Let's Talk Origin - Rep Round wash-up

This week Rick takes a look at some of the key points coming out of the rep weekend, with Origin I just a little over three weeks away.

DARIUS BOYD & GREG INGLIS

If there were any doubts left heading into the weekend about who would wear Billy Slater's coveted number one jersey for Queensland this year, they were probably put to bed in Friday night's Test match. Boyd slotted into the Australian spine seamlessly to prove a constant threat with his ball playing on the edges. Inglis also looked much stronger with the ball in hand, playing his customary rep position of left centre and added to his tally of Test tries with a neat piece of footwork. Both look set to assume the same roles come Origin one.

JOSH PAPALII UNDER THE PUMP?

Papalii was somewhat a surprise choice in Mal Meninga's run-on side on Friday night and he didn't do a lot to enhance his claims of retaining his Maroon jersey in a few weeks. Papalii had minimal impact and only gained 53 metres with the ball in hand. Was only called into the Maroons squad for game three last year due to an injury to Josh McGuire who turned in a solid Test debut to rubber stamp his return to the Maroons fold. The versatility of Test 18th man Aiden Guerra should nab him a spot, leaving Papalii and Jacob Lillyman to fight for the final spot on Queensland's bench. 

MICHAEL MORGAN A SURPRISE STARTER?

One of the few selection headaches for Coach Kevin Walters at this stage is who will fill positions on the flanks and at right centre with inexperienced names such as Dane Gagai, Corey Oates, Kyle Feldt and Justin O'Neill all in the mix. The left-field option has to be Morgan who had a strong Test debut coming off the bench with his speed and strength troubling the Kiwis with every touch. Morgan is no stranger to the centres playing a pivotal role in the Mackay Cutters 2013 Premiership side out wide before he broke into the Cowboys line-up the following year. Queensland aren't short on options to fill a utility role either, with Parramatta's Corey Norman the latest to put his hand up amongst the never-ending production line of quality playmakers the Maroons have access to.   

BLAKE FERGUSON

Ferguson was a surprise selection on the wing for the Kangaroos, but looked strong in his Test debut making his presence felt whenever he touched the ball. Was a target in the air for his kickers with his tremendous leaping ability and worked hard coming out of trouble for 142 running metres. With Brett Morris out of the frame through injury and Will Hopoate short on match fitness having played his last game until teams are picked, spots on the flanks are up for grabs and Ferguson looks to be pencilled in for one of them. 

JOSH DUGAN FULLBACK OR BUST

The 2015 Brad Fittler medal winner for best NSW player played in the centres on Friday night, a position he's been touted for in the upcoming Origin series with so many quality fullbacks in contention. Dugan didn't do anything wrong for the Aussies, but looked a shadow of the player he is when donning the number one on his back. Stifled for room when given the ball out wide, it just looked awkward and he seemed a touch out of position on Australia's backline movements on more than one occasion. Dugan is still the best ball running fullback in NSW and remains firmly in the race to wear the sky blue number one.

JOSH MANSOUR

Did his chances of claiming one of the vacant wing spots with a typically robust performance for City on Sunday. Running for an even 200 metres against the Country boys, Mansour continuously put his hand up to help his team out of their own end. His work rate combined with being a strong finisher make him just about a shoe in for a long awaited Blues debut. 

THE HALVES

Or should we say the most problematic equation in Australian sport? 

With Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds not considered for City selection, Aiden Sezer and Chad Townsend were handed an opportunity to impress. Steering the ship for what looked at times a slick looking backline, the two did nothing wrong but on the same token not enough to win a spot ahead of the more experienced options.

For Country, the much talked about James Maloney turned in another solid performance steering the ship for his team. The big obstacle standing in the way of Maloney returning to the Origin arena is still his defence. Fact is, he's still missed more tackles in the competition than any other player including another seven on Sunday. Maloney is playing with more control than any half in the state right now and if a Beau Scott or Greg Bird can be assigned a protector type role in defence then he's probably Coach Laurie Daley's man. Otherwise, if he's left to fend for himself and misses seven tackles in an Origin, chances are Queensland will make him pay seven times out of seven.

TYRONE PEACHEY THE BOLTER?

Coach Laurie Daley went on the record earlier this year to say he was considering bringing back the bench utility roll for the Blues with names like Josh Reynolds and Blake Austin mentioned. The bolt from the blue could be Peachey who can cover the back-row, hooker, halves and centres as was evidenced on Sunday, A real jack in the box that has the potential to turn a game on its head with his instinctive attacking play. Few have the ability to have an impact on a match regardless of where they play which is exactly what Peachey did for City. Named to start off the bench, was promoted to start at lock before being shifted to centre early in the contest to cover for injury. Ran for 114 metres, made a line-break and set up two tries whilst being a constant threat with the ball in hand all afternoon.

IS BRYCE CARTWRIGHT THE REAL DEAL?

The most talked about man in NSW at the moment, there's no doubt the talent the City and Panthers back-rower possesses. Displayed all the skills of an attacking weapon on Sunday with his passing and kicking game causing multiple headaches for Country defenders. With the type of game that we saw on Sunday though, which is now as far from an Origin selection trial as possible, the question still remains, is he Origin ready? For all his attacking genius, there's still flaws in his game. With 15 errors and 28 missed tackles for the year, he could just as easily lose you a game, as he could win you one. There's also been times in his short career that when the going gets tough which it surely will in Origin, he's dawdled up to the defensive line making himself an easy target. Look, potentially he could well win NSW a series and maybe it's a chance the Blues need to take, but for now at least the jury should still be out.

ONE FOR THE FUTURE

There were a number of players who put their hands up for further honours down the track including 4 try winger Aaron Gray, but the one who really caught the eye was Ryan Matterson. With only two games of first grade experience the Roosters back was thrust into his first rep jersey and handled it with aplomb. Playing in the centres, Matterson looked strong and showed amazing football awareness for such an inexperienced player. Already we've seen he can handle the halves and centres, and with his strong athletic build set to develop further over the coming years could easily handle the back-row, making him a perfect utility option down the track.