Rugby League - State of Origin My Blues Side Part 2

In my previous blog I named my 1-7 for the NSW Blues for this years State of Origin Series. I have them lining up as follows:

1. Brett Stewart
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Michael Jennings
4. Blake Ferguson
5. Brett Morris
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce

Today I will reveal my 8-17 as well as my prediction for this years series.

Front Row - Paul Gallen and Aaron Woods

Paul Gallen is normally a backrower however with Blues front row stocks seemingly low I have him playing in the front row. He has won a man of the match reward in the front row and plays in the middle of the park anyway. Aaron Woods is only 22 and playing for the struggling Wests Tigers yet he is the form front rower of the comp. He is in the starting side as history shows its easier for a debutant front rower to get involved if he starts the game.

Hooker - Robbie Farah

The best hooker from NSW. Was named the NSW player of the series last year and if he didn't play for a inconsistent club side he might be known as the best in the comp.

Second Row - Greg Bird and Ryan Hoffman

Greg Bird is in great form and represented Australia last month as well as being an incumbent from last years series. Ryan Hoffman has not played for NSW since 2009, however he has represented Australia in recent times. He was man of the match in the city country fixture and would be the form front rower in the side.

Lock Forward - Luke Lewis

Another incumbent. Although he had a change of clubs in the off season he is still the same player. He has been a cornerstone of the Blues pack for years and that won't be changing anytime soon.

Bench - Kurt Gidley, Anthony Watmough, James Tamou and Trent Merrin

Kurt Gidley nabs the bench utility spot on experience (he is a former blues captain) and versatility  He can cover the whole back line (1-7) and can play hooker and lock forward. Anthony Watmough is a proven performer off the bench for the Blues and will add impact when he is injected into the game. James Tamou made his debut last year, and although he is a Kiwi and changed allegiances to Australia just so he could play State of Origin, he is still a great prop and will deserve his selection. Trent Merrin, along with Aaron Woods beat out Tim Grant, Tim Mannah and Willie Mason for the two free front row spots. Trent Merrin played previously for the Blues under Ricky Stuart. However he was never able to make his mark. He is currently playing better than ever and looks ready to prove his worth in the rep scene.


So here's the team:

1. Brett Stewart
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Michael Jennings
4. Blake Ferguson
5. Brett Morris
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Paul Gallen (c)
9. Robbie Farah
10. Aaron Woods
11. Greg Bird
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Luke Lewis

14. Kurt Gidley
15. Anthony Watmough
16. James Tamou
17. Trent Merrin

And now for my prediction. 2-1 to the Blues. Finally NSW will claim a series, at least that's what my heart says. My brain is still undecided.

-William Le Messurier-

Rugby League - State of Origin My Blues Side

State of Origin, the on and off field pinnacle of our game, is fast approaching. The NSW Blues will be looking to end a 7 year losing streak to the Queensland Maroons. Last year under Ricky Stuart we came closer to a winning series than we had in the previous 6 attempts. Now under the coaching of Laurie Daley we look to improve on that with a series win. The following blog will contain the Blues team I would select and why.

Fullback - Brett Stewart

He is the incumbent from last years series, and although he is not in the same class as the two Maroon fullbacks Billy Slater and Greg Inglis he did a fine job last year and there are no other NSW fullbacks in better form.

Wingers - Jarryd Hayne and Brett Morris

I know I know, no Nathan Merrit again? Yes he is the form winger in the comp but he still does not deserve to be selected ahead of these two. Brett Morris was is the incumbent for both NSW and Australia, did a good job of replacing Akuila Uate in last years series. Whilst Jarryd Hayne is a proven performer for NSW on the wing and has been an institution of the NSW side for many years. Sorry Nathan but to quote the line from Happy Gilmore "Better luck next year".

Centres - Michael Jennings and Blake Ferguson

In the centres I have the incumbent Michael Jennings who is in great form for his new club the Sydney Roosters and has the attacking game which can really trouble the Maroons defence. Whilst my other centre is unlikely to be selected, he should be. Josh Morris, although a great centre, doesn't quite have the x-factor of the Raiders' Ferguson. Blake has been in career best form in a struggling team and paired with Michael Jennings could create the attacking centre pairing NSW has been waiting for,

Five Eighth - Todd Carney

Firstly I'll tell you why his rivals missed out. Josh Reynolds missed the city country game which hurts his chances but also compared to Todd Carney and James Maloney he is too inexperienced in games of this magnitude. He did not set the world on fire during his grand final appearance last year. James Maloney had a shocker in the city country game and has only been able to put his foot forward when his team is running a muck on a low down rival. Todd Carney is the incumbent, and he showed on the weekend in the Sharks golden point win over Newcastle that he is over his injury and he's still got it.

Halfback - Mitchell Pearce

This was a two horse race between Pearce and Adam Reynolds. Mitchell won out due to his experience in the Blues team and his proven combination with both Todd Carney and the hooker (to be revealed in the next blog). Adam although talented needs to prove his worth in a struggling team to be chosen over Pearce who can shine whether his team is up by 20 or down by 40.


Well that's the 1-7 of the Blues team, in the next installment the forward pack, bench and a prediction on this years series will be revealed.

- William Le Messurier -

Rugby League - The English are Coming!

Lee Mossop, Gareth Hock and Mike Cooper

These are three names the average Australian Rugby League fan has never heard of. But in England they are three of the best forwards in the European Super League. What they all have in common however is that they have all signed with National Rugby League clubs in the past week. Hock and Mossop have signed for the bottom dwelling Parramatta Eels and Cooper has signed for the St George Illawarra Dragons.

In doing so these players have signaled the start of the English exodus to the NRL. With the increased NRL salary cap the trend of Australian players leaving the NRL for Super League are fast becoming over. Top English players will now be chasing the cash found in NRL contracts. England's best player Sam Tomkins is expected to be the next to join the exodus with the Warriors, Titans and Roosters all chasing his signature.

But was are the consequences in this?

Well the standard of the Australian game will only get stronger with the best Australian, New Zealand and English players all plying their trade in the down under in the NRL. This will lead to more fringe first graders getting less game time as NRL clubs look to bolster their squads with seasoned English players rather than fringe first graders. In England the local game will suffer as England's best leave. However in the long run, this will lead to English clubs developing more first graders for the English game, thus improving their depth.

The English National Rugby League team may benefit the most from the exodus. As their best players ply their trade in the NRL they will become battle hardened and will bring that experience back to the national side as they try to compete with Australia and New Zealand.

William Le Messurier

Rugby League - Set of Six

1. Rep Weekend

All of NRL is taking the weekend off as we prepare for the annual Trans Tasman Test between Australia and New Zealand and the maligned NSW City vs Country fixture. We will also have a Tonga vs Samoa Test match at Penrith's Centerbet Stadium and a Under 20s State of Origin fixture. As well as the NRL taking the week off, Holden Cup will have the weekend off too. If you are looking for a game of Footy this weekend you won't be spoiled for choice. If you live in Sydney its either a Test match in the greater west or going down to a traditional ground for some park footy, better known as the NSW Cup. The rep weekend was introduced to limit burnout on our best players but they won't have the weekend off; they will be playing in a one off test match on Friday night in Canberra. So it doesn't help player burnout, so why are there only 4 matches this weekend. A weekend off for footy is bad for fans and the clubs. But what other games could we add to make the weekend mean more?

2. Make it an International Weekend

If we really want this weekend to be taken seriously it should be a worldwide weekend of test matches. The addition of Tonga vs Samoa is a good one. But what about the other test nations? Imagine this lineup for the weekend. Friday night Australia vs New Zealand. Saturday a double header with PNG vs Fiji and Tonga vs Samoa. Then on Sunday we can still have the City Country fixture. How about we get the north involved too; England, France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy could all have Test matches if Super League is willing to follow the NRL and take the weekend off too. We already know we have the best, closet domestic game, but we aren't taken seriously as an International sport and the lack of regular fixtures doesn't help. Treat international football as well as we treat the NRL and it can only improve. Hopefully the Independent Commission will be able to build of this years World Cup and give International Football the exposure it deserves.

3. Does City vs Country have any value anymore?

Robbie Farah, Mitchell Pearce, John Sutton, Aaron Woods, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Josh Reynolds and Jarrod Mullen are just some of the names that have pulled out of this weekends game. However there is great doubt that these players wouldn't play this weekend if there club teams were playing. Most of the NSW team is already decided, so this isn't the big selection trial that is used to be. However there are some great young players that could well be the future of the Blues making their first representative appearance this weekend. Wests Tigers duo James Tedesco and Curtis Sironen, the Bulldogs' Josh Jackson and the Roosters Boyd Cordyner are just some of the players being blooded. But Queensland doesn't have a selection trial, so do we need one? Well if you ask the players they love to play in this game, and for now that's good enough for me. 

4. The Great Divide

We are just 6 rounds in to the 2013 NRL season but we are already seeing a divide between the best and the rest. The NRL is widely regarded as the closet competition in Australian sport thanks to the salary cap. This season though, the divide has become evident much faster than normal. Melbourne, Manly, South Sydney, Sydney, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Brisbane all look like contenders early on. St George Illawarra, Canberra, Cronulla, North Queensland, Parramatta, Canterbury, Wests, Penrith and New Zealand look nothing of the sort. But this is the NRL mind you, it lasts 26 rounds, not 6 and I would not be surprised if any bottom team starts to come good and make a real impact on the competition. If so, it would be another example of the infamous salary cap at work.

5. Coaches under pressure

Another coached sacked for the season and we are only 6 weeks in to the NRL. However the both coaches are from the Super League. Australian Ian Millward has been sacked in just his 2nd year in charge of the Castleford Tigers. His replacement is still to be decided upon. In March Salford Reds Coach Phil Veivers was sacked after just one win from the first 5 games of the season. Last week he was replaced with former Bradford, Wigan, Crusaders and Great Britain coach Brian Noble. Noble's successful history as one of England's best modern coaches, international experience and with multiple Super League titles on his resume makes him a perfect fit for a struggling club like Salford. This is not a job for a rookie coach. Back home in the NRL, Matthew Elliot, of the New Zealand Warriors seems to be under pressure with their poor start. Australian Test Coach Tim Sheens has been mentioned as a possible replacement.

6. New South Wales Number 6

All of the key positions for the Blues seem to be settled. Its incumbents that will keep their positions such as Fullback Brett Stewart, Halfback Mitchell Pearce and Hooker Robbie Farah. However with NSW five eighth Todd Carney currently injured it seems to be the only position up for grabs. However contenders Jarrod Mullen, Josh Reynolds and John Sutton have all pulled out of the City Country clash. It seems to be a two horse race between Todd Carney and Roosters pivot James Maloney. Maloney is in great form and has a club partnership with Mitchell Pearce. However if Todd Carney can get back on the field and put some form on the board he will most likely be selected for Game 1. 

-William Le Messurier-