Brad Fittler promised change and he has delivered. The Blues, as expected, have named a mountain of first-time Origin players as they look to start their very own dynasty. 11 players on Origin debut is unheard of.
Some huge names, including almost Origin certainties, have been overlooked. The former Roosters and Panthers legend has taken some massive games in naming an attack-minded side.
We take a look at the side below:
Strengths
Attack Attack Attack: Latrell Mitchell, James Roberts, Tommy Turbo, Josh Addo-Carr, James Tedesco. Are you kidding me!? Yikes. That side has possibly the five most exciting, attacking backs in the competition in one back line. I would love to get on the overs on line breaks in this series based on these five alone. Throw in James Maloney, Nathan Cleary and Damien Cook, oh my. I don't do well with predictions but I'm willing to guess there will be a highlight reel try or two in this series scored by one of these five.
All-star forward pack: The Blues have FINALLY gone with a mobile yet massive and importantly IN-FORM forward pack. For too many years the Blues picked on either size, or ball playing, or form, but never all of the above. Boyd Cordner is lucky if based on form alone, but there are few better on his day. Jack de Belin is arguably the form lock of the competition. Paul Vaughan is bashing opponents. Angus Crichton is a massive inclusion. Jake Turbo is the best ball playing 13 for years. RCG and David Klemmer are Kangaroos bookends. Throw in arguably the most damaging wide-running rep forward of the past two years in Tyson Frizell and this is going to be good.
Speed to burn: Mitchell, Roberts, Turbo, Addo-Carr, Cook. Name a faster player in the NRL right now than any of those five. Go on, I'll wait. Not only are they all attacking freaks, they almost literally leave smoke when in the clear. Any half breaks will be turned into genuine line breaks due to speed. Any Queensland breaks will be shut down if it leads to a foot race. I literally cannot wait to see the Fox in open space at the MCG. Give Mitchell or Roberts any space, they're going to burn you. If I sound excited, I am.
Weaknesses
Huge questions out wide: To say I'm excited to see Mitchell and Roberts in attack is an understatement. To say I'm dreading seeing Mitchell and Roberts is defence is also an understatement. Simply put they're going to have to outscore their opposition as I can't see them containing Greg Inglis and Will Chambers. Turbo is playing out of position while Addo Carr is hardly a defensive rock. Maloney and Cleary will be targeted from the first run of the series. If the Blues are going to win, they're going to need to hold Queensland at bay. I see this side leaking plenty of points out wide.
Expectation: The Blues haven't done well recently with pressure. That isn't a huge statement. In fact they've been named favourites more times than not yet have been left clutching at Maroon straws. Let's not forget Cleary is only in this third year of rugby league. Four of the back five are debuting at this level. Maloney has been worked over in Origin previously. Cook, Vaughan, de Belin, Crichton, and RCG are all wearing their first sky blue jersey in a series the Blues are expected to come out and wipe the QLD'ers off the park. Big pressure.
Verdict
This is the Blues side I have been waiting for years to see named. A side that is in form and demanded selection. I am so happy to see the likes of Josh Jackson and Aaron Woods overlooked for Crichton and Vaughan. Nothing against the aforementioned players but the Blues need to out attack the Maroons to win this series. In form, ball playing forwards are key to achieving just that.
Cleary is the most exciting half the Blues have had since Jarrod Mullen. The hope will be that this early debut will turn out more positively than Mullen's debut. Cleary has every tool in the kit to be an Origin mainstay and I'd say he and Kalyn Ponga are the future of this series for the next decade. That said, he is set to debut in front of 60,000+ at the MCG on a cold Wednesday night with the likes of Josh McGuire, Coen Hess and Dylan Napa headed his way.
Cook is the form player of the competition right now and his selection alone has made me unbelievably happy. The Blues haven't had a number nine who can take the series by the scruff of the neck and tear it wide open.
The Blues have named a far superior forward pack. That is where the platform will be laid, but ultimately it's the outside backs and halves where the game will be won or lost.
The form halves have been named and the most attacking back five possible have been fitted for their jerseys. This side has it all. If it can contain Inglis and Chambers, this could be the start of something big.
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