Penrith punish rusty Roosters
7 hours ago | Aidan Edgecomb
With less than a week until Laurie Daley picks his team for game one, here's the 17 I'd take into the heat of battle.
When piecing this team together, I tried to keep in mind which players could best execute a game plan capable of troubling Queensland. With the NSW halves at a distinct disadvantage compared to the Maroons, the Blues, on the back of a tough and uncompromising pack should be looking to play to their strengths with some clean early ball to their outside backs.
NEW SOUTH WALES
1. JOSH DUGAN - The Blues best player in last year's series, Dugan is guaranteed a spot in Laurie Daley's squad. Continues to impress with his robust running game with an average 173 running metres per game. Queensland will be kicking deep into Blues territory all night and Dugan is still the best equipped at bringing it back out of trouble. He's also super safe under the high ball and always rises to the occasion of Origin football.
2. JOSH MANSOUR - Like Dugan at the back, Mansour is an expert at helping his team out from deep inside his own territory. Whether it be one off the ruck or from dummy half, the Panthers winger is like a dog with a bone fighting for every metre, almost always landing on his belly and getting a quick play the ball. A specialist left winger, Mansour is a great finisher with his strength and determination making him a handful to hold out close to the line. Looks set for a long overdue Origin debut.
3. MICHAEL JENNINGS - Now an experienced Origin campaigner, Jennings has pulled on the sky blue jersey 15 times and has always posed a threat to the Maroons defensive line. The fleet footed speedster had the game of his life in game two last year showing everyone what he can do when given some clean early ball. With his evasive skills and speed again on show at the Eels this year, Jennings will again be a massive threat in this year's series.
4. JAMES ROBERTS - Good, clean, early ball. If the New South Wales halves can get "Jimmy the Jet" plenty of it, he could be the man to reinvigorate the Blues attack. Always a super talent, the move up the M1 has done wonders for Roberts. With speed to burn and deceptive footwork he's proving a real handful for opposition defenders now he's settled into the Broncos backline. Going somewhat unnoticed this year is his much improved defence, only missing seven tackles in his ten games on the Broncos right edge.
5. JOSH MORRIS - 13 times Morris has pulled on a Sky Blue jersey and never let anyone down. The man responsible for keeping a lid on Greg Inglis in recent years doing a superb defensive job. More than capable of shifting one wider to accommodate Roberts, Morris is a proven Origin player and if Roberts does find himself in the clear, the Blues will need someone with the speed of Morris on the right flank to keep up.
6. JAMES MALONEY - Steering the ship for the red hot Sharks this year, Maloney has been the only half in the state putting his hand up for selection on a week to week basis. Playing with great control, his select passing game and willingness to take the line on has added another dimension to the Sharks attack. Has a ready-made combination on the left with Jennings from their Roosters days and is the sharpest shooter in the comp with his near flawless goal kicking. His defence is still of some concern, but surely the Blues edge back-rowers can help him out there.
7. CHAD TOWNSEND - A real bolter in plenty of eyes, but truth be known Townsend has been flying under the radar for some time. With eight try assists to his name, the Sharks halfback is creating more in attack than any of his rivals for the number seven jersey. The Sharks are flying at the moment on the back of good early ball to their outside backs, exactly the game plan New South Wales should be endorsing. In 2014, when the Blues lifted the shield for the first time in nine years, they did it after picking a new, but in-form and confident halves pairing in Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson from the Bulldogs who were sitting towards the top of the ladder at the time. This year, the Sharks duo of Maloney and Townsend should be given the same chance.
8. AARON WOODS - If Josh Dugan was the Blues best last year, Woods must have been only a whisker behind. Stepped up to the plate at Origin level producing his best performances in a Sky Blue jersey to date, laying a strong platform for his team in the opening exchanges. A tireless yardage man, the wholehearted Tiger is every chance to be the next Blues captain when Paul Gallen steps down at the end of this series.
9. ROBBIE FARAH - Since re-entering the Origin fray, the Blues vice-captain left many wondering what all the debate used to be about. Has worn his sky blue heart on his sleeve ever since, racking up some monster tackle counts along the way. Still has enough speed around the ruck to keep defenders guessing, but his crisp passing from dummy half will go a long way to his halves executing their game plan. Despite reports he will be picked, must be in some doubt following a nasty concussion on Sunday that he's still feeling the effects from which may see Michael Ennis again drafted into camp as cover.
10. JAMES TAMOU - Along with Woods, laid a strong platform for the Blues in the opening exchanges last year (in games one and two at least). Big and strong with good footwork at the line, Tamou is also more than capable of popping an offload as was evidenced in game one last year in the lead up to a slashing Blues try to Josh Morris. Turned in a stormer off the bench for the Kangaroos in the recent Test match to show he's going as strong as ever.
11. GREG BIRD - A veteran of 16 Origin appearances, Bird was sorely missed for the Blues last year. Has been in strong form for the Titans this year doing plenty of bruising work and adding spark to their attack with the ball in hand. Capable of lifting his team's intensity when they need it most, no one has bled more for the Sky Blue jersey. Born to play Origin.
12. BEAU SCOTT - Arguably the toughest man in Rugby League today, Scott is a no thrills no nonsense footballer. A strong defensive player who's received many of the plaudits for the Eels vastly improved defence this year. Every time you think it could be time to move on from this bloke at this level, he comes up with a big play like running down Tom Trbojevic or jumping on Greg Inglis' back to save a try. Origin plays from an Origin player.
13. PAUL GALLEN © - At 34 years of age, the inspirational skipper is still going as strong as ever and his man of the match performance for the Kangaroos recently was proof he can still do it at the highest level. There's not a lot more you can say about Gallen that hasn't been said before. Quite simply without him at the helm over the last five years, the Blues probably wouldn't even have stayed in the fight against the champion Maroons outfit.
INTERCHANGE
14. TYRONE PEACHEY - The absolute bolter of this squad warms the bench as the ultimate utility player. It's one thing to be able to play a number of positions, but to play them and still have an impact on the game is a rare feat in today's game. It's a sure sign of a natural instinctive footy player and it's what Peachey brings to the table. This year he's played in the back-row, hooker, five-eight and most recently in the centres where he played a big game for City and scored a hat trick for the Panthers on the weekend. Has great footwork and natural speed, making him a dangerous commodity against some tiring big men late in each half, especially in the possible dewy conditions at ANZ Stadium in game one.
15. BOYD CORDNER - Hard and straight. Nothing's changed in Cordner's game since returning from injury a few weeks ago. Didn't have the desired impact in last year's series, but coming out of that failed Origin campaign lifted another gear for the Roosters. It can take a series or two for forwards to find their feet at this level, but a fresh Cordner looks ready to rumble come Origin one this year.
16. TRENT MERRIN - Took a while to find his feet at the foot of the mountains this year, but is back to his best now. A solid contributor off the bench for the Blues over the last five years, Merrin has kept Maroons defenders on high alert at times with his strength and footwork at the line combined with his ability to offload.
17. DAVID KLEMMER - Burst onto the Origin scene last year, taking it to the Maroons experienced forwards with raw aggression. Klemmer is a much marked man these days with multiple defenders employed to bring him to ground. He's still doing the job of a gun go-forward man none the less, with an average 164 metres per game. Size, strength and good leg drive will always make him a handful, but put a Sky Blue jersey on his back and the fire within could be set to erupt on the Maroons in two weeks' time.