3-4 tries against Parra but becomes the invisible man against Manly or Melbourne. Against QLD he would do absolutely nothing.

As I said, Sutton probably would have gone ok but Maloney is in great form and his combination with Pearce probably got him in the squad. Outisde of that there are no players that were ever in contention.

Keep in mind that Manly are a top 4 side and have been at the top for a long time and they only have 1 player selected. DCE could get a run if Cronk gets suspended but they won't have any more than that.

That is blatantly untrue. He is leading the try scorer this year and we've had one of the toughest starts to the season. One of the best finishers in the game, that is what he does.

 

[BranVan3000]

I actually think it's a pretty good NSW team. If reports are true of us having a bench of Parker, Gillett, Teo and Mcqueen you guys should be favourites.

Only players I would have a problem with as a Blues fan is Hoffman and Gidley. Pearce is shit, we all understand this, but does anyone think Adam Reynolds might have been in for a rude suprise when he's not playing behind a dominant big pack like he does week in, week out. The poor kid wouldn't know what to do.

I don't think Reynolds is ready, but he had the best game I've seen him play in the City Country game. Without a big pack.

 

[gronkathon]

Really feel sorry for Woods.

Woods biggest problem is Gallen & Bird.

They are both proven at Origin level but ruin the backline movement and continuity unless they are forced to play tight. This shift meant Woodsys chances went out the window. He isn't an impact prop and the decision to play a true utility instead of a Bird or Lewis removed the slot he or Grant would have occupied.

On Merritt he has been playing well but watching his game and I don't think it transfers to Origin in a 3 game series format with limited training. He isn't a worker in tight off his own line to any great effect and looks his best finishing structured, regimented play. Yes he does have the occasional flash of brilliance but it isn't displayed consistently enough. He is like El Masri without the goal kicking upside

 

[BranVan3000]

Merritt isn't even the problem. If they were choosing a club halves combination than Reynolds and Sutton provide much more than Pearce and Maloney.

 

[gronkathon]

You don't gut the halves to put a good finishing winger in though. You pick guys who will be difference makers and as much as I respect Merritts abilities he simply isn't that guy from my POV

 

[TNO]

I'd say Pearce is safe for 2 games and if it's two losses surely Reynolds will then be blooded for the long term.

 

[BranVan3000]

You don't gut the halves to put a good finishing winger in though. You pick guys who will be difference makers and as much as I respect Merritts abilities he simply isn't that guy from my POV

Merritt not making it is not a big deal. He might be the best try scorer, but on overall ability there are legitimate arguments for other wingers over him

In terms of halves combinations, I don't see how anyone could make the argument that Pearce and Maloney are a more effective combination than Reynolds and Sutton

 

[tigertiger]

Pearce...motherf*&king Pearce. How on Earth does this myth keep getting selected?

 

[Springs]

Don't agree with flavour of the month picks Ferguson and Fifita nor do I agree with only two props again with Gallen in the front row or Gidley on the bench. It still blows a lot of our recent teams out of the water.

 

[gronkathon]

I think it is more acceptance.

We were told from the start that pearce would be the halfback . We had no choice but to swallow it. It then came down to chosing the most effective foil for him and we also needed a goal kicker. At that point you either pick Maloney, Carney or Reynolds and out of those options I think Maloney suits the structure better. Someone with a running game and late playmaking options with solid defence. Reynolds I think adds confusion to the halves especially considering Farah is a playmaker out of DH.

If Pearce wasn't a lockfor the 7 jersey I think thst opens up a variety of different plausible options

 

[Pete Cash]

Don't agree with flavour of the month picks Ferguson and Fifita nor do I agree with only two props again with Gallen in the front row or Gidley on the bench. It still blows a lot of our recent teams out of the water.

How is Ferguson a flavour of the month pick. He's been talked up for origin for years now. Its always his brain that's cost him rep selection.

 

[exile on main street]

Would the Blues backline be the fastest we've picked for a while??.Maroons are going to get whacked 24-12 Blues.

 

[Pete Cash]

I like the backline but gotta worry about the pack getting down the field.

 

[parraeels2010]

How are nsw meant to win when there are so many sharks who bring a losing cultre into camp.

Hayne should be captain Gallen is past it he should of retired last year.

Mannah,mason,woods and grant all deserve to be in the side instead of fatboy fifita

 

[Pete Cash]

Nice troll I'd rate it a 6/10

 

[ek999]

1/10 from me. Its just a bit too rich for an Eels fan to criticise another team about their onfield performances

 

[Knightmare]

Qld would pick Dale Shearer every year despite playing for a Gold Coast Seagulls team propping up the ladder. I'd rather have a team full of hard-working, passionate players from NRL clubs with a "losing culture" than a team of talented guys from team cultures where they took winning for granted. Already tried that with the appointment of Bellamy as coach and it failed badly...

 

[Dragon2010]

Would the Blues backline be the fastest we've picked for a while??.Maroons are going to get whacked 24-12 Blues.

Would certainly be close, if not the fastest. JMoz I know is a speed machine so is Jenko. Hayne has quick pace in him to. BMoz and Fergo pack some quick burst in them to. Some serious out back. Hopefully it players like Bird/Lewis/Choc.etc can bend the line and give them space they'll be brining in some tries.