Let's Talk Origin: Rep Round wrap

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Rick Edgerton looks at all the fallout from the Rep Round and what it means for the upcoming State of Origin series.

As the dust begins to settle from the representative round, we take a look at any injury implications moving towards Origin and who did and didn't put their hands up for selection.

DUGAN & THURSTON INJURIES

Origin Coaches Laurie Daley and Kevin Walters both have big concerns coming out of Friday night's Test match with Josh Dugan (fractured cheekbone) and Johnathan Thurston (shoulder) picking up injuries in the Kangaroos win over the Kiwis.

The Blues did receive some good news on Sunday night when it was revealed Dugan's fracture wasn't as bad as first thought with the Kangaroo centre expected to miss three weeks. It still means he will go into camp (if selected) for game one with no games under his belt, but his form at right centre was strong on Friday night and being the big match player he is, appears a lock provided he can train with the team from day one.

The Maroons meanwhile are still sweating on scan results from Thurston's injured shoulder with initial fears he could miss anywhere between six weeks and the entire season. It would be a huge blow for Coach Walters if his great pivot is ruled out, but names like Anthony Milford, Corey Norman and Daly Cherry-Evans will all be champing at the bit to replace him in the number six jersey. 

MISSED THEIR CHANCE

TRENT MERRIN - After some indifferent club form at the Panthers for most of the year, Merrin was handed a show of faith from Australian Coach Mal Meninga largely due to his incumbency policy for a short preparation. Whilst he didn't do a lot wrong on Friday night, Blues Coach Daley would have been looking for more from his former Blues forward and with bench forwards Jake Trbojevic and Tyson Frizell outplaying him as well as a host of forwards from the City Country game on Sunday, Merrin may have missed his chance.

MATT MOYLAN - Like his Panthers teammate, Moylan was given a chance to impress playing in front of Coach Daley for City at Mudgee on Sunday. Whilst he wasn't bad he certainly did nothing to convince Daley he's in the kind of form to unlock the Maroons defensive unit. Last year when picked he was at least creating chances with the ball in hand, but if he couldn't crack a Country team coming off a short preparation, cracking the Maroons brick wall seems unlikely. 

CITY/COUNTRY HALVES - Cody Walker, Tyrone Roberts, Bryce Cartwright and Chad Townsend all had solid games for their teams, but none of the four put their hands up to partner James Maloney in the Blues halves, failing to create enough with the ball in hand to crack their opposition defence. City half Townsend was probably the pick of the four guiding his team around the park with his solid passing and kicking game. He could no doubt do a similar job for the Blues, but Coach Daley simply needs more with calls for a more attacking approach to this year's series key to their chances.

PUT THEIR HANDS UP

CAMERON McINNES - The City rake was the pick of the two hookers in contention on Sunday. Punches well above his weight with his strong defence in the middle and showed his speed between the ears when splitting the Country defence late in the first half. It's unclear whether Blues Coach Daley will maintain his faith in long serving number nine Robbie Farah for game one and even if he doesn't Nathan Peats appears next in line, but McInnes certainly stamped himself as one for the future if nothing else.

FORWARD POWER - There's been speculation former Blues Captain Paul Gallen could extend his representative comeback to the Origin arena if Coach Daley felt the need to call upon his former skipper, but a myriad of NSW forwards put their hand up on Sunday which should put any speculation to bed.

Incumbent Blues bookend James Tamou was the pick of an impressive bunch, earning man of the match honours after a dominant display in which he ran for 209 metres, made 27 tackles and was rewarded with a try in a tireless 70 minute performance. 

Also impressive were Dragons trio Paul Vaughan with 148 metres and 33 tackles, Jack De Belin 155 metres and 31 tackles and Tariq Sims with 235 running metres including a huge run down his left edge in the second half which saw him come within inches of scoring. Storm Lock Dale Finucane was also strong playing at Prop for Country making 113 metres, but really caught the eye for his willingness to make a number of tough runs.

CITY OUTSIDE BACKS - Whilst Australian right edge duo Dugan (if fit) and Blake Ferguson appear locked in as the right edge centre/wing duo for game one, questions still remain around who will line-up on the Blues left. Coach Daley has all but declared former Blue Jarryd Hayne will earn a recall if he continues to improve his fitness. That probably leaves just one spot up for grabs, with a number of City backs staking their claims on Sunday.

Nathan Ross was endorsed by Coach Daley last week as a genuine bolter and did his chances no harm on Sunday with 135 running metres and a great play mowing down a runaway Country player before stealing the ball in a one on one strip. Plays every game with plenty of energy and from all reports was huge for team morale in City camp during the week.

Tyrone Peachey keeps making all the right moves in his growing push for an Origin debut. Played at left centre for the City slickers where he looked dangerous when given any room out wide and ran for a total 173 metres. Was also strong in defence coming up with some big defensive reads jamming in on Country's sweep runners a number of times.

Josh Addo-Carr is coming along in leaps and bounds this year after moving to Melbourne. His willingness to take some tough runs coming out of trouble was evident on Sunday running for 148 metres. A strong finisher and an absolutely speedster when in the clear, the young flyer also has a knack for targeting tiring forwards through the middle with his speed and power. With Origin being such a torrid affair through the middle, Addo-Carr has the qualities to break a game open at the back end of each half and looms as a real bolter for game one.