Round 12 will signal the final game of the "pre-Origin" stage of 2023 NRL season.
With the teams set to be selected on Sunday and Monday, this weekend's round of footy will provide Origin hopefuls with their last chance to audition.
Don't think for a second that Billy Slater and Brad Fittler don't have their top 17s ready to go, but there's always the chance that questions still remain.
Four questions to be somewhat exact. The below four questions.
2. Tried and tested or form?
Both coaches will be asking themselves this question.
Does Fittler opt for the Dally M medalist and in form Nicho Hynes or does he stick with the tried and tested Origin-winning Jahrome Luai?
Luai had a monster game this Friday night against the Roosters. Truthfully though, Luai's form has been well down in 2023, hence the calls for a Hynes debut.
Nathan Cleary and the aforementioned Luai have two Premierships and an Origin series victory as a duo. You could absolutely see why that decision, an easy one, would/could be made.
Hynes is a different player. He plays both sides of the ball while you hardly ever see Luai on the right.
Does this suit or hamper Nathan Cleary? I think the answer to that is ultimately your answer on which option Fittler names.
Or does Freddy name Nicho Hynes on the bench at 14? This would move away from the Damien Cook and Apisai Koroisau combo that has been in place for multiple games now.
Without detouring too far, I don't know why you need to name two 80 minute hookers when you could name Hynes to play anywhere from one through to seven.
This decision could very well decide the series. It's that big of a call.
Meanwhile Billy Slater also faces a similar dilemma when he asks himself.
