Question: If everybody is fit and available at the time of selection, who would you pick as the NSW State of Origin halves?
My answer: Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney.
Question: Why?
My answer: They are the best we have available. End of story.
I'm always reluctant to enter into discussions regarding State of Origin selections before the time has come to pick the team. Until you actually sit down to select a side, you can never be sure who is available. My advice has always been that while you may have a wish-list leading up to the Origin period, chances are things will change dramatically through injury and suspension before selection day rolls around.
However, because this is the big talking point of the moment, I'm prepared to share a few thoughts.
It is generally anticipated Blues coach Laurie Daley will remain loyal to the halves pairing of Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds, simply due to the fact they played in NSW's winning series last year.
I guess that's one way to approach it. After all, NSW had lost eight series in a row prior to 2014, so now having finally won a series it would seem most unreasonable if you didn't stick with the incumbents.
However, there are a few things we need to consider about last year's series before using it as the major criteria for selecting a combination.
First, in the three State of Origin matches played last year, NSW scored a total of 26 points. This is the lowest three-game aggregate total by a NSW team in Origin history. That's a concern.
Halves are responsible for the direction, delivery and creativity in a team. NSW were able to graft away and conjure up enough points to win the first two games in the series. However, you never really had the feeling that a flood of points was coming our way any time soon.
Second, NSW had the benefit of an in-form Jarryd Hayne playing at fullback. He was man of the match in game one and a major contributor to the series victory. As we all know, Jarryd is currently sitting at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco enjoying a seafood chowder and won't be returning any time soon. This is significant.
I'm also not so sure Hodkinson and Reynolds were major contributors to last year's success. Don't get me wrong, they tried their hearts out and put their bodies on the line for their state. They stood their ground in defence and refused to yield. I love them for that. They are tough boys. But I can distinctly remember, even during the opening two Origin matches in which we won, a feeling of wanting more from our two halves as the game unfolded. I never got the feeling they were in control. There was no sense of anticipation
Being brutally honest, if Hayne wasn't in such good form last year Iseriously doubt NSW would have won. He is not going to be there this year and the Blues really don't have anyone like him to take his place. I honestly think this is a major factor and NSW selectors need to be realistic about this fact.
Finally, I still have visions of the game three annihilation where Queensland finally got into their groove and produced a convincing 32-8 victory. Now, it's easy to say this was a dead rubber with the series having been decided in the opening two matches, but I feel it would be foolish to ignore a review of this match when looking to prepare for this year's series.
You must remember, in this year's Origin series, game one is played in Sydney, game two in Melbourne and game three in Brisbane. NSW only gets one home game and that is in game one. They need to win this match. They can't afford to be going to Melbourne behind in the series. This means they need to get selections right from the jump. It's no good saying they will stay loyal to last year's players for game one and then make a change if they don't come up to the mark. If they don't get it right for game one, they will face an uphill battle to claw it back in games two and three playing away from home.
On the positive side, Hodkinson and Reynolds did come out of the Origin series and steer the Canterbury Bulldogs to a grand final appearance at the back of the season. That's a plus.
On the negative side, their form over the first seven rounds of 2015 has been anything but sparkling. On simple head-to-head statistics, if we compare the contributions of Pearce and Maloney, and Hodkinson and Reynolds to their respective club teams over the first seven rounds of the competition, Pearce and Maloney finish way in front.
Maloney has six try assists in the first seven rounds, scored two tries himself and run for 286 metres. Pearce has four try assists and run for 280 metres.
By comparison, Hodkinson has three try assists, but has run for only 133 metres in seven games. Reynolds also has three try assists, but again has only run for 149 metres.
Interestingly, too, Pearce has passed the ball 251 times to Hodkinson's 207. Maloney has passed the ball 140 times. Reynolds in six matches has only passed the ball on 36 occasions.
I don't think these figures can be ignored because they tell a story about the style of play that these two halves pairings execute on a weekly basis.
I raised my concerns leading into last year's Origin series regarding Hodkinson and Reynolds being able to transfer from the role they play in the unique style of football of the Canterbury Bulldogs and take on a more traditional halves style of play required for the Origin team.
The Bulldogs play a very forward-dominated style of offence. You could be excused for thinking at times that front row forward James Graham is actually playing halfback. Hodkinson and Reynolds do not play like traditional halves for their club. While it certainly works for the Bulldogs, I was concerned it would be too difficult for them to suddenly adopt a style of play that would suit the needs of Origin football.
While NSW did win the 2014 series, the form of Hayne was undoubtedly the most significant factor. The fact that the Blues scored less points during those three games than any NSW team in history in my own mind justified that opinion.
Hodkinson and Reynolds had the blowtorch applied to them last week by former great Andrew Johns who publicly stated that the form of these two players did not warrant Origin selection. The spotlight was on them on Friday night in their clash with Wests Tigers. Would they respond to the criticism?
I watched them closely during that contest and they genuinely tried to get themselves involved and make a contribution to their team. However, the style of football that the Bulldogs play is not necessarily conducive to a half and five-eighth playing a dominant role in proceedings. They still had to work within their team structure and found it hard to make an impression.
Conversely, their opposite numbers, young Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses, played with great freedom and contributed significantly to their team's big victory.
I'm also not so convinced Hodkinson isn't playing with injury. His general play kicking and usually very accurate goalkicking are nowhere near the standard of previous seasons. When Brooks ran over the top of him to score a try from close range I got the feeling Hodkinson could not brace himself for the collision and was simply brushed aside by a smaller opponent. I may be mistaken, but I don't think he is well.
Pearce and Maloney?
Well, it's not all beer and skittles there either. They have their issues and we could easily point out a number of areas of their game that need to be improved.
On the balance though, I honestly believe that their style of play, their competitiveness and their experience will better complement the needs of their teammates in an Origin football environment.
If you also hold the opinion that club combinations should be a factor in selecting representative teams, then the fact that Roosters Michael Jennings and Daniel Tupou will play in the left centre and wing positions for NSW means their familiarity with Pearce and Maloney would have to be seen as an advantage. Throw in the fact that Rooster Boyd Cordner will also be playing on the left-hand side of the field at some stage and it's pretty much a no-brainer.
Queenslanders are already scoffing at the suggestion NSW may change their halves pairing and highlighting the fact that it would be typical of the Blues to show disloyalty to players who finally won a series after eight years in the wilderness.
Ignore the Queenslanders. Rest assured they would remain silent if they were happy for the Blues to make a change.
Anyway, regardless of who plays half and five-eighth, it will take a monumental team performance for the Blues to retain their Origin title in 2015. Nothing has changed in that respect. But I would be taking Pearce and Maloney into battle on this occasion.
