Tough job for a NSW origin selector. Kimmorely, Gower and Orford. None of them really in great form though Kimmorely was the best of them over the weekend. Now he has a chance a redemption or Origin oblivion. Sharks team mate Greg Bird deserves his selection and Hoffman offer more versatility off the bench. However the outside backs still worry me. Cooper is a great defensive centre but balance demands an attacking centre. Lyon is not our man. I still say move Matt King in the centres where he is more comfortable and play a specialist winger. Eric Grothe is running into form and has played Origin before. He should be in the side.
I give NSW a faint chance. Simply because Matt Bowen is not in the the QLD squad. His combination with Thurston has the potential to rip NSW apart. Not sure on the reasons why but his non-selection is a good thing for NSW.
The teams:
NSW: Anthony Minichiello, Matt King, Jamie Lyon, Matt Cooper, Jarryd Hayne, Braith Anasta, Brett Kimmorley, Brett White, Danny Buderus, Brent Kite, Willie Mason, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan. Interchange Luke Bailey, Steve Simpson, Ryan Hoffman, Greg Bird
QLD: Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Steve Bell, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis, Darren Lockyer (capt), Johnathan Thurston, Steve Price, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Tonie Carroll, Carl Webb, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Shaun Berrigan, Jacob Lillyman, Nate Myles, Neville Costigan.
