State of Origin 3

[LisaJ]

Blues to reject new blood
Greg Prichard | June 21, 2007

BOB McCarthy says he and the other NSW selectors would be "crazy" to make a lot of changes to the Blues team for State of Origin III against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on July 4.

Since NSW went down in Origin II to record their fourth successive defeat and second consecutive series loss there has been speculation whether the selectors would invest heavily in new talent for the dead rubber.

But the clear indication from McCarthy yesterday was, apart from the change forced by the hand injury to five-eighth Braith Anasta, there will be few - if any - changes to the 17-man squad.

"I don't see too many changes," McCarthy said. "I think it would be crazy to do that. They all tried their arses off in the second game. They didn't let anyone down.

"It's not like we lost by 30 or 40 points. It was a try the difference in both the first and second games and we were still in that second game right until the end, when we put up that last bomb."

McCarthy had put the heat on the players before the second game, saying they would be under pressure to hold their spots for game three if they didn't perform.

NSW lost that game 10-6 at home, following their 25-18 loss away in game one, but McCarthy obviously feels the Blues lifted enough to mostly survive.

"Everyone put in," he said. "You've got to remember that Queensland have a sensational side. I don't think we're going to be doing much to the team when we sit down to pick it."

There have been calls for the axing of centre Jamie Lyon, with the accompanying suggestion that Matt King be moved from wing to centre and the in-form Eric Grothe brought in on the wing.

But when asked about Lyon, McCarthy defended him, saying: "Lyon has gone well. No one has outplayed him in either of the games. He hasn't scored a try, but no one has scored any on him, either."

There have also been plenty of suggestions that Cronulla second-rower Paul Gallen and Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah should be brought into the squad and that Bulldogs prop Mark O'Meley be strongly considered.

But McCarthy declined to say whether any of those players was close to getting a run.

"We've got a meeting coming up on Monday and we'll pick the side then," he said.

But McCarthy indicated that Newcastle's Jarrod Mullen, who played halfback in game one before missing the second game through injury, was a good chance of coming back at five-eighth for game three. Mullen has been switched to five-eighth at the Knights, with rookie Luke Walsh at halfback.

Brett Kimmorley is set to survive at halfback for the Blues after replacing Mullen there for Origin II, but two-time premiership-winning coach Warren Ryan believes the selectors should think again on that front.

Writing in the Newcastle Herald yesterday, Ryan said that while Kimmorley looked busy on the field, he wasn't doing anything dynamic.

"Brett Kimmorley's best football looks to be well and truly behind him," Ryan said. "The selectors apparently haven't made that observation.

"Kimmorley's game these days has an involvement level that catches the eye. He chases his kicks, he tackles, he runs across field turning runners inside, he's always there on last plays to do the kicking. But don't dig too deep.

"He no longer attacks gaps to put runners through holes and he doesn't make breaks. At the money end, there's only one play - Kimmorley kicking from first receiver. He cancels out every other possible attacking option, even when a profitable spread is staring his back line in the face."

Graham Murray's tenure as NSW coach will end with game three and the Herald understands Craig Bellamy is certain to get the job for next year if he wants it.

Bellamy has impressed all of the right people, not only with his coaching of Melbourne, but his stint in charge of Country Origin and as an assistant coach with the Australian team.

Wests Tigers and City Origin coach Tim Sheens is another obvious contender for the NSW job, but it is believed an alternative to Bellamy would be sought only if he were to refuse the job.

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/origin/ ... ntentSwap1

[yeenar69]

Bring on Sheensy

[dogsact]

YAWN! How many threads do we need covering the same damn topic?

[LisaJ]

Because its the final state of origin of the year and its important that NSW at least show that they are taking this game seriously.

[Yamirra19]

and NSW selectors show how boring they are once again >