Origin Bolters

Hello there and it’s that time of year where every league fan, in Queensland and New South Wales at least, are pumped up and ready to go for the Origin season. The Blues side for Origin I, on June 3 in Melbourne, will be announced during Monday Night Football this week with the Maroons named on Tuesday. There’s nothing better than an Origin Bolter, an unexpected name appearing on the team sheet, and I’m wondering if we will see any early next week.

Of more recent times Adam Mogg is probably the biggest bolter to be named. He had a couple of very good games on the wing for Queensland a few years ago despite being a relatively unknown, yet regular first grade player, at Canberra.

Today I will briefly have a look at a couple of potential bolters we could see named for Origin I.

Luke Lewis
His name should be there somewhere as he was 18th man for the Test Match but his NSW jersey number might be the shock. Personally I would have him on the bench but the mail today is that Lewis may be named five-eighth. I think that might be a good move for the Blues. With Kurt Gidley and Robbie Farah almost certainties now, plus whoever they name at halfback, Lewis can play a running and link man role. He won’t have to do any kicking or be particularly creative so I’m now tipping he may well be there. He’s not in that position in my team, but Lewis in 6 and Craig Wing on the bench is a real chance.

James McManus
I think the ‘flying Scotsman’ will be there on the NSW team sheet Monday night. He hasn’t missed a game for the Knights in a couple of years and he knows how to be a good winger. McManus is nothing flash but he knows how to defend and knows how to fine a try. He’s also strong in the air to combat Inglis and Folau. He had a solid showing in City/Country and his reliability I believe will see him sneak past Jarryd Hayne and the ‘Wolfman’ David Williams to partner Joel Monaghan on the flanks.

Justin Poore
Poore is another solid and reliable worker who won’t let anyone down. I think his no-nonsense, basic go-forward will get him a spot on the Blues bench. He doesn’t stand out like a Civoniceva or even a Mark O’Meley but I think the Blues will look for at least one rookie prop and Justin Poore is their man. Just a rock solid, hard-worker and I’m pretty sure we will see this Dragon in Origin this year.

Michael Ennis
I have a feeling, that I can’t justify in any way with any evidence whatsoever, that we may see one M.Ennis on a NSW bench. I don’t know why and it doesn’t really make sense, but we could see NSW go with the old Farah/Ennis one-two play. I don’t know why I think this, I can’t explain it, but I am saying I would not be surprised to see them both in the team.

Michael Crocker
A bit of an Origin veteran for the Maroons and his name would normally be a given...except this year he would have played just two games. Crocker was meant to be in England this year but visa issues quashed that. He finally signed with South Sydney two weeks ago, played about 70 minutes last week against the Tigers and will line up again this week. If Crocker is fully fit I would expect him to be named because, apparently, players love playing with him. He also brings a bit of raw aggression to a team and Queensland selectors would like that. I’m tipping M.Crocker will be named in the Queensland side next week.

Just quickly here are the squads I would pick and could be considered by both sets of selectors over the weekend:

QUEENSLAND (1-17)
Karmichael Hunt, Darius Boyd, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer (c), Johnathan Thurston, Steve Price, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Nate Myles, Ashley Harrison, Dallas Johnson. Bench: Billy Slater, Ben Hannant, Michael Crocker, Sam Thaiday

NEW SOUTH WALES (1-17)
Kurt Gidley (c), James McManus, Jamie Lyon, Matt Cooper, Joel Monaghan, Jarrod Mullen, Peter Wallace, Luke Bailey, Robbie Farah, Josh Perry, Anthony Laffranchi, Paul Gallen, Alan Tongue. Bench: Luke Lewis, Anthony Watmough, Brett White, Justin Poore


I think the Marrons squad picks itself with the likes of David Stagg just edged out by the loyalty factor with Harrison and Crocker. For New South Wales I have left out Michael’s’ Jennings and Ennis despite earlier this year saying the Blues ‘must have’ them. Things have changed a little bit now and while personally I would strongly consider them, it’s not going to happen yet I don’t think. I have also left out Brent Kite and Glenn Stewart even though they played the Test Match. I think there are better options for the Blues and they will make a hard decision there.

If you want to get your teams in before the announcement please drop me a line below or at andrew.keyte@gmail.com.

Tips this week: Broncos, Souths, Dragons, Bulldogs, Panthers, Warriors, Titans, Cowboys
Last week: 4/8 (Total: 41/76)
Winning percentage: 54%

For anyone in my tipping comp, I’m using double points this week. For anyone else that won’t mean much at all! That’s all from me this week, I will have an Origin I preview next week plus my Queensland Teams article will be about the Origin sides seeing as the three NRL teams all have the bye next week. If you liked this edition my name is Andrew Keyte and if you didn’t like it, my name is Mike Mizain.

Cheers,
Keyto