New South Wales State of Origin I Team

[chikenhawk]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23690121-23214,00.html

Wallace gets NSW Origin call-up
By staff writers
May 13, 2008

BRISBANE half-back Peter Wallace is the surprise inclusion in the New South Wales team to contest State of Origin 1 in Sydney next week.

The Broncos player has been drafted in to the side ahead of Newcastle's Kurt Gidley who has been left out after sustaining a facial injury in his side's defeat at Melbourne last night.

Wallace will play alongside Cronulla's Greg Bird in the halves.

Newcastle forward Ben Cross has been named despite receiving a sickening blow in the final minute of his side's match in Melbourne. Gold Coast Titans hard man Anthony Laffranchi has also received a call up.

More to come.

Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Anthony Quinn, Greg Bird, Peter Wallace, Brett White, Danny Buderus (c), Ben Cross, Ryan Hoffman, Willie Mason, Paul Gallen
Interchange: Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon, Ben Hornby

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wow, thats very suprising about wallace, and to an extent also ben hornby, although kurt gidley is injured. cannot believe there going with wallace, big call.

 

[Megashark]

Yes the selection of Wallace is a surprise, I would have thought they would have gone for Finch in the absence of Gidley. Overall I don't mind the look of this side although I think the front row stocks must be pretty thin seeing as they have gone for White and Cross - I would probably rate even Brent Kite ahead of those two.

 

[Lettuce_Sharks]

not that im a big Kite fan, but how can you be good enough for australia one week, but not good enought for state selection 5 days later??

i would have thought playing the test made you an walk up start for origin

 

[chikenhawk]

further story by fox sports:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23690121-5016947,00.html

 

[sharktastic]

can i ask why ben cross? has he done anything this year?

 

[sharktastic]

and if they want an impact player on the bench why ben hornby? maybe im being a bit biased but wouldnt brett kearney be better. he is more like kurt gidley. i think id prefer the less sharks in the team the better

 

[GO GO GALLEN!!]

wallace is the goal kicker right?

 

[Rise_Against]

I like Wallace, i think he is going to be a big part of this state's future... Finch/Kimmorley/Orford/Anasta... yeah they r great halfbacks and five-eighths... but they are already near the end of their 20's.. i think we need to look for a stable future... and i believe that future is Mullen, Carney, Wallace, Bird.. I think Wallace and Bird will do well...

I'm not real stoked on the selection of Fitzgibbon i know he is a hard worker, goal kicker etc... But i would've gone with Glenn Stewart or Chris Heighington... and im stoked about Quinn though, i've always liked his game! An awesome winger who scores valuable tries... And im interested to see Cooper have a run in this, if rumour is correct that the sharks are shopping for matt cooper then i wanna see what he has left in rep footy.

In all a good squad picked... i like the new look.. im glad theres no Hindy, Kite, Finch, Orford and Noddy... too many years we have fallen to the blood of the maroons! and the new era begins... BIRD - WALLACE - GALLEN - TUPOU - CROSS - STEWART - HOFFMAN - LAFFRANCHI - HAYNE !!!

 

[Shark Crazy]

We have a halves combination with no experience!!! Bird usually plays lock and Wallace is in his second season, i'm worried about this. Also look at our bench we have 3 2nd rowers?!

 

[Great White]

I am not convinced of White actually more so then Cross, Cross was enormous in the city v country match I thought. I think White can be a cat at times, just me though. In total agreeance over Hornby, I think that is a wasted option, not being biased but given Gidley is out, Kearney would have been a great utility.

 

[Sunny_G]

im happy to see wallace at halfback! disappointed that gidley is ruled out to injury but i think the selectors went the right way in choosing wallace. i think his got lots of talent and has the mental strength needed to withstand the pressure in origin .
i think he will steer the team around very well and has a good kicking game

dunno why they chose hornby as a utiliy/impact player.. not a big fan of his
dont mind fitzgibbon in the team but i would have liked to seen chris heighington his goona be a future origin player for sure! i guess they chose fitzy cause he can play up in the front row if needed (like in city-country game) and i predict he will be playing there for origin as well considering we have 3 backrowers and hornby on the bench

so happy that they dropped kite as well! never rated him at all.. dunno how he makes the australian teams

 

[Megashark]

so happy that they dropped kite as well! never rated him at all.. dunno how he makes the australian teams

I don't rate Kite either, but is he really any worse than White or Cross?

 

[Great White]

I don't rate him either to be honest, I think Cross is up there, but again White is very iffy for me. White went missing last year.

 

[Pomeroy#3]

Bellamy was always going to select White.

 

[bort]

definately a few suprises in there
how long do you reckon till Laffranchi gets a training injury and misses out do you reckon?

 

[chikenhawk]

and if they want an impact player on the bench why ben hornby? maybe im being a bit biased but wouldnt brett kearney be better. he is more like kurt gidley. i think id prefer the less sharks in the team the better

i agree. i think hornby is past it and we all know kearney can play anywhere, hes almost like a gidley clone! he has good experience at half, hooker, and fullback, i would have picked him before hornby.

hieghington a bit unlucky i thought although iv only really seen him in the city country game, god he played good that night.

 

[Pomeroy#3]

i agree. i think hornby is past it and we all know kearney can play anywhere, hes almost like a gidley clone! he has good experience at half, hooker, and fullback, i would have picked him before hornby.

hieghington a bit unlucky i thought although iv only really seen him in the city country game, god he played good that night.

He's like the poor man's Kurt Gidley.

 

[Parko]

am i the only person in the whole of new south wales who doesnt give a **** about state of origin?

the game has no meaning, and is just a pain in the ass to see our players forced to miss a nrl game for each state of origin game

 

[bort]

am i the only person in the whole of new south wales who doesnt give a **** about state of origin?

yes

 

[Great White]

Yes sorry. Beats any international game, that is for sure.