New South Wales

Alot of people say that the qld spirit is a myth. While I'm certainly not going to debunk it, I actually think it is zoned in on too much as the reason we can continually compete with better sides, on paper, with a far greater player base, over almost 30 years. I think it's one of two factors in it. The other is that Qlders understand origin better. Qld selectors pick a team to win. NSW selectors pick a team to reward the best player in each position in their state. Our team clicks better as it's picked to a plan. Things like club combinations are taken into account, moreso than what is printed in the paper. Qld selectors seem far more comfortable going against public opinion to not pick a certain media favourite. Herein lies the reason Qld will continue to win at least 50% of games for a while to come, no matter what the players we have. We'll go through eras where we're severely undermanned, like 2003 - 05, but when we can put a team on the park close to the best nsw team, we'll win. NSW need to pick to a plan. Even in this thread, people are pushing their own club player. Pick your team to a plan and you will come up with far better teams.

 

My NSW team:
1. B Stewart
2. J Monaghan
3. M Cooper
4. L Lewis
5. J Hayne
6. T Campese
7. P Wallace
8. B Kite
9. M Ennis
10. L Bailey
11. A Lafranchi
12. N Hindmarsh
13. J Sutton
14. R Farah
15. M Weyman
16. Cross
17. B Creagh

Here's my thinking:
Stewart is the most reliable fullback you've got. He'll give you safety at the back. With Sutton at lock, a 4th creative option is not needed. The backline is reliable. Monaghan and Hayne are both good in the air, which will be needed, while Cooper and Lewis are very safe options. The NSW back five should not be looking to outgun the Qld back 5, they should be looking to contain. They're out of their depth, but they can limit the destructiveness. Campese and Wallace will work out well as a halves pairing. Both drift between five eighth and halfback. Add Ennis into the fray and it gives them 3 quality long kicking options. Ennis can also help organise the team from dummy half. He would come off after 30 odd minutes for the more agile Farah to take advantage of a tiring defence. Ennis would then come back on mid second half as a lock to give Sutton a break, and then I'd replace Farah after 65, 70 odd minutes.

The forward pack is an interesting one. With the backrow selected, the bench doesn't need as much milage. Cross and Weyman both fit this bill. This should allow 2 recognised props to be on the field at all times. Creagh's obviously an 80 minute player, but I only expect Hindmarsh and Laffranchi to play 60 minutes at this level due to the speed. Even blokes like Johnson average 60 odd minutes. Therefore, a third quality backrower is needed on the bench. He also adds a wide running forward to the mix. Even if he only plays 30 minutes, he will still do it better than an impact backrower would. If you look at Qld, Lillyman and others have often come on and played 25 minutes.

Honestly, I still think that NSW won't win with the team if Qld plays their best, as the qld team is utter sex at the moment. All that can be hoped is that the game becomes a grind.

 

Yeah. Exactly. You view it as a reward for being the best in that position. The selection in the team is worth more than a win. It's pathetic!

 

I'm presuming that Price, Civonaceva and Myles will be the three starting meter eaters for qld, with Johnson and Harrison playing on the fringes and as link men. I'm sure that they could go as close as any other combination picked. Idelically, you'd have Willie Mason from 3 or 4 yrs ago playing in the backrow, but NSW doesn't seem to have a Myles or Thaiday that can play in the backrow and frontrow who is a leading candidate. I suppose there's an argument for starting Cross or Weyman with Kite in the second row and Sutton on the bench. It would probably help them break even early on.

 

Nah. It's not obvious that a bench player should be selected over the plethora of other nsw backrow options.

 

Gallen plus Ennis would be a disaster. The only way I could play him is as a bench forward, coming on at the exact time Ennis came off and going back off when Ennis came back on. They're too hot headed to be out there together.