NSW is building some options in the forward pack:
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HOOKER
9. Ennis/Farah/De Gois
Expect the resumption of the battle between Ennis and Farah, same as every year.
POTENTIAL BOLTER: Isaac De Gois (plays dirty, maybe even more mongrel in him than Ennis, and will pester the QLDers)
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FRONT ROW
8. Weyman
10. Mannah/Douglas/Snowden/Grant
16. Learoyd-Lahrs
17. Mannah/Douglas/Snowden/Grant
Weyman and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs are the only NSW props in the last few years who have really stood up and shown their worth - Weyman has struggled a bit at Origin level but was still head and shoulders above Kite, White, etc. Using that, I think that City Origin props Tim Mannah and Tim Grant, and Country Origin props Kade Snowden and Luke Douglas should compete for the other spots. A few other options are floating around, like Tigers duo of Bryce Gibbs and Keith Galloway, new Bulldog Aiden Tolman, and currently injured Dragons hitup merchant Dan Hunt, but they would all be questionable selections as far as I am concerned, with each of them lacking that extra bit of oomph against a very dominant QLD forward rotation.
DO NOT PICK: Luke Bailey (step backwards), Josh Perry (off to SL, rubbish anyway), Brett White (soft and useless), Jason King (soft), Ben Cross (step backwards), Jason Ryles (step backwards), Willie Mason (off to ESL, TLL is better anyway), Brent Kite (never stepped up at Origin level, too easily dominated)
POTENTIAL BOLTER: Dane Tilse (massive unit, surprisingly effective and very consistent over the past few seasons)
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SECOND ROW
11. Watmough
12. Heighington/Waterhouse/Smith
13. Lewis/Bird/Anasta
14. Lewis/Bird/Anasta
15. Gallen
There are three genuine ballplaying locks in Lewis, Bird and Anasta, all of whom have had extensive Origin experience. I would pick one at lock, and one on the bench as a utility (get rid of Gidley) - Anasta would probably be the one to miss out. Gallen is a must, as is Watmough - regardless of form, these guys have shown and proved at Origin level for the last few years. The final spot in the backrow is much of a muchness, but it needs to be a high workrate player in attack and defense. I strongly suggest Chris Heighington if England don't snap him up - massive workrate, breaks tackles, has some mongrel in him too. Waterhouse has been there before, Ben Smith is a very good defensive hitter too, with decent attacking skills and plenty of size.
DO NOT PICK: Ryan Hoffman (off to ESL, too one-dimensional), Luke O'Donnell (off to ESL, no discipline), Nathan Hindmarsh (step backwards), Andrew Ryan (step backwards), Glenn Stewart (his style of play doesn't suit Origin), Anthony Laffranchi (same as Glenn Stewart), Anthony Tupou (been rubbish for a while now)
POTENTIAL BOLTER: Mitch Aubusson (outstanding defender, breaks the line almost at will, speed to burn, Menzies MKII)
I would have put Creagh on the 'do not pick' too based on his rubbish performances at that level, but his club form at the backend of this season has been, for lack of better words, outstanding.
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Building around these, I honestly feel that any decent backline could do well behind them. The halves HAVE to be Carney/Pearce though - even those who hate the Roosters with a passion can't deny that they are the halves combination moving forward. Soward and Sutton both lack that edge that Carney has at five-eighth, and Pearce has a slightly better allround game than the more one-dimensional Luke Walsh and Peter Wallace.
