Former NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley has revealed his shock halves selection view amid a suggestion reigning Dally M winner Nicho Hynes’ claim to the No.6 jersey has become “impossible” to ignore.
Meanwhile, Blues assistant Greg Alexander admits he was blindsided by talk one star may not put his hand up for selection this year, while there are calls to omit teen sensation Joseph Suaalii — and not because of his defection to rugby.
Read on for the latest Blues and Maroons news in Origin Scout.
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DALEY’S SHOCK HALVES CALL
Ex-NSW coach Daley has revealed he would overlook both incumbent Jarome Luai and in-form star Nicho Hynes in the starting halves if he was picking the Blues side this year.
Veteran Daily Telegraph reporter Phil Rothfield suggested on Monday morning it was now “totally impossible to ignore Nicho Hynes’ claims to play at five-eighth” amid growing talk the Cronulla star and reigning Dally M winner could break up the Nathan Cleary-Luai halves partnership.
But legendary five-eighth Daley revealed his shock preference would be to name either Bulldogs superstar Matt Burton or Canberra’s Jack Wighton in the No.6.
“I’ll probably get laughed out of town but I’d go with Burton or Wighton,” Daley, who coached the Blues from 2013 to 2017, said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“I’d probably look at him (Hynes) being more off the interchange bench. That’s where I see him fitting in at this stage.
“I just like those big, bustling five-eighths. I love Wighton and Burton, big runners of the football, both left-foot kicking games, strong in defence. To me it just shows you – when Jack plays Origin regardless of his club form, he plays well.
“Matt Burton, I love him as a player. And in that environment, plus he’s got a bit of a combination with Cleary, he knows those Penrith guys. I’d have no hesitation in throwing him in. I see Nicho in more of that utility role off the bench.”
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BRANDY BLINDSIDED BY WIGHTON TALK
Wighton, meanwhile, is no guarantee to be available for selection in this year’s series amid a Daily Telegraph report suggesting he is considering quitting representative football.
While the report said NSW hierarchy was aware of Wighton’s potential unavailability, Blues selector and assistant Greg Alexander revealed his surprise at the speculation on Sunday.
“I had heard he was considering being done with representative football, which would be a shame, it really would,” Alexander said on the Fox League coverage.
“Jack has been a big part of the side over the last five seasons… he’s had some great games for NSW … He is an Origin player. He’s tough.
“Hopefully me or Freddy (Blues coach Brad Fittler) can get on the phone and, if he is considering it, turn him around, because we might need him this year.”
SUAALII SHOULD BE SNUBBED … AND NOT BECAUSE OF RUGBY MOVE
Rothfield, meanwhile, has revealed his Blues squad, and there is no place for superstar teen Joseph Suaalii.
And it’s not because of his defection to rugby union but because of his form — the veteran pundit saying there are as many as seven centres currently ahead of him in the pecking order.
“I don’t think he (Suaalii) has played particularly well for the last couple of weeks,” Rothfield said on Monday.
“I thought Reimis Smith more than matched him when he went to Melbourne a couple of weeks ago … and when the Roosters were desperate against the Sharks I don’t think he produced a lot.
“I don’t think the rugby decision should have anything to do with it.”
Rothfield said Suaalii was not facing “enormous scrutinty” every time he took the field after signing a $1.6m-a-season rugby deal from next year that will make him the highest paid player in any Australian football code.
He said the likes of Campbell Graham, Wighton, Kotoni Staggs, Stephen Crichton and Newcastle’s Bradman Best all deserved to be ahead of Suaalii at centre while Brian To’o, Daniel Tupou or Graham should be preferred picks on the wing.
“If Joseph doesn’t make this NSW side it won’t be as Hamish McClennan, the Rugby Australia boss, has suggested a vindictive decision.”
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‘FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE’ — RCG BUILDS UNDENIABLE CASE
Rothfield has suggested Blues coach Brad Fittler and Alexander are under enormous pressure to get their picks right this season after losing two of the past three series — and making some key selection blunders in the process.
One of those, he said, was leaving Test prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard out of last year’s series.
While Fittler insisted there was nothing personal behind the 29-year-old Parramatta star’s omission, there was speculation it may have been down to attitude and his relationship with the many former Penrith Panthers teammates in the squad.
Whatever the reason, Rothfield believes Fittler cannot afford to make the same mistake this year.
“Reagan Campbell-Gillard, for goodness’ sake … Freddy saying last year that he didn’t suit the Blues, give me a break,” Rothfield said.
“He was outstanding for the Kangaroos at the World Cup and he was outstanding for the Parramatta Eels yesterday. I’d like to see him back in the mix this year.”
Parramatta Eels Press Conference | 04:38
