When the New South Wales State of Origin team was announced last week I expected to see a combination selected mostly from the NRL’s form teams, not a hodgepodge mix with an unhealthy bottom-eight flavour.

Laurie Daley’s Blues will run onto ANZ Stadium this week representing 11 clubs with eight of the squad chosen from the lower half of the competition and only four coming from sides inside the top-four.

It’s staggering, not even Kevin Walters can contain his delight. Brimming with confidence the rookie coach seamlessly staged the Maroons annual pre-game injury heist. Now he’s probably learning to laugh Goofy-style from his Golden Boot five-eighth knowing only a miracle can prevent his squad, with 12 stars from the premiership’s top-four sides, from being threatened in Game 1.

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Queensland’s decade of domination stems from a generation of freakish talent gelled mostly across the Broncos, Storm and Cowboys while NSW’s feeble resistance has relied on dubious combinations selected from a broader network.

But there’s no reason for a repeat in 2016.

If you think NSW’s problems are all on-field, then think again. The Blues selectors are a concern. A major concern.

For starters, Dylan Walker and Robbie Farah are way down on form and confidence – handy prerequisites if you’re expecting to thrill 80,000 diehards.

Trent Barrett hasn’t done Walker any favours, expecting the ex-Rabbitoh to instantly ignite Manly’s backline from the unfamiliar playmaker role. The sizzle is simmering and doubts persist over his one-on-one defence.

You have to wonder then, given Walker’s awkward Brookvale initiation, what Daley and Bob Fulton expect from the first time bench utility. If strike-power and reliable defence across several positions tick all the boxes then someone rang the wrong Jack Bird.



Likewise, with one win from seven Tigers outings Farah is hardly going to be strutting around camp-Daley grinning from ear to ear. Throw in ongoing speculation about his longevity at Wests Tigers and frosty relationship with Jason Taylor and you’d be forgiven for thinking Danny Buderus was the only other hooker on Laurie’s list.

Farah’s inclusion is a bright light beaming in the selectors’ faces. How the questionable Tigers run-on jumped Michael Ennis sounds like a question only the straight faced Tony Archer could answer. In career-best form, Ennis’ slick work with current Blues James Maloney and Andrew Fifita have orchestrated Cronulla’s surge to top spot.

In my opinion, the NSW selectors are confused. Stranded between loyalty and generation-next they’ve strangled themselves with their own twisted logic.

Not many doubted Paul Gallen would lead the team despite nudging 35 years but the blatant omissions of Beau Scott and Luke Lewis exclusively based on age remain a mystery.

Beau Scott took his axing on the chin telling The Saturday Telegraph he understood Daley’s reasoning,

“It was always going to go to the younger kids who have a long-term future in the game. NSW are trying to create that now”, he said.

With one series win from the last ten, one can only imagine what future the Blues selectors have in mind. How about picking the best and most deserving for the task instead of harvesting excuses for another loss.

I’d be interested to hear young Matt Moylan’s thoughts on the shafted brigade. Having been smeared across Shark Park in the tackle of the season I suspect the try-bound Panther would welcome Lewis’ intensity throughout the series.



In fact, the Lewis axing is one of the more perplexing and most under-the-radar snubs in Origin history. The busy all-rounder felt the wrath after playing from the bench in all three games in the Blues rare 2014 series win.

Injury free for several seasons now, the 17-time Blue is in better form than two years ago. Capable of covering 80 minutes, Lewis averages 64 per match after 11 rounds mixing punishing defence with the creative skill and unsettling power that would worry Cameron Smith’s line-up – as a minimum, a spot on the bench a must.

It’s only speculation now but come Game 2, who should make way for Lewis?

For me it’s a no brainer, three props in the dug-out plus a fish-out-of-water utility wreak of negativity and an unsustainable approach for multiple victories against a points-happy opponent. Aaron Woods might be a decent bloke but he’s bugged by inconsistency and best omitted with James Tamou to start.

Sadly for Blues fans they’re stuck with a questionable list and unlikely dream missing several who’ve earned the right.

Premiership heavyweights Brisbane and North Queensland contribute six and five players respectively for the opening clash yet the table topping Sharks only support three. The addition of the in-form Bird, Ennis and Lewis might sound shark alarms at Blues pool sessions but without them Queensland have much less to fear.