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.
3. Tom Trbojevic vs Jacob Kiraz
Zac Lomax looks as though he'll miss Origin One. A few weeks back I named Tom Trobojevic as the most likely to take his vacated wing spot.
You just have to pick Tommy Turbo. Right?
He looked incredible upon return to the Manly outfit this past Saturday night but his knee was heavily strapped and he admitted to suffering a cork in the post game.
Can you trust Trobojevic's body to last the 80 minutes? Has he shown the performances to warrant it?
I left Jacob Kiraz off my list for the fact he was likely to return a game prior to selections. He returned earlier than expected and has been incredible.
Ok he was bad on Thursday night, but that was just a horrible night for everyone involved with the Bulldogs and can probably be written off.
Kiraz is a monster. He's built for Origin. He's in form and he's in the talking.
He needs to bounce back in Magic Round but if he slots right back into the form we know he is capable of, then there are serious questions to be asked.
