Matty Johns has delivered his verdict on the Blues halves battle while naming his ideal backline for the State of Origin opener.
Panthers teammates Nathan Cleary and Jahrome Luai are the incumbent NSW halves but the form of Sharks superstar Nicho Hynes has sparked debate about who Brad Fittler should pick.
Johns said club combinations at the Panthers proved the tipping point in his call.
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“If I was to pick the side this morning, I would pick Nicho at 14 and I would leave Luai at six, the combination he has with not just (Nathan) Cleary but Isaiah Yeo, that three combination that sits right in the middle of the field is just such an advantage for NSW,” Johns said on SEN 1170 The Round Up.
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“Successful Original sides, there has been an important combination that sits right at the front of the side, at one point you had Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley and Bradley Clyde.
“At other points, you’ve had Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus and Ben Kennedy there, combinations are very important to a representative side and that Penrith one is a beauty in the middle of the field for NSW.”
Johns also had his say on the Blues backline in the wake of a serious injury to Josh Addo-Carr who is set to miss up to eight weeks with a high-ankle sprain.
“Some interesting ones around the outside backs, no Josh Add-Carr, so what do you do? For a lot of people this will start the (Joseph) Suaalii talk again,” Johns said.
“But this is what I would do at the back, my two wingers, let’s say for instance Tom Trbojevic is fit and ready to go, I’d go (Brian) To’o and Tom Trbojevic.”
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“I’d have Trbojevic on the wing, in my opinion, wingers these days have more involvement, are all almost more blue ribbon than a centre, a centre is a real grafter,” Johns added.
“I’d have Tom for his kick reception, it’s much easier saying to a winger, ‘Hey listen, Tommy, go roam the field and do what you want’, easier for a winger to do that than a centre.
“My back three would be (James) Tedesco at fullback, Tom Trbojevic, To’o – that’s a lot of yardage and punch.
“Latrell (Mitchell) goes without speaking – he’s one centre. The other centre, well take your pick, is it (Jack) Wighton, (Stephen) Crichton and (Matt) Burton, we’ve got a lot of depth in the outside backs.”
Trbojevic is currently under an injury cloud after suffering back spasms in the Sea Eagles loss to the Panthers in Round 6. It follows a run of worrying hamstring injuries which have plagued him in recent seasons
On Tuesday night NRL360 discussed whether the Sea Eagles star should be in the frame for Origin selection.
“If he doesn’t improve markedly do you pick him in Origin,?” Dan Ginnane asked the panel.
“I’m having a conversation with him, if I’m the Origin selectors,” Paul Kent replied.
“Have a conversation, ‘are you ok?’.
“But I would take him on trust because he’s a champion player.”
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio, however, said if the team was picked tomorrow he shouldn’t be in Fittler’s side.
“There’s something there that’s not right,” he said.
“If I have to pick the team tomorrow I don’t think you can have him.”
The panel also had their say on whether Roosters star Suaalii should be considered for selection after signing with Rugby Australia from 2024.
The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley said NSW should be developing players who have a long-term future with the Blues.
“If Suaalii has made his decision to leave the game in two years, why would you give him a NSW State of Origin jumper now? I wouldn’t,” he said.
“When Freddy brought in Nathan Cleary five years ago, he groomed him for that position. At that point in time, Nathan probably wasn’t the best option but he got him ready for the future. “In this instance I don’t think there’s any evidence whatsoever that he is the No. 1 pick if Addo-Carr is out.
Crawley said Fittler should turn to a South Sydney flyer instead.
“In fact, he chose to play for Samoa at the World Cup and Campbell Graham chose to play for Australia. Campbell Graham is in great form this year,” he said.
“He played on the wing for the Kangaroos and if you’re looking for another winger in the Blues, he’s my No. 1 pick.
Ricco said the Blues were flush with options to play wing.
“Campbell Graham is a great option, Stephen Crichton has been there before, Daniel Tupou has been there before,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s crisis stations for the Blues because Josh Addo-Carr is out.”
Kent, however, said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Suaalii was named for series opener.
