The ANZAC Test: Origin Implications

New Zealand’s stunning triumph in Sunday’s trans-Tasman test has applied the blowtorch to a number of underperforming Aussies, who now find themselves fighting not only for their test futures but potentially their Origin spots as well. Fielding a side featuring an abundance of experience and success, the Aussies were played off the park by a younger, and some would say hungrier Kiwi outfit, and selectors may well be second-guessing some names who just last week would have been considered certainties.

First, on the injury front, debutant Josh Dugan left the field late with a leg injury and may be in some doubt for Game One, which would make Penrith’s Matt Moylan a near-certainty for the fullback spot given Brett Stewart’s recent struggles to stay on the park. At any rate, Dugan’s performance in an unfamiliar position was poor, and should ensure he is not considered for a spot on the wing, with a number of poor defensive reads allowing Manu Vatuvei to punish the Aussies; the Blues can ill-afford such lapses against the prolific Inglis/Boyd combo down that same edge.

Josh Dugan is unlikely to be picked on the Blues wing after Sunday’s shocker
Source: wwos.ninemsn.com.au

The Blues must also decide what to make of Greg Bird, who is on report for a lifting tackle on Jason Nightingale. It’s highly unlikely he’ll be suspended long enough to keep him out of Origin, but it’s yet another example of poor discipline from the Titans veteran, who has racked up a litany of indiscretions both on and off the field. Given that coach Laurie Daley has been vocal about establishing a more professional culture at the Blues, he’ll face a tough decision as to whether he wants to stick with a hardened veteran who has been a great servant for the Blues, or continue refining the side’s culture by making an example of the wayward Bird.

The other key talking point for the Blues coming out of the game is the quiet performance of debutant Alex Johnston on the wing. Granted, he didn’t get a whole lot of ball with his centre Michael Jennings taking on the line at every opportunity, but you get the sense the Blues selectors would have liked to see a bit more initiative from him.

Will the Blues still look to Alex Johnston’s untapped talent after a quiet test debut?
Source: www.triplem.com.au

The Aussies’ poor performance would be particularly concerning for the Queensland selectors, given that the nucleus of the side was built around the same Maroons core that dominated Origin for so long. The performance of Greg Inglis at fullback was very disappointing; it may have just been an off-day, but selectors are likely to be a lot more comfortable going into Game One if long-time custodian Billy Slater is available.

Cooper Cronk is another who failed to fire on Sunday, and rumours have been swirling for weeks now that he is carrying an injury. Whether or not that’s true, he’s been fairly quiet at club level by his standards this season, and while he will almost certainly be picked for Game One, his spot may come under threat from Ben Hunt or Daly Cherry-Evans if he struggles again, particularly if Queensland find themselves 1-0 down in the series.

Nate Myles is a similar case, struggling to stand out at the Titans this year while contributing very little to the Kangaroos’ cause on Sunday. He always lifts a gear for Origin and will still be one of the first picked for the Maroons, but there may be a push to include an additional prop on the bench this year in case he struggles, particularly given that front row partner Matt Scott is also down on form of late. Broncos workhorse Josh McGuire is desperate for a shot in the Origin arena and may provide the injection of enthusiasm that the older warhorses need.

Nate Myles needs to lift after a slow start to 2015
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au

The performance of Will Chambers on debut was encouraging – he didn’t always execute but his energy was obvious throughout the 80 minutes. With Broncos pair Darius Boyd and Justin Hodges both pushing to return to full fitness in time for Game One, Chambers seems set to line up at right wing, but the Maroons can be confident they’ve found a long-term successor to Hodges at centre.

Cover Image Source: www.foxsports.com.au

Nick Fray, Origin Online

New South Wales Origin Contenders 2015: The Backs

We’re now just a month away from the Game One teams announcements, and with injuries, suspensions and form slumps wreaking havoc across the NRL already this year we might be in for a few surprises when the squads are finally named. We begin our look at the men competing for spots in what could be the most contentious group in this year’s series: the Blues backline.

Fullback

The Blues’ hopes of defending their breakthrough series win was dealt the worst possible blow before the 2015 season even began, with fullback Jarryd Hayne suspending his league career to try his luck in the NFL. While Hayne’s occasional wizardry is irreplaceable, Laurie Daley has named a trio of contenders who would all bring their own strengths to the position. St George-Illawarra’s Josh Dugan has reverted to the position in 2015 and is in fine form of late – he looks to be the frontrunner at this stage, however his ability to play centre or five-eighth could see him picked elsewhere in Daley’s squad.

Penrith excitement machine Matthew Moylan forced his way into the Kangaroos squad last year and has picked up where he left off, emerging as a genuine candidate for an Origin debut. Daley does love fielding club combinations in his squads and Moylan’s hopes can only improve if fellow Panther Josh Mansour earns a spot on the wing. Manly’s Brett Stewart boasts plenty of Origin experience and is a proven big-game performer, but form and fitness are not in his favour at the moment. Daley has ruled out Tigers sensation James Tedesco for the time being, but he may come into calculations later in the series.

Exciting Panthers fullback Matt Moylan could be set for an Origin debut next month Source: www.zimbio.com

Wing

Daley has plenty to think about here, with Brett Morris expected to miss the series and fellow 2014 wingers Daniel Tupou, James McManus and Will Hopoate all struggling desperately for form in 2015. Of that trio, Tupou would be the most likely to retain his spot given his club combination with likely centre Michael Jennings, but all three are at risk of missing out, with Panthers giant Josh Mansour and Tigers veteran Pat Richards touted by many as potential replacements. Mansour did sustain a knee injury against the Titans, however, and probably won’t be back in time for Game One.

South Sydney flyer Alex Johnston looms as a bolter, however when you play for the Rabbitohs nearly every game is a big one and he’s acquitted himself superbly – his hopes would receive a massive boost if teammate Dylan Walker earns a call-up in the centres. Don’t rule out the possibility of incumbent centre Michael Jennings being pushed on to the wing either.

Tigers veteran Pat Richards could cause trouble for the Maroons with his deadly boot
Source: www.zimbio.com

Centre

The Blues love Josh Morris as he matches up with Queensland’s Greg Inglis better than any of the other options. He’s also recently re-discovered his try-scoring touch, so he’ll be there for sure. Michael Jennings seems a fairly safe bet to fill the other centre position, but it may depend on what Daley wants to do with Josh Dugan, who played two games there last year.

There’s also the option of blooding brilliant Souths young gun Dylan Walker, however he is yet to return from a broken hand sustained back in Round 3. He might be more likely to figure later in the series. Canberra’s Jarrod Croker was a shadow player for Game Three last year and could be an outside chance, as could versatile teammate Jack Wighton.

Canterbury’s Josh Morris will be crucial to the Blues’ hopes of containing Greg Inglis
Source: www.news.com.au

Halves

Expect plenty of heated debate over the next four weeks surrounding the 6 & 7 for the Blues. Incumbents Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson got the job done in 2014 and boast the all-important club partnership Daley prefers, however on current form neither should be anywhere near the Origin team. Adam Reynolds was going gangbusters prior to his injury, but his unavailability means Luke Keary is probably out of the picture.

That brings us full circle to the much-maligned Mitchell Pearce. His club form has been mostly outstanding since he was stood down from last year’s series, and the fact he missed out for disciplinary reasons rather than form issues also works in his favour. Based solely on recent form, he’s the clear-cut choice, however the mixed fortunes of Roosters teammate James Maloney could throw a spanner in the works. Defence continues to be an issue for him, and few will forget the job Maroons enforcer Sam Thaiday did on him in the 2013 series.

Should the Blues opt for Pearce but not Maloney, further options at five-eighth include Newcastle’s Jarrod Mullen or the Titans’ Aiden Sezer. They could also get creative and slot Dugan or Moylan here, and even Greg Bird has been mentioned as a possibility, along with rookie namesake Jack Bird of Cronulla, which would be a massive story if it unfolded, but in all likelihood it will be either the Roosters duo or the out-of-sorts Bulldog boys.

Will Mitchell Pearce finally deliver on the big stage in 2015?
Source: www.triplem.com.au

Cover Image Source: www.sportingpulse.com

Nick Fray, Origin Online

State of Origin Player Profiles: Josh Dugan

Nick Fray, Origin Online and Over the Line Sports

Origin Online continues its series of player profiles leading into Game Two, with a look at enigmatic Dragon Josh Dugan.

Josh Dugan, New South Wales

Centre, St. George-Illawarra Dragons

Origin Appearances: 3

Origin Tries : 0

Origin Status: Wildcard – possibly trump card

Perhaps Laurie Daley’s biggest selection gamble in his tenure as Blues coach, enigmatic Josh Dugan will be called upon to fill a position he’d never played at first grade level until two weeks ago, filling the void left by the injury to Bulldog Josh Morris. That in itself is a big gamble, but the pressure is magnified significantly when you throw in the added responsibility of marking arguably the game’s most dynamic attacking player in Greg Inglis, meaning Dugan will need the performance of his career if he is to silence critics of the move.

But then, even if selected in his customary position of fullback, Dugan was always going to be a risk/reward proposition; that’s just who he is and how he plays. Dugan’s career to this point has zigzagged between breathtaking highs and abysmal lows, although in fairness most of those lows have come away from the field. It was only a little over a year ago that Dugan seemed destined for the rugby league scrapheap, his contract terminated by a Raiders club determined to put a stop to the negativity generated by a series of off-field dramas associated with the club. Yet, such is Dugan’s talent that just weeks later he was back in the Blues squad to replace the injured Jarryd Hayne.

While things didn’t quite go as planned for Dugan in Games Two and Three last year, he once again has produced a compelling enough body of work at club level this season to earn another crack, with a stellar performance in the unfamiliar position of centre against the Sharks enough to convince Daley that he’s the man to go head to head with perhaps Origin’s most decorated attacking player this side of Wally Lewis. With a club hat-trick in just his second appearance at the position there is little doubt he has the attacking prowess to trouble Inglis, but ultimately the success of the move will come down to whether he can combine defensively with winger Will Hopoate – a centre at club level – to stop a Maroons left side that has 29 Origin tries between them.

Origin II – In the Mix: New South Wales

Nick Fray, Origin Online and Over the Line Sports

The fallout from Origin I has been immense, with several players either ruled out or in major doubt for Game Two in Sydney in on June 18. Both sides are set to field substantially different lineups, with injuries, form and Greg Bird’s return from suspension all set to dramatically shape things up for one of the most anticipated Origin clashes in history.

New South Wales

The Blues stand on the cusp of a first series victory since 2005, and with a stadium full of passionate New South Welshmen cheering them on they’ll be desperate to get it right. Their major concern going into the game is that the Morris twins, Brett and Josh, both look likely to miss the game through shoulder and knee injuries respectively. This may be a huge problem because the pair were responsible for shutting down Queensland’s favoured attacking options in Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd, and even though they did a good enough job in Game One, the Maroons pair still looked dangerous almost every time they got the ball in attacking position.

Let’s start with the wing candidates:

Josh Mansour: With Eels sensation Semi Radradra ruled ineligible for Origin, Panthers star Mansour has emerged as the most likely candidate after a superb display against Radradra on the weekend. Mansour is big, fast and can find the tryline, but just as importantly he is a solid defender as he proved by largely shutting down the explosive Eel. A few weeks ago he and Jamal Idris would have been strong favourites to replace the Morris boys due to their club combination, but with Idris stood down that won’t be happening, however it shouldn’t hamper Mansour’s selection hopes.

Jorge Taufua: On his day Taufua is one of the NRL’s most devastating players, and he is all but unstoppable when given room to wind up. That doesn’t tend to happen much at Origin level though, and while his defence is fairly good he has struggled under the high ball on occasion. While he didn’t get many opportunities, a quiet performance against the Broncos last week can’t have helped his cause and he’ll need a big game against the Bulldogs this week if he’s any chance of forcing his way into the side.

Pat Richards: Richards’s first season back in the NRL after a lengthy stint in the UK has been a big success, and in the early part of the season he was widely touted as an Origin bolter. That talk has died down of late, and his strength as a goalkicker has becomes less important with the selection of Trent Hodkinson in the side. More worrying for Richards is that the Tigers have slowed down a little in recent weeks after a great start to the season, and as a winger he has been given little opportunity to impress. Age is not on his side either as the Blues are likely to favour a more long-term prospect whereas Richards would be more of a stopgap solution, but with a first series win in nine years on the line they’ll definitely give some thought to the dependable veteran.

Akuila Uate: Uate hasn’t really been in contention for the Blues since a nightmare defensive effort cost his spot a couple of years ago, and his form at club level since then has been more solid than spectacular. Uate probably remains a longshot for Game Two but if the Blues want someone with Origin experience who will be desperate to redeem himself at this level then there’s an outside chance he could win a surprise call-up.

Michael Gordon: Despite being used almost exclusively as a fullback over the last couple of years, Gordon does have Origin experience on the wing and has been a reliable performer at club level having overcome the injury issues that plagued him earlier in his career. Gordon may not be one of the names being thrown around in the media at the moment but the Blues could certainly do a lot worse.

Mansour and Gordon may also be candidates to fill the centre position likely to be vacated by Josh Morris, which we’ll now take a look at:

Will Hopoate: Having played at centre all season and being named as a shadow player for Game One, Hopoate would have to be a red-hot favourite for the job at this stage. His return from a two-year hiatus has been admirable, but perhaps not quite as impressive as some might have hoped, however this can be attributed to the Eels’ preference toward attacking through Hayne and Radradra more than anything else. His name will definitely come up in selection discussions. Also a possible selection on the wing.

Joseph Leilua: The Knights centre has been one of the game’s most improved players over the last couple of years, and legendary coach Wayne Bennett is known to rate him very highly. If Hopoate is overlooked, it’s likely due to him being considered physically underdone, and with a matchup against Greg Inglis a distinct possibility given Billy Slater’s recovery progress, a powerful and fearless player like Leilua would perhaps be a more suitable pick.

Jarryd Hayne/Josh Dugan: There has been talking of putting one of these men in the centres with the other at fullback, but moving Game One Man of the Match Hayne would be a potentially horrible decision, while Dugan showed against Souths on the weekend that he’s far better suited to fullback than centre. Still, he’s been named there again this week so it would seem that the Blues are seriously contemplating picking him there.

Dylan Walker: This would be one of the most unexpected Origin selections imaginable, but Walker has been in absolutely stellar form for the Rabbitohs over the past month since shifting to centre from five-eighth, and even though he’s still only 19 he looks made for the Origin arena.

Beau Scott: With Greg Bird’s suspension over, switching Scott to the centres would ensure the Blues selectors aren’t forced to drop one of their back-rowers for Game Two. Even though he has played almost exclusively in the forwards in recent years, Scott does have experience at centre and his defensive capabilities would be a great asset for the Blues, however he likely wouldn’t be much of a factor in the attacking game.

Scott was selected to play a similar role to Bird in Origin I and if not moved to centre he may be the man to make way for Bird’s inclusion. However, Paul Gallen is still racing the clock to be fit for Game Two while Anthony Watmough will struggle to play through a turn bicep, so there may yet be a vacancy or two in the Blues’ back row rotation, with the following players the most likely contenders to fill those spots:

Josh Jackson: The young Bulldog has been a revelation since the club lost Frank Pritchard to injury, and he was well in contention for a spot in Game One before the Blues ultimately went for teammate Tony Williams. Jackson is a versatile player with a high work-rate and the kind of relentless intensity coveted by Origin selectors, so he is a big chance of a debut.

Wade Graham: Graham has been ever-present in a Sharks side decimated by injuries this season, and has been on the selectors’ radar for a few years now without getting the call.

Tariq Sims: A few weeks back Sims looked to be on the verge of Origin selection, however after being overlooked for Game One he has since been hit with a suspension that would mean he would come into Game Two after a two and a half week break if selected. Sims is enjoying his best season for the Cowboys since he burst onto the scene in 2011, but it’s probably unlikely that selectors would pick him and Tony Williams in the same side.

Jamie Buhrer: It’s unlikely Blues fans would be overly excited by the selection of Buhrer after his underwhelming Origin debut a couple of years ago, but he has been playing some good football of late and his versatility could come in handy.

Andrew Fifita: While he is officially not expected back until Round 16, Fifita is understood to be making a push to return early from injury this weekend and if he can pull it off and emerge unscathed he would certainly come into calculations for Game Two. The Blues are unlikely to take a chance on him if he’s underdone though.

That’s it for the Blues at this stage, but there’s always the possibility that this weekend’s club games could further complicate things. Let us know your thoughts either in the comments section below or on our Facebook page, and be sure to check out our article on Queensland’s selection woes for Game Two as well.