Do you hear that sound? That, my friends, is Origin in the air.
With Magic Round this weekend, we're about to turn out attention to the marquee series, and more specifically player selections.
Earlier in the week I made a case for big changes for the Queenslanders. Here I am today to pose a question for the new New South Wales coach, Laurie Daley.
Do you pick and stick with the incumbents who got the job done last year, or do you turn to the in form players of the competition?
Here are the questions I see being asked. The players under pressure from those in far better, current, form.
For the record, I see Nathan Cleary as an automatic in. There's just no way he's not being called in if available.
4. Liam Martin vs Hudson Young/Jacob Preston
Liam Martin is, correctly, in almost every single predicted NSW Origin side both here and beyond.
I think he'll be named in the side somewhere, but to say his form is down in 2025 is not being unfair.
Conversely you have the form second rower of the competition in Canberra's Hudson Young. I'd argue that Jacob Preston, other than Thursday night, has been well above Martin in terms of performance.
No one would begrudge Martin his spot. He was breathtaking in last year's series and one of the Blues stars.
I fully expect both Martin and Hudson Young to be picked, but Angus Chrichton has his side sewn up. I can't see a world in which you can't start Hudson Young, who may be leading the Dally Ms by the time this drops.
Preston will play Origin, but I don't know if it's this season.
