Selectors set to name Origin squad
- name your side

NSW selectors met yesterday afternoon to discuss the the 2003 State of Origin series. The NSW squad will be formally announced on Monday 7 April.

Coach Phil Gould who will assess the fitness and medical status of the 30-man squad during a one-day camp at Telstra Stadium on Monday 14 April.

“The quality of competition that we've already seen in the Telstra Premiership is pointing towards one of the most intense State of Origin series in many years and I want to know as early as possible what the situation is with each of the players who are figuring in our thinking,” Gould said.

“Origin football is unlike anything they'll have ever been involved with before and it's important to our campaign that some of these young blokes get a real feel for what it means and also what my expectations are of them.”

Not surprisingly, the squad will be a mix of experience and youth but non-selection won't rule out a player's chance of making the final cut and playing for the Blues.

“The intention of this squad is three-fold: firstly to get a number of our seasoned players thinking about the upcoming series, secondly to expose those who are likely to play Origin this year to our set up and thirdly to encourage younger players who we expect will Origin down the track," Gould said.

Speculation is rife about a number of players including Dragon's front rower, Luke Bailey. Bailey has been nothing short of impressive in the opening three rounds and pulled off an incredible 55 tackles against the Raiders last Saturday.

To name your NSW Origin team, log into 'The Front Row' forums (The link is at the top of this page) and visit the NRL forum.

Lets us know what you think.