2011 NSW team- If you were Ricky Stewart, who would you pick?

1. Josh Dugan (Possibly Brett Stewart if he can regain his 2007-08 form)

2. Akuila Uate

3. Michael Jennings

4. Chris Lawrence

5. Jarryd Hayne

6. Todd Carney

7. Mitchell Pearce

8. Kade Snowden

9. Robbie Farah

10. Luke Douglas

11. Luke Lewis

12. Greg Bird

13. Paul Gallen (c)

14. Anthony Watmough

15. Tim Mannah

16. Tom Leoryd-Lahrs

17. Keith Galloway

This side allows for a combination of things.

It challenges Queensland up front where they have always been stronger. Snowy and Dougy have consistently been two of the best starting props I've seen in a long time. Then there's another 3 impact props on the bench, Tim Mannah and TLL two guys who have shown they can do some serious damage as well as Keith Galloway who had been on the cusp of Origin for the past 3 years but has been injured at Origin time every time.

It challenges Queensland around the fringes of the ruck, the backrow combination of Lewis, Bird, Gallen and Watmough off the bench worked so well in Game 3 last year. Experienced ball playing second rowers in Lewis and Bird, both who've played in the halves before, proved to be such a handful for Queensland and the heavy hitting work horses in Paul Gallen and Anthony Watmough

always get through a mountain of work in defence and attack.

It challenges Queensland in the spine. NSW have never had a attacking, specialist hooker in roughly 15 years of football and they've certainly had no answer to Cameron Smith for past 6 years. This changes with the return of Robbie Farah. Farah's game is known for skill and finesse, having the most try assists of any hooker in history. What isn't as well known is toughness. He often leads the tackle count at the Tigers and has proved he won't back down and can go toe to toe with grubs when he got square after being cheap shotted by Anthony Watts in Round 19 of the 2009 season. The halves pairing of Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce brings a more flair and creativity. Todd Carney is a genuine game breaker and him and Mitchell Pearce will just feed off each other, bringing their intuitive understanding at a club level to the Origin arena. At fullback, the new sensation Josh Dugan who is just going from strength to strength as a player.

It challenges Queensland in the backs by fighting fire with fire. For too many years, NSW have tried to used a defensive strategy hoping to contain the likes of Greg Inglis and Billy Slater when they would have been better off getting their own speedsters and excitement machines into the fray. Michael Jennings and Jarryd Hayne are both proven strike players at an Origin level. With Uate becoming eligible for NSW this year, he'll bring his proven try scoring skills and ability to create something from nothing to the front, which puts him ahead of pure finishers like Brett Morris. Chris Lawrence is due to be called up too. His defence is first rate, he has speed to burn and has the ability to set up his outside man.

The beauty of this team as well is that it despenses with the need to carry a specialist utility player on the bench. Luke Lewis can cover any position on the park and cover it well, with the possible exception of hooker, which Pearce can cover in a pinch with either Lewis or Bird moving to pivot. Plus it dispenses with liabilities like Luke O'Donnell and Michael Ennis who gift penalties to the opposition, but still has tough competitors like Bird and Gallen to provide aggression.

hahhaha, your joking right ?

Peter Wallace ? Michael Ennis? AND NO PAUL GALLEN ? LOL, might as well just give Queensland their 6th titles straight away...

1. Josh Dugan

2. Akuila Uate

3. Michael Jennings

4. Chris Lawrence (Faster then Idris and waayyyy better in defence) and plus Lawrence has played for Australia.

5. Jarryd Hayne

6. Todd Carney

7. Micthell Pearce

8. Kade Snowden

9. Robbie Farah (V.C)

10. Tom Leoryd-Lahrs

11. Luke Lewis

12. Paul Gallen (C)

13. Chris Heighington

14. Greg Bird

15. Anthony Watmough

16. Aiden Tolman

17. Kurt Gidley / Tim Mannah

1. Jarryd Hayne

2. Brett Morris

3. Michael Jennings

4. Jamal Idris

5. Akuila Uate

6. Terry Campese if fit/Greg Bird

7. Matt Orford

8. Kade Snowden

9. Michael Ennis

10. Tom Leoryd-Lahrs

11. Luke Lewis

12. Mark Minichiello

13. Paul Gallen (c)

14. Luke Lewis

15. Anthony Watmough

16. Aiden Tolman

17. Tim Mannah

1. Josh Dugan

2. Akuila Uate

3. Michael Jennings

4. Jamal Idris

5. Jarryd Hayne

6. Todd Carney

7. Mitchell Pearce

8. Kade Snowden

9. Michael Ennis

10. Tom Leoryd-Lahrs

11. Luke Lewis

12. Paul Gallen (c)

13. Greg Bird

14. Kurt Gidley

15. Anthony Watmough

16. Aiden Tolman

17. Luke Douglas/ Tim Mannah

We've got 5 of NSW's best attackers from 1-5, I'm tired of us trying to play so defensive I think we need to fight strike power with strike power lol Also this backrow is overall superior to Queensland's.

I think halfback, the front row and one or two bench spots are up for grabs. But whatever the team ends up being I just hope the selectors have the brain to keep the same squad together for all 3 games, it's the only way NSW are going to win.

Edit: Dear me jsinista, it seems like you get dumber and dumber each day. Though I'm sure its hereditary so don't blame yourself.

Edit: Funny, seems more people agree with my opinion than yours lol I suggest you save the embarrassment and stick to choosing your pathetic Kiwi teams since you clearly have no idea when it comes to Australian players in State Of Origin. What were you thinking!!

Edit: Its got nothing to do with popularity, this section is full of Rugby League fans that know their stuff. It's not my fault you put those players in your Origin lineup and made yourself look stupid, not one person has agreed with you. But oh wait, its because you're a Kiwi and everybody else is a racist isn't it jsinista lol And the last time I checked Kurt Gidley won playing for the NRL All Stars haha try again when you're not so brain dead :)

1. Dugan

2. Uate

3. Jennings

4. Aubusson (Idris can't defend for sh*t)

5. Hayne

6. Carney

7. Pearce

8. Snowden

9. Farrah

10. Leoryd-lahrs

11. Lewis

12. Bird

13. Gallen (c)

14. Gidley

15. Anthony Watmough

16. Idris

17 Mannah

It's way too early to speculate over the make-up of the NSW Origin team, injuries and suspensions will make a few players unavailable and then the line-up has to be changed to accomodate someone else. Injuries can happen at any time in a game .. look at Dragons rookie Cameron King. He came on in the World Cup Challenge, scored a great try, and is now out for 'a couple of months' with an injury to his pectoral muscle. Maybe after a few games we can judge more on form, and have a go at out-guessing the selectors.

By the way .. I thought Ricky Stuart was the NSW Origin Coach. When did Ricky Stewart get the gig? ;-)

1. Jarryd Hayne

2. Brett Morris

3. Jamal Idris

4. Michael Jennings

5. Akuila Uate

6. Jamie Soward

7. Ben Hornby (a proven winning combination 6&7)

8. Michael Weyman

9. Robbie Farah (makes more tackles, better kicking game)

10. Tom Leoroyd-Lahrs

11. Ben Creagh (people may think he's soft but at least he runs his lines)

12. Greg Bird

13. Paul Gallen

14. Todd Carney

15. Anthony Watmough

16. Aiden Tolman

17. Kade Snowden

Edit: Knights why do constantly make yourself look like a knob, oh hang on, it's hereditary. Boo hoo I didnt select Gidley, why dont you go tickle his crotch on that signed picture you have of him under your pillow ya peanut.

Edit: Knighty boy/girl, you're so popular, wish I could be cool like you. I'll let you have your fun ma-lady as these are probably the only friends you do have. Yeah we'll just let you pick the aussie based teams, apparently kiwis aren't allowed anything to do with origin right! Tell me, has any rep team Kurt Gidley been in won lately? Actually, might as well include the club team also.

Edit: Oi bro he got cheaply selected by the coach! and i dont even think he played, which is probably why they won. Ok knighty, ill be the bigger man, well only man in this case and ill let you have that one popular fulla, do I have permission to be one of your contacts or am I not smart enough? If not, please don't answer and save me the embarrasment of other people seeing what u rite cool guy.

1. Dugan

2. Uate

3. Jennings

4. Lyon

5. Hayne

6. Carney

7. Pearce

8. Snowden

9. Farah

10. Douglas

11. Lewis

12. Gallen (c)

13. Bird

14. Gidley

15. Watmough - If he's still at his crappy last years form, I'd go with Aubusson.

16. Learoyd-Lahrs

17. Mannah

Lol Peter Wallace........no chance, wouln't even be on a 10 man shortlist.

There is no point speculating now as form and injury will dictate the team, but would take a minor miracle for it not to be Carney/Pearce combo and Dugan in the mix somewhere.

Knights11 team as good as it going to get right about now.

I don't think Kurt Gidley (who apparently has less athleticism than a Race car driver) really deserves re-selection. I think its something like for every 1 origin try he scores he gifts Queensland 6