For me most of the changes that should be made aren't focused on taking out the players who aren't up to it, but about bringing in the blokes that should have or would have been there barring injuries. Hanging on like we did or playing average or passable football isn't going to win you games.
Jarryd Hayne is the most obvious one, especially considering his past form in Origin and Morris' vast lack of ability in rep matches.
Luke Lewis is one of the best backrowers going around. Having him play on the other side of the field to Bird will give NSW two damaging runners on the edges. Lewis regularly features in defensive highlight packages as well, which will go along way to helping solve the problem of our soft forwards. If just one more Panthers player showed the heart he did against Wests then they win.
Watmough, despite being a dick, is a brilliant footballer and has runs on the board in Origin. Our forward pack was soft in game 1, both running the ball (outside Bird and Gallen) and in defence (again, everyone outside Bird and Gallen). Watmough is definitely a bloke that can and will change that.
Learoyd-Lahrs plays his rep games like a man possessed. Like Watmough, he's a bloke who will dent the line and hurt QLD as opposed to offering up a cuddle to the QLD forwards.
Those guys are players that were mistakes to leave out (injury withstanding). The next selections are based purely around personal thoughts and arguments could be made either way for selections.
Robbie Farah is the best option. Yes Ennis improved NSW's game when he came on but anyone could have taken the dummy half roll from shithouse to the minimum you'd expect. NSW aren't going to win the game by playing OK and that's all Ennis did. You could mount a case for dropping Ennis based on three involvements: dropping the ball in QLD's 20, kicking early and shit in the count giving QLD possession and position, and providing but a speed bump for Matt Scott before Slater's try. NSW need something from dummy half but Ennis can't provide it.
Jarrod Mullen should be in the halves. While this is only Soward's first Origin and really only his second rep jumper, I had two things on my mind before the game. One being how he went missing in City-Country (his chance to step up and nail an Origin spot) and the other how he (and other young Dragons players) would perform outside the extremely disciplined play of Saints.
He barely got involved in the first half, the stuff about Pearce not giving him ball is rubbish, the halves played left and right. Although behind a rubbish pack, his kicking game looked like any other long kicking game. This was meant to be his saving grace. We were meant to be able to get QLD under pressure because of Soward's kicking game. This didn't happen because he wasn't involved and when he was his kicking was nothing special. His non-involvement was a major factor in our right side being very average.
Soward's chance at securing an Origin jumper went missing a few rounds ago and I believe it was firmly snapped by his partner in Mullen. He dominated not only the Country team but the game as well. That rep game and his form this year should have seen him wearing 6 for the series.
Chris Houston was on the verge of Blues selection before his year off and performed very strongly for Country. He's got ability to play tight or outwide and while certainly bring intensity. Beau Scott racked up a decent tackle count but how many tackles did he dominate or hurt QLD with? Ashley Harrison played the easiest game he'll ever play in Origin because Scott didn't tackle with any venom all night. Most of his tackles saw him take a few steps back before contact. He was certainly not alone in this regard but for someone who can't run the ball very well at all, his lack of intensity in defence was useless and QLD ran at him all night for soft contact and good rucks.
The obvious selection that needs to happen is getting rid of Jason King. While he tried to get on top of QLD in defence, he's just not up to it. With Tolman injured Keith Galloway should work his way into the team and fight it out with Mannah for a starting spot.
NSW had a few major problems. Our forwards were soft in attack and defence; one of our halves wasn't involved and our whole right side suffered; and we had next to no creativity out of dummy half.
Gallen, as strong as he is, should have a stint on the bench during the game. While most backrowers these days can play 80 minutes, in Origin it's never 80 quality minutes. Ben Hannant made 120m in 33 minutes, he's a great example of how going very hard with some bench time can result in greater quality overall. The ability of Lewis and Watmough should see Bird have a break as well.
So, with that in mind:
Dugan; Hayne, Gasnier, Jennings, Uate; Mullen, Pearce; Gallen, Bird, Lewis, Galloway, Farah, Snowden. Learoyd-Lahrs, Houston, Mannah, Watmough.
