State of Origin NRL news 2024, Paul Gallen exclusive on NSW Blues halves selection after Nathan Cleary injury
NRL great PAUL GALLEN will appear on Nine’s 100% FOOTY every Monday night of the NRL season, debating rugby league’s hottest topics alongside Phil Gould and James Bracey. Tune in LIVE at 7.30pm (AEST) on 9Now tonight following a bumper round 10!
Phil Gould’s old saying is you don’t pick a State of Origin team until after the medicals and, at the moment, that has never been more true.
The Blues have lost Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic, and Cameron Murray – all certain starters – in one week of footy.
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Gus hates talking Origin selections and I can see why – it sometimes feels like it puts a curse on the players.
But new NSW coach Michael Maguire has some big decisions to make in the next fortnight before announcing his first Blues squad.
With Cleary ruled out of the entire series the biggest decision for Madge is now the halves.
It hasn’t helped that Mitchell Moses has missed seven weeks with a foot injury, and Nicho Hynes sat out Saturday’s win for Cronulla in Melbourne.
But at the moment I reckon those two guys are leading the race to wear the No.6 and No.7 jumpers in Origin I.
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Moses was really good last year when he replaced Cleary at halfback, and basically led the Blues to a win in game three.
We’ve also seen how important he is to Parramatta, given how bad the Eels have been since he’s been out.
And Hynes has been in really good form this season for the Sharks.
It doesn’t worry me that both guys wear the No.7 at club level, I reckon they could work well together in the halves for the Blues.
There isn’t a lot of difference between halfbacks and five-eighths these days.
Nicho was playing fullback for the Storm and grew up playing halves at junior level. He’s a genuine utility and he’s a big body who can run the ball.
He and Mitch will obviously defend on opposite sides but in attack I can see them both roaming across the field for NSW.
It could form a really lethal combination.
If Madge isn’t keen on that idea – or if either Moses or Hynes isn’t fit enough for game one – I’d be backing Jarome Luai to wear the No.6 jumper.
A lot of people seem to be discounting Luai in the conversation but I think he is a great player, and has done the job before.
Madge has some tough calls coming up, and whichever way he decides to go I’ll be 100 per cent behind him.
WHY SHARKS ARE THE REAL DEAL
Cronulla’s win over Melbourne on Saturday was the perfect example of what Craig Fitzgibbon is building in the Shire.
Everyone has been giving it to the Sharks and saying they can’t beat the top sides, but that performance is proof of how far they’ve now come.
Critics will say Melbourne was missing Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen, but the Sharks were missing Nicho Hynes, Toby Rudolf, Braydon Trindall, as well as Dale Finucane who retired a couple of weeks ago.
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The performance reminded me of Penrith or Melbourne – really good clubs are able to get the job done even when big stars are out of the side.
You are never going to replace a Hynes or a Hughes or a Nathan Cleary, but the guys who come in know what the job is and they get it done.
Daniel Atkinson was outstanding taking charge of the Sharks with Nicho out, but it was a great team win.
The test now will be to see Cronulla win semi-finals.
