The NSW side for State of Origin III taken from the NSWRL website:
Jarryd Hayne – Parramatta Eels
Brett Morris – St George Illawarra Dragons
Michael Jennings – Penrith Panthers
Beau Scott – St George Illawarra Dragons
Michael Gordon – Penrith Panthers
Trent Barrett (c) – Cronulla Sharks
Mitchell Pearce – Sydney Roosters
Jason King – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Michael Ennis – Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Kade Snowden – Cronulla Sharks
Luke Lewis – Penrith Panthers
Paul Gallen – Cronulla Sharks
Greg Bird – Gold Coast Titans
Kurt Gidley – Newcastle Knights
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs – Canberra Raiders
Tim Mannah – Parramatta Eels
Anthony Watmough – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Some surprises. For some reason, NSW’s best forward from game II is missing. Hindmarsh deserves to feel very disappointed about missing out. Just because you are not whacking people around the head and giving away cheap penalties does not mean that you are not tough. Hindmarsh held the forwards together during the period of the game where NSW started to lose it.
Scott is very lucky to retain his place in the side and as is Barrett. Gidley also could be considered lucky as his Origin performances never match what he can do at club level.
The pluses are the selections of Snowden and Mannah in the forwards. Two of the best young props in the game. And Jennings make a deserved and well overdue return to the centres.
The omission of Soward is puzzling as apart from experience, he offers far more than Barrett. The selectors have made a tentative steps in the right direction but most will wonder why when bold steps are needed to build a NSW side for the future.
2 responses so far ↓
gilmae // Jun 28, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Gall…ehh, you know how that one goes. Bird might be good for some as well. It will make the game hard to watch though, resisting the urge to yell “Gouge ‘im!” every time he gets the ball.
Shaun // Jun 28, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Yeah, I think the selectors think someone who whacks people around the head and gives away cheap penalties is tough. Gallen gets away with it a club level but it is a liability in Origin.
Bird is another who can’t produce club form in Origin. And he hasn’t had an exactly brilliant season so far.
I was thinking Farah was unlucky but I just don’t think he has what Origin needs. Then again I’m not sure Ennis does either.