With Origin I now under two months away and some players having had better starts to the year than others, we have decided to have a look at which players are in danger of missing out on selection for Origin I. With the reasons ranging from injury to suspension, to just plain bad form.
5. Jack de Belin
If I was a betting man, I would put my house on Jack de Belin missing out on selection for Origin I.
After being charged with aggravated sexual assault and the NRL's subsequent decision to stand de Belin down on their new no-fault stand down policy, the St George Illawarra lock's hopes of retaining his Blues jersey were all but dashed.
Even if he were to be victorious in challenging the legality of the NRL's new policy over the coming weeks in court, it would be extremely tough to build up a base of match fitness and a portfolio demanding his selection in the team in such a limited time frame prior to Origin I.
And with fellow middle forwards Jake Trbojevic and Tevita Pangai Junior having had explosive starts to the season, de Belin would be hard pressed retaining his position even if he was free of the scandal he finds himself in.
Iโd include Nathan Cleary in the list. To be fair, a couple on that list have been out injured, rather than form related.
James Roberts Doesn’t deserve 2 play 4 the Broncos ever again without playing 4 the blues. He’s real butt plug that one.
To be honest he did absolutely nothing last year 4 New South Wales alot like what he dose 4 Brisbane , scores a try then gose to sleep and thinks he’s jobs done.
De Belin – Gone!!! (Grub)
Roberts – Gone!!! (Grub)
Turbo – Safe, Hope he makes a recovery in time.
Maloney – Not Safe, Needs to improve, I can see Keary in the #6
Peachy – Safe, Needs to improve but I think he’ll be there again.
Pick the same team.
Replace de belin.
None of those 5 would be that great a loss and can be easily replaced.
Any forward for De Belend.
Leilua, Crocker, Aitken, Bird – Any one of these guys offers more than Roberts.
Trbojevic – While he is a class fullback there are better wingers in the NRL – Ferguson, Cotric, Graham, Mansour.
Maloney is a world class grub and should have retired at the end of last year. No way he gets in ahead of Keary or Walker.
Peachy I would swap for Radley.
I would also swap Cleary for Reynolds who is playing really well and has a far superior kicking game to Cleary.
The only other change I would make is Crichton out as he is way overrated and replace him with Murray or Finucane.
Kelby ,Only Queensland coachers pick the same team , freddy wouldn’t be able 2 help himself he’s already co#ky and the blues haven’t won anything yet. Qld 9years the blues have a long way 2 go yet.
There will be more changers this year with Qld I think the forwards, not great sofar but the half’s r going pretty good Munster, Morgan, Dce, Norman, Hunt and Ponga R ripping in 4 there clubs and 4 of them blokes can play fullback if needed.
+1
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Pick red hot form players only. Daley’s mistake was getting to close to the players and playing favourites. Its a 3 game series not a full season. Coaches for a three game series do not have to show any loyalty for a representative team. Pick the best in form 17 in position and win the tournament. If the players are good enough next season then pick them again. If not pick the form players that are. Its not rocket science๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ
Fittler comes across as a very decent and fair person. As good as Trbojevic has been and as good as Pangai Jr was in one game and poor in the rest, I’d back de Belin over both of them for a starting spot if he is cleared to play.
Really…+1 to all of that?
Mansour shouldn’t have been re signed by the club, let alone be chosen in any rep games. He’s way to slow & not doing anything, other than being run around.