StephenP
ArnoldDid NSW Selectors get it wrong?
June 28th 2007 03:45
Debate has raged throughout rugby league circles this week regarding the safety first approach adopted by the New South Wales Rugby League selectors in their selections fro next Wednesday’s Origin Three dead rubber.
With the Queensland Maroons holding an unbeatable 2-0 series lead in the 2007 Harvey Norman State of Origin Series, Blues selectors had a chance to look to the future in their selection policies, with many believing that this year’s third match would be the perfect chance to blood a number of promising rookies in the pressure cooker atmosphere of Suncorp Stadium.
The fallout from the Blues 10-6 Origin Two loss saw reports that as many as six players would lose their position for next Wednesday’s final bout, with the Sydney media particularly scathing on Nathan Hindmarsh, Brent Kite, Brett White, Luke Bailey, Matt King and Jamie Lyon’s below par performances.
Even Blues selectors Bob McCarthy, Laurie Daley, Bob Fulton and Geoff Gerard put the above players ‘on notice’ before Origin two, in an obvious attempt to inspire the beleaguered team into action. But the NSW selectors backed down on their threats last Tuesday, making only two forced changes for next Wednesday’s Origin Three.
With Braith Anasta unavailable through injury, Blues selectors promoted Greg Bird from the bench into the starting five-eighth position, with Newcastle utility Kurt Gidley slotting into the fourth bench spot. Origin One halfback Jarrod Mullen was overlooked by selectors after returning from injury a fortnight ago, with Storm prop Brett White axed in favour of Sharks lock Paul Gallen.
But the Blues selectors missed a valuable opportunity to take look into the future, with some experts calling for the promotion of talented youngsters Robbie Farah, Dean Collis, Nathan Merritt and Ben Creagh to be thrown into what is essentially a meaningless match.
Below is an alternate team of New South Wales Blues that could have taken the field next Wednesday night, and we would love to hear your selection thoughts via the comments section below. Who do you think should be in, and who should be dropped?
NSW Blues –
Brett Stewart, Nathan Merritt, Dean Collis, Matt Cooper, Jarryd Hayne, Jarrod Mullen, Brett Kimmorley, Brent Kite, Danny Buderus ©, Willie Mason, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan, Paul Gallen
Interchange –Steve Simpson, Ryan Hoffman, Kurt Gidley, Ben Creagh
Cheers,
StephenP
With the Queensland Maroons holding an unbeatable 2-0 series lead in the 2007 Harvey Norman State of Origin Series, Blues selectors had a chance to look to the future in their selection policies, with many believing that this year’s third match would be the perfect chance to blood a number of promising rookies in the pressure cooker atmosphere of Suncorp Stadium.
The fallout from the Blues 10-6 Origin Two loss saw reports that as many as six players would lose their position for next Wednesday’s final bout, with the Sydney media particularly scathing on Nathan Hindmarsh, Brent Kite, Brett White, Luke Bailey, Matt King and Jamie Lyon’s below par performances.
Even Blues selectors Bob McCarthy, Laurie Daley, Bob Fulton and Geoff Gerard put the above players ‘on notice’ before Origin two, in an obvious attempt to inspire the beleaguered team into action. But the NSW selectors backed down on their threats last Tuesday, making only two forced changes for next Wednesday’s Origin Three.
With Braith Anasta unavailable through injury, Blues selectors promoted Greg Bird from the bench into the starting five-eighth position, with Newcastle utility Kurt Gidley slotting into the fourth bench spot. Origin One halfback Jarrod Mullen was overlooked by selectors after returning from injury a fortnight ago, with Storm prop Brett White axed in favour of Sharks lock Paul Gallen.
But the Blues selectors missed a valuable opportunity to take look into the future, with some experts calling for the promotion of talented youngsters Robbie Farah, Dean Collis, Nathan Merritt and Ben Creagh to be thrown into what is essentially a meaningless match.
Below is an alternate team of New South Wales Blues that could have taken the field next Wednesday night, and we would love to hear your selection thoughts via the comments section below. Who do you think should be in, and who should be dropped?
NSW Blues –
Brett Stewart, Nathan Merritt, Dean Collis, Matt Cooper, Jarryd Hayne, Jarrod Mullen, Brett Kimmorley, Brent Kite, Danny Buderus ©, Willie Mason, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan, Paul Gallen
Interchange –Steve Simpson, Ryan Hoffman, Kurt Gidley, Ben Creagh
Cheers,
StephenP
| 25 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by StephenP
NRL News
I agree with your summation about looking to the future, with Hayne, Stewart and Hoffman thouroughly deserving their selections, and they have proved the selector right.
I would have liked to see the selectors throw caution to the wind for the third game, and picked Mullen in the six, Creagh in the 13 and Grothe in the 2. That would mean dropping Lyon (had enough chances), pushing Bird to the bench and shifting King into the centres.
Cheers,
StephenP
Comment by Shazza
Gallen has disapline problems, Mason a big mouth to go with his big attitude, they put a rookie in to the most important position, this combination is already heading for disaster. Hoffman who? did he play? I have to say Kirk Gidley was the best NSW player but I feel for Pearce, he is going to be crucified by the papers and really it should be the selectors to get bullet. I am a NSW supporter however when they selected him and Anasta I had to back Q/Land. Pearce was a waste of space, he made a few tackles and kicked to Folau's wing constantly, he hardly attacked the line, and once ball was in hand he kicked it so poor Monaghan never saw the ball. Anyway Pearce's dad said it first and he would know best...1 more year (they should have listened) Gidley is such a versatile player he should have gone to the centres, put Stewart on, Monaghan to the wing to mark Falou and Quinn benched, and Mason, I think its time to FREE Willy.