Bellamy behind Pearce snubbing

SYDNEY Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce was snubbed by City after selectors accepted advice from NSW coach Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy wanted Brisbane Broncos No 7 Peter Wallace as the City halfback and he got his way. Pearce couldn't even crack a spot on the bench, with Wallace to confront Newcastle halfback Jarrod Mullen in the annual City-Country match in Orange on Friday night.
It is understood Bellamy wants Wallace as his halfback for the State of Origin opener in Melbourne on June 3.
"It was also a matter of allowing a halfback to play 80 minutes," City coach John Cartwright said last night.
"It's not really fair giving two halfbacks 40 minutes each. Based on form, Peter deserves a go."
Jamie Lyon won selection from Country despite repeatedly saying he didn't want to play for NSW this season.
Coach Laurie Daley rang the Manly centre on Saturday to ask if he wanted to play for Country and if he would he wear the jumper with pride.
"Jamie told Laurie his heart was certainly in it," Country chairman of selectors Jock Colley said.
So Lyon was last night named alongside Matt Cooper in the centres for Friday night's annual match against City, in Orange.
Only last week, Lyon reiterated his desire to bypass rep football and pushed for Cooper and Michael Jennings to be the NSW centre combination.
"I believe his form warrants it, Jamie is one of the competition's form centres," Colley said.
"We believe he will play and play very well. We are also confident that his heart will be in it. Laurie asked whether he was keen to play and Jamie said that yes, he was keen to do well."
City and Country chose powerful sides last night in what will be a genuine trial for NSW State of Origin spots.
It is believed that up to 12 places in the Blues squad remain up for grabs.
Bulldogs skipper Andrew Ryan was named captain of a Country side which includes Dragons prop Michael Weyman and Newcastle bolter James McManus.
City named Michael Jennings for the match but the Penrith star remains in doubt with an ankle injury.
There are conflicting reports about whether Jennings will be fit by Friday but his chances of playing are remote.
Jennings' centre partner, Chris Lawrence, also has an ankle injury and is in doubt.
NSW City: Wade McKinnon, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings, Chris Lawrence, David Williams, John Sutton, Peter Wallace, Keith Galloway, Robbie Farah, Luke Stuart, Trent Waterhouse, Mark Minichiello, Luke O'Donnell. Interchange: Craig Wing, Shane Shackleton, Adam Cuthbertson, Ryan Hoffman.
NSW Country: Luke Patten, James McManus, Matt Cooper, Jamie Lyon, Joel Monaghan, Terry Campese, Jarrod Mullen, Josh Perry, Michael Ennis, Michael Weyman, Andrew Ryan (capt), Ben Creagh, Alan Tongue. Interchange: Justin Poore, Steve Simpson, Anthony Tupou, Ben Hornby. 18th man: Beau Scott.