Who would you have playing for NSW?
It’s a question that often gets asked at this time of year on work sites and in offices.
NSW coach Laurie Daley will announce his team on Tuesday but the Leader sports team of Paul Haigh and Andrew Parkinson have picked their own.
Do you agree with their choices? Who would you choose?
State of Origin I is on Wednesday, May 27, at ANZ Stadium.
Paul Haigh's NSW team: Josh Dugan, Alex Johnston, Josh Morris, Michael Jennings, Daniel Tupou, Mitchell Pearce, Trent Hodkinson, Josh Jackson, Boyd Cordner, Beau Scott, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah (c), James Tamou; interchange: Trent Merrin, Andrew Fifita, Tariq Sims and David Klemmer.
Mitchell Pearce is my man at five-eighth. He can play two passes wide off the ruck in attack and set up the backrowers in attack. His kicking game is efficient and the Roosters playmaker has played No. 6 for his club and in his junior years.
Had Adam Reynolds been fit, the South Sydney No. 7 would have worn the Blues halfback jersey but a broken thumb stopped his NSW debut.
So I have stuck with Canterbury's Trent Hodkinson. He is solid, a good goalkicker and although not in the best form this year for the Bulldogs, he is the Blues best option.
I cannot find a place for 2014 Blues five-eighth, Josh Reynolds.
He needs to find form at club level.
Dragons No. 1 Josh Dugan walks into the team at fullback. He has played in the No. 1 jersey before and played the second and third game of the 2014 series at right centre. You cannot pick them all and you have to have an opinion.
Newcastle's Tariq Sims, an Illawarra junior, who showed promise at North Queensland has joined the Knights this year. He won the Channel Nine player of the match award on Sunday in their win over the Tigers. Tariq is fast, has size, can break the line and would be crucial off the bench as other players get tired in the helter-skelter pace of the game. He hits like a sledgehammer in defence.
Andrew Parkinson’s NSW team: Brett Stewart, Alex Johnston, Josh Morris, Michael Jennings, Josh Dugan, Luke Keary, Mitchell Pearce, Trent Merrin, Beau Scott, Ryan Hoffman, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah (c), James Tamou; interchange: Andrew Fifita, Luke Lewis, Boyd Cordner, David Klemmer.
Some will say it is a controversial selection picking Brett Stewart at fullback but how quickly people forget. Stewart, a two-time premiership winner with Manly, is one of the greatest try scorers in rugby league history. Without Jarryd Hayne, NSW will need all the fire power they can get. The Prince of Brookvale was named NSW player’s player for the series in 2012. He has been in fine form for Manly — when fit.
Josh Dugan is a fine player but for me, Origin should be about getting your best 13 players into the team. Stewart is a better fullback and Dugan is a better winger but NSW needs both.
I would have had Adam Reynolds at halfback but, with his broken thumb, I have given Mitchell Pearce a crack wearing the No. 7. I’m a huge fan of Luke Keary and — regardless of his age — I think he is the best five-eighth in NSW, and a premiership winner at just 22. Although the Souths combination would have been ideal, Pearce is the next best option.
In most positions, I have tried to go for mobility and speed. Queensland are getting older. They lost the 2014 series despite only conceding 26 points. Several Queensland stars represented Australia last month and were rolled by New Zealand. The Blues time is now — if they want it.
