State of Origin Player Profiles: Michael Jennings
Nick Fray, Origin Online and Over the Line Sports
Origin Online continues its series of player profiles as we count down to Origin Two, taking a look at one-time Panthers castoff and current Roosters star Michael Jennings.
Michael Jennings, New South Wales
Centre, Sydney Roosters
Origin Appearances: 11
Origin Tries: 3
Origin Status: Making his mark
Two years is a long time in rugby league. Michael Jennings has become so firmly entrenched in the New South Wales squad in that time, it’s easy to forget his part in one of State of Origin’s most bizarre pieces of selection history, when in 2012 he became the first player picked for Origin from reserve grade in 29 years. Incoming Panthers General Manager and Blues great Phil Gould, seemingly determined to be rid of Jennings and his hefty salary, consigned the explosive centre to the Windsor Wolves, presumably to see out the season in anonymity. The league world was subsequently shocked when, just days later, Blues coach Ricky Stuart called Jennings up to his Blues squad and he went on to play a starring role in the narrowest of series defeats.
As we all now know, that didn’t stop Gould from getting his way and shipping Jennings off to the Roosters, however it’s been a match made in heaven as Jennings has since won a premiership, strengthened his grip on a Blues jersey and scored 25 tries in just 38 games to blossom into one of the game’s brightest stars. At 26 years of age, Jennings is entering the prime of his career and while he has certainly proven more than adept in the Origin arena to this point, it’s impossible to escape the feeling that he is destined for bigger things in the very near future.
As Jennings looks to impose himself on the Origin arena, one needs only to look at the man who’ll line up opposite for an example of how Jennings can go on to Origin greatness, as Maroons centre Justin Hodges only truly became an Origin star during the 2006 series, four years after his disastrous debut. With Jennings having debuted at Origin level in 2009, the time is nigh for him to finally deliver upon his promise and make Origin his own. The selection of Roosters teammate Daniel Tupou outside him on the wing should only benefit Jennings, who now has the advantage of not only the chemistry that comes from playing together each week at club level, but whose aerial capabilities should help create additional scoring opportunities.
It’s obviously difficult to build a grand legacy if your side isn’t winning, but with the Blues 1-0 up in the series and seemingly with all the momentum going into Game Two in front of their home crowd, the stage appears set for Jennings to step up and earn the right to be called an Origin great. All the great ones ever really need is an opportunity, and there may never be a better one for one of the game’s great talents to make the leap to Origin legend.
