NSW State of Origin Blueprint 2012 and beyond

Ok guys so I know I may be very early but while the game is still reasonably fresh in my head, I thought I would outline my blueprint for 2012 and beyond.

Basically, Ricky Stuart severely contradicted himself this series after saying after game I he would stay consistent and name players in their positions. From that, we can see he failed massively. At this present time, Jarryd Hayne is scratched in at fullback and no where else. Stuart should have picked him at fullback before Minichiello and then we wouldn't have had this problem of Mini having an absolute shocker. He isn't NSW's fourth best fullback and he has past his best days of '03 and '04.

Second comes the issue of the backrow. The make-up of the backrow really didn't make any sense. For a start, playing Gallen in the front row really weakened the backrow. Gallen would have got the same amount of work at lock and would of done the job just as admirably but only having one specialist prop in the starting line-up is not the way to go in an origin match let alone in the decider. I respect Gallen and I think he is a great player but I feel playing him in the front row weakened our backrow.

Glenn Stewart? Really? Why? What has he done that deserves a spot in the decider of Origin ahead of the likes of Watmough and Lewis? Nothing. Beau Scott was the first preference and I was fine with this was there really any need to bring him in. NSW could have named Lewis or Watmough in the starting line-up and left the one who missed out on the bench and then bring in another prop to have the bench with two specialist props, a specialist backrower and a utility. The way the bench should look.

Our front row rotation during the whole series was disgraceful. The way Ricky handled it was terrible. We had nearly every front rower available play for NSW except for the two best candidates, Weyman and Tolman. Snowden was meh, Merrin was meh and King was absolutely useless and has never been the best option for NSW. This series was supposed to be about consistency in the selection room and it certainly didn't happen.

It is these selection issues that have caused NSW fans heartache for 6 years running. When is enough going to be enough?


Now I have that out, I can move onto what I feel needs to be done for 2012. I am going to split this into positions and from that I will explain my preferences.

Fullback
Josh Dugan
Jarryd Hayne
Michael Gordon
Brett Stewart
Lachlan Coote

You could also add Nathan Gardner to that list but I feel he is one or two more years away before knowing if he actually has what it takes for Origin. One thing for sure is he has one important characteristic, toughness.
Josh Dugan is definitely my first preference followed by Hayne. Dugan is the best fullback this state has it was a real shame that he got injured in Origin I and didn't recover in time to get his spot back.

Wing
Akulia Uate
Brett Morris
Michael Gordon

There are really only three wingers in the running for this. Uate and Morris would both be top priority for wing. Gordon is also listed here but he is a better fullback than winger hence why he is last on the list. Jarryd Hayne could also be a candidate if Dugan was fit and all three options above were unavailable.

Centres
Jamie Lyon
Chris Lawrence
Michael Jennings
Mark Gasnier
Jamal Idris
Josh Morris
Matt Cooper

There are a number of options but the above players are probably the best suited to the job. They are in no particular order and it comes down to left centre and right centre. There seems to be an abundance of right centres and not as many left centres. All those players could play on either side of the field easily but may not be as effective.

Five-eigth
Jamie Soward
Jarrod Mullen
Terry Campese
Todd Carney

Soward has done a fine job throughout the Origin series and deserves to keep his spot for another series, maybe even five. Jarrod Mullen, Terry Campese and Todd Carney are all in the running for Soward's spot but would be unlikely to get it. Carney is probably the best option there but he has been unable to find form this season and has a lot to do to convince me he should play Origin.

Halfback
Michell Pearce
Luke Walsh
Jarrod Mullen
Todd Carney

Once again in no particular order. Mullen gets a call-up in both positions as he can do both (although he is a better five-eigth). Many on this forum, particularly Julian though, has said Walsh is NSW's best halfback. This is possibly true but the only thing not going his way is that Wayne Pearce is not his father. I wouldn't have taken Walsh as a possible NSW contender earlier this year but over the last few weeks, it is becoming obvious that Walsh is starting to flourish and become a better player. He has a lot of development in him but by 2012 who knows? At this stage, Pearce is our best option at the moment. Carney gets a mention as well purely on his versatility in the halves.

Props
Michael Weyman
Aiden Tolman
Kade Snowden
Keith Galloway
Luke Douglas
Trent Merrin
Tim Grant

This is in order from the best option downwards. Form changes from season to season though and could change this order easily. I'd like to see NSW stay true but first they need to find the right combination, Weyman and Tolman should both be starters with the two bench props to be selected from Snowden down to Grant on form.

Hookers
Michael Ennis
Robbie Farah

The Michael Ennis vs Robbie Farah debate comes up every season and I change my mind each season with these two. Let's just decide this one when the season comes around. At the moment though, I favour Ennis.

Backrowers
Paul Gallen
Greg Bird
Luke Lewis
Beau Scott
Ben Creagh
Anthony Watmough

I was pretty happy with the backrowers selected. Its just a matter of finding the right options. I feel putting Gallen in the middle at lock, restricting Bird to the left side of the field and restricting Beau Scott to the right in the correct option. Then have Lewis come off the bench and relieve either of Scott or Bird (or both remembering Lewis can play 80 minutes as well).

Kurt Gidley

His name is always penciled in. It might as well be a position. He can have the remaining bench spot, there are no other utilities that compare to him.

From this here is the side I would like to see for 2012 and beyond at this time. Things will likely change by next season:

1. Josh Dugan
2. Brett Morris/Michael Gordon (LEFT)
3. Michael Jennings (LEFT)
4. Mark Gasnier (RIGHT)
5. Akulia Uate (RIGHT)
6. Jamie Soward
7. Mitchell Pearce/Luke Walsh
8. Aiden Tolman
9. Michael Ennis/Robbie Farah
10. Michael Weyman
11. Greg Bird (LEFT)
12. Beau Scott (RIGHT)
13. Paul Gallen

14. Kurt Gidley
15. Luke Lewis
16. Kade Snowden/Keith Galloway/Luke Douglas/Trent Merrin/Tim Grant
17. Kade Snowden/Keith Galloway/Luke Douglas/Trent Merrin/Tim Grant

Bold options are preferred at this stage.



Well there is my blueprint. Bring on the criticism. I am expecting to have left someone big out.

 

Buderus tbh.