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.

3. James Roberts

Similarly to his right edge partner Trbojevic, James Roberts has had a slow start to 2019. This is thanks to a combination of injuries, form and off-field incidents, not exactly what you need when you are trying to retain an Origin jersey.

After playing only 65 minutes combined between rounds one and two respectively, Roberts went on to feature for the entire game during Brisbane's one-point loss to St George Illawarra.

Since then he has been sidelined indefinitely with another reoccurrence of a persistent Achilles tendon issue, as well as having been photographed being carried out of a Brisbane nightspot following a few too many beers. Not a good look for someone who is trying to recover from an injury.

Even when he is on the field, Roberts isn't having his usual influence on the game. Registering zero try assists and averaging a lowly 84 running metres per game, a substantial drop on the 107 running metres per game he has averaged since joining Brisbane.

With fellow centres Euan Aitken, Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Leilua and Curtis Scott having all made fast starts to the year, Roberts ought to sort himself out sooner rather than later.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 29: James Roberts in action during a New South Wales State of Origin training session at Coogee Oval on May 29, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

10 COMMENTS

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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 science🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱

  8. 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.