Weโre now just a few weeks out from State of Origin Gameย 1, and NSW have genuine questions over the make-up of their halves.
Last season Hodkinson and Reynolds were in such red hot form that they demanded selection.
This season both incumbent halves are flat out making their club run on side, and I dare say that Reynolds selection over Mbye last-up was met with indifference by fans to say the least.
The City-Country game is marketed as a genuine Origin trial, and although James Maloney was announced as man of the match, if selected for Origin he will have a massive target on him all night in defence.
Mitchell Pearce seems to have one spot wrapped up, but given his incredibly poor record at Origin level, his selection wonโt ease too many nerves for Blues fans.
Maloney is the most likely to partner Pearce given his combination at the Roosters, however Maloneyโs form this season has not been great, and his defence has been less than stellar.
Josh Reynolds had played himself out of an Origin jersey with poor form and worse discipline. Pay no attention to the talk of him being an Origin player, his niggle does not make up for the brain snaps or poor form.
Jack Bird has been amongst the form five-eighths in the competition, but the fact he only has five NRL caps to his name, including just the four starts in the halves, means he is a fair way off just yet.
Luke Keary is an option but he has publically stated his desire to play for Queensland, and if he were truly desperate to represent NSW he would have made some effort to be fit for City/Country.
Mullen is also eligibleย but not in the running. Kurt Gidleyโs name is rightfully in the โtried, tested and moving onโ basket.
Iโm not a fan of selection players out of position unless itโs absolutely needed. Greg Bird looks like he will be unavailable, and to be honest I donโt see Moylan, Tedesco or Dugan as up to a playmaking roll for their state.
Simply put, in Origin, you need two genuine playmakers. Itโs always been a game dominated by the big men, but itโs the likes of Thurston that are able to blow games wide open.
In my view, NSWโs best option comes in the form of City standout Blake Austin.
If you had suggested Austin as an Origin hopeful during the off season you would have been laughed down. Even a month ago the suggestion would have been met with a sarcastic glance.
His efforts for Canberra, and City, put him right in the frame, and rightfully so.
His defence at the Raiders has been far superior to that of Maloney. His form has been far superior to Reynolds. He is far more experienced than Bird.
Another out of the box selection could come in the form of Titanโs Aidan Sezer, however I think Austinโs over all game, and form, is much better.
If Adam Reynolds were fit, and still in his early season form, he would be the first player picked, and I believe if he can play an NRL game between now and Origin One, he HAS to come into contention.
If he plays well, Iโd look at Adam Reynolds and Blake Austin as my halves pairing. Reynolds has the kicking game and ball playing skill to compliment Austinโs strong running game.
Should Reynolds not be fit, then Iโd very reluctantly choose Pearce over Hodkinson and co.
Gallen To Be Fit For Origin But Not The Sharks
There are some unhappy fans in the Shire following comments from their captain Paul Gallen that suggested he would be fit for Origin, but would not play a club game before-hand.
Gallen, a player often jokingly referred to as an Origin-only player, should surely be looking to get fit for his club before thinking of rep duties.
He is currently in contract negotiations with the club, and is reported to be close to securing a new deal, but fans wonโt be happy hearing their leader making such an effort to play for the Blues, whilst making no mention of a return to his club side.
Players Pushing Origin Claim During Pacific Tests
I have to admit I donโt totally understand how players such as Korbin Sims can press his QLD Origin claims whilst representing Fiji.
Samoan representative Josh McGuire is also in the running for a QLD jersey after his strong performance in the test.
Straight up I admit I am ok with Origin hopefuls representing their background nations if theyโre not selected for Australia, but why could Anthony Milford not be selected for Samoa?
Another question that needs to be addressed is why can New Zealand representatives not feature in Origin? Samoan and Fijian players are eligible but our New Zealand brethren are not.
Eligibility rules right now are an absolute laugh.
Young Feki lined up for Tonga after being selected in the Kiwi squad for the Four Nations not too long ago.
I wonโt waste time trying to explain the rules, you need a masters degree to make sense of them, but why can McGuire play for Samoa then QLD within a month, while Anthony Milford cannot?
Why couldnโt NSW-based and raised Sonny Bill Williams, who represented NSW at a junior level, not play Origin?
I have exactly no answer for this. Farcical.
