Blues squad announced: Our take
The New South Wales VB Blues have officially announced their side for Game One, and unlike the Queenslanders they have gone with a drastically different side to the crew that once again went agonisingly close to victory last year.
Injuries, suspensions and poor form have all played a part in the new-look Blues side, which features two debutants in Bulldogs halfback Trent Hodkinson and exciting Roosters winger Daniel Tupou. Hodkinson’s halves partner Josh Reynolds will make his first start after debuting off the bench last year, while Tony Williams makes a welcome return to the squad after finally recapturing the form that earned him a debut in 2012.
Flyer: Daniel Tupou makes his Blues debut Source: www.bettingpro.com.au
Here’s how the squad shapes up:
1. Jarryd Hayne, Parramatta Eels: The man who almost single-handedly dragged an average Eels side into a grand final in 2009 is once again approaching those lofty heights and looks like the player most capable of engineering a Blues ambush. Hayne is the current leader in the race for the 2014 Dally M Medal, which should tell you all you need to know about what kind of form he’s in.
2. Brett Morris, St. George Illawarra Dragons: Morris stole the headlines earlier this year with a freakish try against Cronulla but he’s been in good touch all year, making the most of his limited opportunities in the Dragon’s attack whilst remaining a reliable presence in defence. Despite the likes of Josh Mansour and Jorge Taufua impressing over the opening rounds, his spot in the Blues lineup was never in any real jeopardy, such is the team’s faith in him.
3. Josh Morris, Canterbury Bulldogs: Brett’s identical twin has been unusually quiet of late, having gone six weeks without scoring a try at club level. However, his attack is not why the Blues picked him, as he has done an excellent job of containing Greg Inglis over the last couple of years and will be called upon do so once again.
Dogs of War: Josh Morris and Josh Reynolds Source: zimbio.com.au
4. Michael Jennings, Sydney Roosters: Jennings was a constant threat to the Maroons defence in last year’s series, and even though he’s had a slightly down year at club level he proved against the Tigers a couple of weeks ago that he is still a lethal weapon when given even the slightest opportunity. His duel with Hodges should make for fascinating viewing.
5. Daniel Tupou, Sydney Roosters: Tupou’s standing in the game seems to grow with every appearance, even earning comparisons to the likes of Israel Folau in recent times. Tupou has a knack of producing spectacular plays under the high ball, but his combination on the ground with Jennings can’t be overlooked either. The Blues may have a long-term star on their hands here, but he’ll need a big game to keep the likes of Mansour, Taufua and Uate at bay.
6. Josh Reynolds, Canterbury Bulldogs: The Bulldogs have surged into the outright competition lead, and the play of Reynolds has been a big factor in their fast start. Clever, competitive and tough as nails, Reynolds looks a born Origin player and handled himself well in limited opportunities when he debuted last year.
7. Trent Hodkinson, Canterbury Bulldogs: The selection of Hodkinson hinges as the most crucial decision made by the Blues hierarchy, with Mitchell Pearce having been guaranteed the halfback spot before an alcohol-related incident last weekend forced a rethink. Hodkinson possesses one of the best kicking games in the NRL but he’ll need to show a bit more creativity to thrive at Origin level. He has formed a superb partnership with Reynolds at the Bulldogs so picking them together looks like a solid move.
8. Aaron Woods, Wests Tigers: At just 23 Woods has already established himself as one of the best props in the NRL, regularly carrying huge load for his Tigers in both attack and defence. Woods loves running off Robbie Farah and is likely to feature heavily in the opening exchanges in a bid to wear down the Queensland defensive line.
9. Robbie Farah, Wests Tigers: Prior to dislocating his elbow against the Cowboys in Round 6, Farah was laying siege Cameron Smith’s mantle as the game’s number one hooker with a series of scintillating displays as he led the unfancied Tigers to the upper echelons of the NRL ladder. He looked good upon his return against the Sharks last week and will be a vital player for the Blues once again.
Heart and soul: Robbie Farah will give his all Source: Fox Sports
10. James Tamou, North Queensland Cowboys: With Andrew Fifita unavailable through injury, Tamou will be expected to punch holes in the Queensland defensive line with his powerful running. He’ll no doubt be looking forward to the battle up front with in-form clubmate Matt Scott.
11. Ryan Hoffman, Melbourne Storm: While Hoffman has been a little quiet at club level this year, he is an experienced campaigner who knows what’s required at this level and won’t be overawed by the occasion. His inside knowledge of Smith, Slater and Cronk may prove useful as well.
12. Beau Scott, Newcastle Knights: Greg Bird’s suspension leaves Scott to fill the ‘enforcer’ role in the Blues back row, and he’ll likely be tasked with shutting down the likes of Inglis and Thurston before they can get in amongst the Blues backs while delivering a few stinging hits whenever possible. Not the sort of guy who’ll get much media attention in the leadup to the game but a crucial player nonetheless.
13. Paul Gallen, Cronulla Sharks: Time is running out for the Blues skipper to lead his side to a series win, and you can be sure that when the final siren blows he will have absolutely nothing left in the tank such is his desperation to win back the shield. He had a storming performance against the Tigers at weekend and he looks to have fully recovered from an early-season ankle injury. It will be interesting to see whether he and Nate Myles renew hostilities after their much-publicised stoush last year.
The skipper: can Gallen finally break the drought? Source: Fox Sports
14. Trent Merrin, St. George Illawarra Dragons: Merrin has blossomed into one of the NRL’s finest forwards, regularly leading the Dragons in both tackles and hitups, while also possessing a deceptively effective offload. While not named to start, Merrin can safely expect to see plenty of game-time as he appears to be the heir apparent to Paul Gallen as the Blues’ next workhorse.
15. Anthony Watmough, Manly Sea Eagles: Watmough appears to have shaken off the arm injury that kept him out of the Anzac test and he played perhaps his best game of the year in Monday night’s dramatic win over Newcastle. Watmough is likely to play a similar role to that of Beau Scott and his toughness and competitive spirit will be invaluable when his troops start to tire.
16. Luke Lewis, Cronulla Sharks: Lewis is only a few weeks into his comeback from a serious injury suffered at last year’s World Cup, but he is so highly valued by the Blues selectors that he was always going to be picked. Lewis offers unmatched utility value but his main responsibility will be to attack down the edges and set up opportunities for his backs. Don’t be surprised if he ends up starting ahead of Hoffman.
17. Tony Williams, Canterbury Bulldogs: The much-maligned ‘T-Rex’ has finally rediscovered the attacking prowess that saw him debut for the Blues two years ago, and Blues fans will no doubt recall the havoc he wreaked when brought on in that game. Williams is perhaps the biggest wildcard in the Blues’ deck, and if Laurie Daley times his deployment correctly he may just prove a match-winner.
The Blues have picked a squad featuring an interesting mix of form and experience, with the inclusion of Bulldogs halves Reynolds and Hodkinson sure to be a major talking point over the next week. Man for man, it’s a slightly weaker squad on paper than the one Queensland have named but that’s unavoidable when your opponents boast names like Inglis, Thurston and Smith amongst others.
The next week will prove crucial as the squad will look to develop the chemistry required to trouble the Queenslanders, however if they can emerge as a cohesive unit they have sufficient strike power in the likes of Hayne, Jennings and Williams to spring an upset at Lang Park.
Nick Fray, Over the Line Sports
