Cody Walker’s starring display against Penrith has catapulted him into the NSW five-eighth conversation, while Stephen Crichton reminded Brad Fittler of his brilliance.
Meanwhile, Latrell Mitchell stamped his claim for a Blues recall with a freak display of his ability in Souths’ win over the Panthers.
Read on for the latest Origin news in Origin Scout.
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Bunnies & Chooks enter Hindy’s Hole! | 07:45
WALKER JOINS BLUES NO.6 BATTLE IN THREE-HORSE RACE
Cody Walker’s starring display in Souths’ 20-18 win over the Panthers has catapulted him into Blues Origin calculations.
Blues assistant Greg Alexander said recently: “The Blues halves will pick themselves”, which is a sign that form will play a big part in who will partner Nathan Cleary in Origin I.
Matty Johns believes based on form Walker deserves to be in the conversation along with Jarome Luai and Nicho Hynes.
“I thought Cody Walker was great tonight,” Johns said on The Late Show with Matty Johns.
“We talk about who is going to wear the NSW No.6? It is pretty much going to be Nicho Hynes or Jarome Luai.
“But you saw the way Cody played tonight. He went out there and dominated.
“He would have combinations with Damien Cook and Latrell, but it just shows he put his hand up tonight with the way he went about it.”
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Nathan Hindmarsh believes Walker would have similar combinations with Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook to what Luai has with the Blues’ Panthers contingent.
“He wouldn’t be out of place in a Blues jersey,” Hindmarsh said.
“We talk about combinations and having Latrell there as well, he would be an easy fit don’t worry about that.”
However, Johns believes based on form Hynes deserves the No.6 jersey, particularly because the Blues are coming off a series loss.
“Jarome has got the advantage of having the understanding and combination with Nathan Cleary, but if I was picking it tomorrow I have got to pick Nicho Hynes on form,” Johns said.
“Luai is the incumbent, but we did lose the series last year.
“I think incumbency stands for a lot when you win the series.
“At the core of a lot of NSW’s success are combinations, but people will argue well it didn’t work last year.
“At the end of the day with Nicho Hynes if he maintains this form how do you keep him out? Maybe he is a No.14, I don’t know.
“There is no doubt that Freddy will look to Nathan Cleary. Cleary is the most important player in the NSW side and you can’t just impart a No.6 alongside him
“He has hinted that he has got the combination with Jarome. If that is the case you have got to play Nicho in the No.14. He has got to be in the squad.”
Bryan Fletcher agreed that Hynes could fill the utility void left by Jack Wighton’s retirement.
“Nicho is the perfect utility player now with no Jack Wighton,” Fletcher said.
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BLUES’ INCUMBENT’S TIMELY ORIGIN REMINDER
Incumbent Blues centre Stephen Crichton has had a slow start to his 2023 campaign with Penrith by his own lofty standards, but he reminded Brad Fittler just how good he is against Souths.
Crichton scored all 18 of Penrith’s points, including a hat-trick and three goals to go with 171 run metres, seven tackle busts and three linebreaks.
Crichton and fellow Blues centre incumbent Matt Burton face a huge task to stay in the side with Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic, who didn’t feature in last year’s series due to injury all but certain to start in the centres.
However, Crichton has won a premiership for the Panthers playing on the wing and could be an outside chance to partner Brian To’o on the flank for the Blues.
Regardless, if Crichton keeps up this sort of form he will be in and around the Blues squad should injuries strike and his versatility makes him a strong squad member for Fittler.
Nathan Hindmarsh marvelled at Crichton’s performance against Souths after he almost single-handedly won the premiers the game.
“I thought Crichton was exceptional in a losing side,” Hindmarsh said.
“We were all raving about him before Souths won the game. He was on fire tonight.
“He scored every point. He was outstanding.”
LATRELL SHINES IN 10/10 ORIGIN AUDITION
There is no doubt that Latrell Mitchell will be in the Blues’ starting side somewhere after another starring display in the Rabbitohs’ win over the Panthers.
Mitchell has 83 run metres, 10 tackle busts, three offloads, a linebreak and two tries in a match winning performance against Penrith.
Matty Johns believes Mitchell has the perfect combination of skill and power and Souths are riding high off the back of his performances.
“With Latrell you have the beautiful touch and the skill, but also the power,” Johns said.
“Every time we do a Souths’ game people think, here we go they are going to do a Latrell package again, but it is just 10 out of 10 entertainment.
“Some of his touches. Just about his first touch tonight was this outrageous flick pass that only he could do. It amazing.
“Then later this kick off the right foot and like shelling peas he was just so skilful.
“Then with his tries you have got the power as well. He was just phenomenal.”
Nathan Hindmarsh believes Mitchell has lifted his game after being challenged by Souths coach Jason Demetriou to get more involved.
“He got that rocket a couple of weeks ago not so much about how he is playing but just his involvement and wanting to be more involved in the game,” Hindmarsh said.
“And ever since then it has been a couple of weeks since that happened, he has been 10 out of 10s.
“And I think there is still more in him.”
Johns believes Mitchell could easily do the job at fullback for the Blues if James Tedesco was injured, but stressed he must be picked in the centres for NSW.
“Tedesco is close to first man picked with Origin, but with Latrell there is no doubt he will be picked in the centres.”
