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We’re less than a week away from finding out who will pull on the New South Wales jersey for game one of the State of Origin series, so I’ve put the thinking cap on and come up with the squad I would pick for the opening game at Adelaide Oval.
1. James Tedesco 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Campbell Graham 4. Latrell Mitchell 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Payne Haas 9. Damien Cook 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Cameron Murray 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Nicho Hynes 15. Junior Paulo 16. Haumole Olakau’atu 17. Hudson Young. (18th man Api Koroisau, 19th man Daniel Saifiti)
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After thinking about it long and hard, I’ve come to the realisation I can’t pick Tom Trbojevic in my Blues team for game one.
I had him pencilled in at centre on trust, and based on what he did for us in the 2021 State of Origin series.
But that was two years ago, and his form for Manly this season has been so far below his best that I’m convinced he is not ready to play in that arena.
I kept a close eye on him during Sunday’s game against Cronulla, and only once did I notice him get the ball and really accelerate on a run. It was the first time I’ve seen him do it this year.
He doesn’t look right.
I have no idea if he’s carrying an injury or whether his struggles are due to a wider Sea Eagles issue, but on current form I think it would be a major risk to take him to Adelaide.
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If he is picked in the squad it’s just going to dominate headlines and media conferences and be a distraction for the rest of the squad.
I know Phil Gould has made the case that going into Origin camp could help lift Turbo, and he’s probably correct, but it could also go the other way. If you take him into a game underdone it could completely ruin the rest of his season, and it could also hurt the Blues in a big way.
You can’t afford to carry blokes into an Origin game if they are not ready for it.
It’s for this reason I’m going with Campbell Graham at centre for New South Wales for game one.
Then we have to hope Josh Addo-Carr returns for the Bulldogs this week and performs well, and he will slot in on a wing.
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Unfortunately there are injury clouds hanging over a few of the Blues.
I would have picked Penrith’s Spencer Leniu to make his debut before he ruptured a testicle at training last week.
Jake Trbojevic has also been battling a calf complaint but I heard him say he is confident he will be fit for the Origin opener, which is why I’ve stuck solid and picked him in my team.
If Jake isn’t fit for the game I’d bring Daniel Saifiti into the squad, and start either he or Junior Paulo in the front row.
I’ve gone with four debutants in my starting 17, and all of them deserve their spot based on club form.
Nicho Hynes is obviously the standout club player in the competition, and I reckon he has to make his debut based on what he’s been doing for the Sharks.
I’ve always thought you need to play two hookers in Origin, given how much defence they have to get through during a game, so selectors may opt to go with Api Koroisau on the bench instead.
But I can’t leave Hynes out of my line-up given how brilliant he has been over the last year and a half.
He could nab the No.6 jumper, but I think Jarome Luai’s game over the weekend probably locks him into that spot for at least the first game.
Nathan Cleary – who is the best player in the world right now – will no doubt have a say on who his halves partner is, and his combination with Luai is obviously super successful at club level.
I don’t envy Freddy and his selectors, because they have plenty of big decisions to make before naming the squad next Monday.
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