Three Guys The Blues Must Have

G’day, hope you’re all well. Now...last week I said: “I love Origin but the season has just started and there’s no point speculating and picking sides right now.” You know what...I’m going against my own statement and talking Origin this week!!

As most of you probably know I’m a one-eyed Queenslander through and through. If we won every Origin to the day I died it would be fine...but Origin is at its best when you just don’t know who will win, and as a Queenslander, the best wins are the unexpected ones. As great as it is to watch us beat NSW I do yearn for a competitive series. The Blues named a preliminary 40 man squad this week and I’ve picked out three guys they simply must have to be a chance this season.

Michael Ennis
Geez you have to feel for his rival Robbie Farah, who was the clear number two for so long and has done nothing wrong, but the Blues need an Ennis. He is a guy that just pisses the opposition off. When he’s in your team you love him but when he’s not you want someone to snot him.

Ennis is creative, aggressive, gives 100% and is a serial pest. He has the ability to get under the skin and rattle the Maroons. Add to that clever kicking, passing and running skills from dummy half and his goal kicking...the Blues have an Origin player ready to go.

Whether he gets picked or not very much depends on who will play in the halves and at fullback. If they were to pick Kurt Gidley in the halves Farah would probably get the nod due to his superior kicking game. Now with Brett Stewart’s injury Gidley is a certainty to play fullback which paves the way for Ennis.

As a Queenslander; Ennis is a guy that worries me more than Farah.

Michael Jennings
I wrote two weeks ago that Jennings just screams ‘Danger’ when he gets the ball for Penrith. He has such speed and skill as he displayed last week against the Broncos. Justin Hodges spent the game rushing up to prevent it but the moment Jennings had half a gap he put his side over for a try.

The bloke knows how to find a try and is the best answer to match the flair and skill of Folau and Inglis. Defensively Jennings may not be quite ready but the Blues need a way to score points. Jennings is one of those keys and his defensive deficiencies, which are far from glaring, can be covered by selecting an appropriate winger and back-row partner.

Jennings worries me when my side plays against him. He is a guy the Blues must pick to play left centre.

Alan Tongue
You look at this guy and think ‘no way’... “good, solid first-grader but city-country is as high as his rep honours will go”. I don’t think so...the Blues need an Alan Tongue in their side. Here is a guy that week in week out plays his heart out for the Canberra Raiders. He IS the Canberra Raiders and he can do the same thing for the Blues.

Tongue won’t let anyone down and will tackle all night long. Someone in the media, possibly Paul Vautin I think, said last week Tongue could do the same job as Dallas Johnson does. And they’re spot on...Tongue could set up camp in the middle of the field and just tackle all night long.

He has that freakish ability to come up with the big play that lifts his side when they need it...heck he’s been doing it for years down in Canberra.

If given a chance I think Tongue can revive the passion in the New South Wales Blues as he plays his heart out for the whole series.

My gut feeling is that Farah will be picked over Ennis whilst the other two I’m not sure on. Jennings will probably be there while I think Tongue has a strong chance but they might favour a more attractive player or someone like Mark Minichiello might get that spot.

At the end of the day I guess the Blues can do whatever they please...the Queensland team is virtually picked barring injury/suspension. To get on the record (very) early, these are my teams for game one barring injury/suspension with blacks definite and reds my picks:

QLD: Hunt, Boyd, Hodges, Inglis, Folau, Lockyer (c), Thurston, Price, Smith, Civoniceva, Myles, Harrison, Johnson. Bench: Slater, Thaiday, Hannant, Kenny/Taylor/Shillington

Definites: 14...Prince may come in for Thurston while David Stagg may be favoured over Harrison, but I’m doubtful on that. The last bench spot should go to one of those younger front rowers.

NSW: Gidley (c), Robertson, Jennings, Best, Monaghan, Campese, Wallace, Bailey, Ennis, Perry, Watmough, Laffranchi, Tongue. Bench: Lewis, Douglas, Kite/Weyman, Gallen/Heighington/G.Stewart/Mateo

Definites: 6...well, those six guys I think will be there but not necessarily in those positions. I’d have Newcastle winger James McManus in, if he’s eligible, while the rest really is a lottery. Originally I had B.Stewart as fullback, Gidley five-eight and Campese on the bench in place of Luke Lewis. I also think Matt Orford has to be a chance to play halfback.

Anyway, I guess we’ll know more after the May 8 Test Match and City-Country games. That’s all from me...I’d love to hear your team and player suggestions. Email: andrew.keyte@gmail.com or the link at www.sportaustralia.com or even try a direct comment at http://keytonrlhits.blogspot.com.

Tips this week: Brisbane, Sharks, Roosters, Storm, Cowboys, Raiders, Knights, Penrith
Last week: 6/8 (Total: 28/44)
Winning percentage: 64%

Talk to you later,
Keyto