World Of Rugby League
Thu Jun 24, 11:06am (NSW)
Written by: Matthew O'Neill
There's been mail floating about Rugby League circles today that Dragons duo Shaun Timmins and Trent Barrett will be the New South Wales State of Origin halves for the deciding match at Telstra Stadium.
With Timmins and Barrett both fit for the clash, it's unlikely that Brad Fittler will make himself available for the decider and Barrett will be picked at halfback ahead of Penrith's Craig Gower.
Timmins and Barrett were both unavailable for the 2nd clash opening the door for Fittler to make himself available for a comeback and Roosters teammate Brett Finch winning the halfback position following injuries to Gower, Brett Kimmorley and Matt Orford.
Gower was halfback in the opening match but played the last 15 minutes with a knee injury and despite coming back for Penrith this weekend, the selectors are believed to be favouring Barrett due to his representative experience.
Timmins was the hero for NSW in the opening match landing a superb 35m drop-goal in Golden Point and Barrett has always been noted as someone who plays better for NSW or Australia than what he does for his club side - St George Illawarra.
Barrett played halfback for NSW in one-match in the 2001 series where the Blues won 26-8 and played halfback at club level in 1999 and early 2000 with Anthony Mundine the Dragons five-eighth. Barrett was solid at halfback but consistently out-shoned by Mundine when the two of them combined for the Dragons.
It's only rumours at the moment but the mail I've received is that the selectors are favouring the Timmins-Barrett combination for the decider
