AAMI Country vs City Origin 2008

[Chaos]

Ok, if you do not believe this is a genuine selection trial fine, but then do me a favour... please name me a NSW side 1-17, of certainities to get spots... if you can do that, then you might have something.

I can assure you though, no matter who you name, only 4-5 will be certainties.. the rest of the Blues squad at present is a lottery, even Bellamy has said so... which is why this game is important to our selection process.

Yes I truly believe that the NSW team could have anyone in it...look at my post on page 2 which shows a side with only 4 players in it... I reckon this year it's anyones guess who will play in the sky blue.

It's easy ATM being a Queenslander, your side picks itself pretty much, but here in NSW, our whole side is a lottery, all I know is, they will do our state proud... and I look forward to the challenge of seeing who makes the grade.

Surely the NSW selectors aren't stupid enough to pick a state side from one game that's been thrown together without playing together before.

[Titanium_BD1103]

Surely the NSW selectors aren't stupid enough to pick a state side from one game that's been thrown together without playing together before.

No they aren't, and I admit that, but they will use it, along with the Test Match the following week to clarify a few things... or help clarify a few things such as:

- Whether Pearce, Wallace, Finch or Gidley are the best choice for number 7

- Whether Bird will play 6 or 13 for the Blues

- Whether Hayne has enough form to keep his wing spot or Quinn will get it

- Whether Tupou, Hoffman, Gallen, Mason, Minichiello, Ryan, Laffranchi, Hindmarsh or Fitzgibbon get second row and lock spots

There are plenty of questions to be asked for NSW, the answers will be a lot more clearer after both City vs Country and the Test Match... well that is if people stand up and show they are ready to represent the sky blue jersey...

[Capital_Shark]

Fine, its not a fair dinkum piece of the NSW selection puzzle. But Jesus its a game of footy where you get to see the best of certain areas against each other. I'm a Queenslander supporter so I don't give a toss how they pick the NSW squad, but I respect there are traditions behind this match and enjoy it for what it is, a game of footy at a bit of a higher level.

God forbid anyone questions Queensland Rugby League's 'care factor' pre Broncos; you'll all sh!t bricks and roll off about that mob DIEHARD is always canning on about. City v Country has some significance to NSW (probably majority country) people and you hop on your soap box. Its a game of footy, enjoy it.

[TITAN PETE]

Its a game of footy, enjoy it.

Look out CS as we agree on your last quote

[TITAN PETE]

This game is nothing more then a lick on the nswrl back, and hopefully the NRL only use this game to see that there is only room in NSW for 2 good teams, and should cull the rest.

Actually that is a good idea.

Gold Coast Titans
Brisbane Broncos
North Queensland Cowboys
New Zealand Warriors
Canberra Raiders
Melbourne Storm
Sydney City
Sydney Country
Newcastle Knights
Adelaide Rams
Perth Reds
Gosford Rabbits

I like it.

Don't have a calculator handy but i'm counting 4 NSW Teams in your list

It's not a bad list though & everyone plays each other twice

[Titanium_BD1103]

He might not be headed to the Gong on Friday, but at least Craig Bellamy is talking to the City selectors about his issues... shows there is a united front in the NSW camp..

From: www.foxsports.com.au

Bellamy unconvinced by selectors

By Josh Massoud and Dean Ritchie
May 01, 2008

NEW South Wales coach Craig Bellamy has privately questioned his selectors after they omitted Steve Turner and Chris Lawrence from the City-Country match in Wollongong.

Bellamy is reported to have wanted both players picked in the City backline, as he viewed the pair as genuine Blues State of Origin hopefuls.

Instead, Brett Delaney and Luke Rooney were picked in their place for the match at WIN Stadium - which Bellamy will not attend.

The Melbourne coach was so confident that Storm winger Turner would be selected that he even had the speedster booked on a special flight to Sydney on Sunday afternoon.

Turner expected to stay the night in Sydney before fronting the City medical on Monday. But after being overlooked in favour of Rooney, Turner was forced to return home to Melbourne while other players were being fitted for their City jerseys.

Bellamy confirmed the Turner debacle had taken place, and he also revealed that another two players he wanted selected in City-Country had not been picked. Wests Tigers sensation Lawrence is understood to have been one of them.

"There was a bit of an assumption (Turner) was getting picked because he was in Sydney," Bellamy said.

"It was probably my fault because I didn't check up closer to the occasion."

Bellamy is believed to have sought answers as to why Lawrence and Turner were not selected in the City team.

Bellamy spoke to City selector John Hayes and coach Tim Sheens in the month leading up to the team being named last Sunday night.

Bellamy visited NSW Rugby League headquarters to meet Blues assistant coaches Andrew Johns and Shane Flanagan, as well as other officials.

An NSWRL insider claimed there were "no blow-ups".

"He looked as happy as pie to me," the insider said.

But the omissions of Turner and Lawrence have led Bellamy to declare that City-Country clash is "not the be-all-and-end-all". He claimed a number of NSW spots were still vacant and may be filled by players outside the WIN Stadium game.

Manly half-back Matt Orford is understood to remain in contention for a spot, despite missing out to Mitchell Pearce in the City side.

"We are still keeping a close eye on players at club level and in no way have they been forgotten," Bellamy said.

"NSW selectors may have differing opinions from those picking the City and Country teams. It is the same with the Australian team. Those not involved in City-Country, however, should not lose heart."

Of yesterday's meeting with Johns and Flanagan, Bellamy said: "We discussed many things and the City-Country game was high on the list of topics. It's a big game in the selection process for Origin but it's not the be-all and end-all."

Meanwhile Laurie lays down the law...

From:www.news.theage.com.au

Don't blow your Origin chance: Daley
May 1, 2008 - 6:37PM

Country coach Laurie Daley has delivered a representative eve warning to the host of State of Origin hopefuls at WIN Stadium on Friday night - "don't blow your chance of a Blues jumper".

While strong performances in the annual City-Country clash won't guarantee anyone a start in Origin I later this month, NSW selector Daley claimed poor displays could have a greater affect on a player's selection hopes.

His words of warning will do little to ease the pressure on several players in both squads, particularly those involved in the play-off for the NSW halfback jumper - Mitchell Pearce, Peter Wallace and Brett Finch.

"That's the point that I think most people miss about this game. If you play bad, it sticks out and when it comes to Origin discussion you're sort of put on the backburner," Daley said.

"If you play well you're always in the mix, you're always spoken about.

"You may not necessarily be selected but you're mentioned. You become that next in line.

"It's something selectors have looked at over the past few (City-Country) games.

"It's one of those double-edged swords - there's a lot there for a player to gain even if you don't get selected."

History shows Daley's threat has some merit, with a number of players having their Origin hopes dashed by dismal displays for either City or Country.

Last year Penrith skipper Craig Gower had his cards marked with a lacklustre performance for City, the veteran halfback unable to get his side going against a Country team which had been decimated by injury.

Similarly in 2006, Manly No.7 Matt Orford was outshone by Finch in the clash at Dubbo, with five runs for just 39 metres doing little to help City get over the line and Orford into a Blues jumper.

Orford also struggled in his previous City appearance in 2004, with four runs for eight metres and two handling errors in a game which Country won 22-18.

Given the stakes up for grabs heading into Friday night's game, NSW selectors will be keen to see how the younger candidates handle the pressure with Wallace and Pearce still relatively new to first grade.

Waiting for them to flop are Orford and Newcastle utility Kurt Gidley, with state selectors claiming the Manly skipper is still well in the reckoning for the Origin opener on May 21 despite being overlooked for Friday night's game.

Gidley, meanwhile, will have to press his claims from some unusual positions after being selected on the bench for Australia and at fullback for the Knights against Gold Coast on Saturday night.

While City-Country can kill off some players' chances, it can also do them wonders, as evidenced by Melbourne prop Brett White's spectacular rise through the ranks last year.

Country's White was on the periphery of Origin talks early in the season, but 140m from 15 runs in just 40 minutes of football for Country catapulted him into the NSW side for last year's series opener.

It's left White shaking his head at claims from some quarters that the City-Country games serve no purpose.

"It's unbelievable because you look back on last year, I don't think I was in the talk for Origin until after this game," White said.

"They're saying it's a trial game again for the NSW side and after Friday night there'll be some names thrown up from this game."

Organisers said plenty of tickets remained available for the match.

? 2008 AAP

[Titanium_BD1103]

Galloway is named as 18th player for City

From:www.foxsports.com.au

WESTS Tigers forward Keith Galloway has joined the NSW City team as 18th man for Friday night's clash with Country at WIN Stadium.

Prop Mark O'Meley had been the only injury concern for the City side leading into the week, the Sydney Roosters forward still coming back from a hamstring tear.

The City side will complete their final training session at WIN Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

AAP

[Chaos]

No they aren't, and I admit that, but they will use it, along with the Test Match the following week to clarify a few things... or help clarify a few things such as:

- Whether Pearce, Wallace, Finch or Gidley are the best choice for number 7

- Whether Bird will play 6 or 13 for the Blues

- Whether Hayne has enough form to keep his wing spot or Quinn will get it

- Whether Tupou, Hoffman, Gallen, Mason, Minichiello, Ryan, Laffranchi, Hindmarsh or Fitzgibbon get second row and lock spots

There are plenty of questions to be asked for NSW, the answers will be a lot more clearer after both City vs Country and the Test Match... well that is if people stand up and show they are ready to represent the sky blue jersey...

Why don't you just use the club games, which are played every weekend?
All the players know what lines to run and there's no hooker or half back over playing their hand to get in the side.

I hope Corey Hughes hogs the ball and scores two tries.

[RLfan]

What happens if Corey Hughes outplays Danny Buderus? Do you reckon Corey will get the Blues jersey?


Thought not.

[TITAN PETE]

What happens if Corey Hughes outplays Danny Buderus? Do you reckon Corey will get the Blues jersey?


Thought not.

Nah Farrah will be back this week to put claim to his 1st Blues Jersey

[Capital_Shark]

Nah Farrah will be back this week to put claim to his 1st Blues Jersey

I hope your right. But I can honestly see the Blues selectors b!tching it and giving Buderus the call up and waiting to have their hand forced to pick a new 9 next year when Bedsy goes to England.

[Titanium_BD1103]

Yeah I know CS... we seem to be like that these days.. hopefully Farah can get over the injuries and show some form and make it a contest...

From: www.smh.com.au

Six Blues spots up for grabs
May 2, 2008

There will be plenty of feeling in the air tonight when City and Country players chase Origin glory, writes Greg Prichard.

Forget the debate over whether the City-Country game is even worth playing and consider the facts as the Herald understands them - when it comes to possible selection in the NSW team for State of Origin I, tonight's match is critically important to more than a dozen players.

Yes, the game does matter - more than in the average year, too. After it, the picture regarding wing, five-eighth, prop, the second row, lock and the bench for the Blues, who will be named on Monday week for the game against Queensland at ANZ Stadium on May 21, will be a lot clearer.

Tonight will either be a big night or a bummer for players such as Country winger Anthony Quinn, City five-eighth Braith Anasta, Country prop Brett White, City winger Luke Rooney and Country halfback Brett Finch, to name just a few.

Second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh is playing for Country only because he has been dumped from the Australian team. The Australian lock and second-rowers are all New South Welshman, so Hindmarsh needs to shine to keep his hopes of playing for the Blues alive.

Anthony Laffranchi, who plays in the second row for the Gold Coast but has been picked at prop for Country, is the 18th man for Australia, but that doesn't guarantee him a start for NSW - not when you consider two of the three forward spots on Australia's bench are also filled by Blues players.

Finch and Country reserve Ben Hornby are candidates to fill the role of covering for hooker, halfback and five-eighth from the bench. Kurt Gidley will handle that job for the Australians against the Kiwis at the SCG next Friday, but - as the Herald revealed on Tuesday - Gidley is the pea for the NSW No.7 jumper. The list goes on.

So there is a lot riding on the first representative game of the season, at WIN Stadium.

There are eight New South Welshmen - Mark Gasnier, Brent Kite, Paul Gallen, Ryan Hoffman, Greg Bird, Anthony Tupou, Willie Mason and Gidley - in the Australian team. If the NSW team was being picked today, you could add Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne and Danny Buderus and have 11 certainties. That leaves six spots up for grabs.

Here is the latest mail for NSW selection, with the focus on City-Country. Let the representative season begin.

FULLBACK: Stewart, who was picked for Country but ruled out because of a calf injury, narrowly missed out to Billy Slater in the Australian team and is a mile ahead for NSW selection. The injury might cause him to miss one game for Manly. If something else went wrong with him, the Blues might be forced to change plans and play Gidley at fullback, but at this stage there is nothing to worry about.

WING: Hayne has been down on form this season. There aren't a lot of other wing options available, so it's a stretch to suggest he is under pressure to hold his NSW spot, but he could do with a good game tonight, just to put minds at ease. The other wing spot is up for grabs, with Quinn, Rooney and Country centre Joel Monaghan all in the mix. There are conflicting reports about just how seriously Steve Turner (Melbourne) and Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers) are being considered.

CENTRE: Either Manly's Jamie Lyon or St George Illawarra's Matt Cooper will partner Gasnier. Lyon and Cooper were selected for Country, but withdrew because of personal reasons and injury respectively. Lyon has the edge at this stage, but it's still very open.

FIVE-EIGHTH: Anasta has gone off the boil in the last couple of weeks, but his form before that was excellent. He can play himself into the NSW team with a big game tonight, followed by another good one for the Roosters next week. If he doesn't aim up, then, no problem - the Blues will go with Bird.

HALFBACK: Gidley is the man. The rest of the halfbacks are battling it out in case he gets hurt - or if something goes wrong with fullback Stewart and Gidley is picked there instead.

LOCK: It all depends on whether Anasta pushes hard enough to get a start at five-eighth. Bird will be in the starting side at either lock or five-eighth. If he ends up at five-eighth, then Gallen will probably start at lock.

SECOND-ROW: The domino effect continues. Hoffman has one spot locked up and Gallen, who will definitely be in the team, can expect to be the other second-rower - unless Anasta misses out, Bird plays five-eighth and Gallen goes to lock. Tupou, Hindmarsh and Laffranchi would all be contenders if that second-row spot opened up.

PROP: There were concerns about Kite's early-season form, but he is clearly back in favour now, as his Test selection indicates. Gold Coast's Luke Bailey won't be considered because of injury. White is well placed to go to the front of the line with a big performance tonight, while Mason can always start there if necessary.

HOOKER: Buderus. If he gets hurt, who knows? Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah has been out injured for several weeks.

BENCH: Craig Wing, for NSW and Australia, proved the value of including a player who can cover hooker, halfback and five-eighth. The Blues won't go away from that, but with Gidley set to start the search is on for an alternative. Finch and Hornby will be under the microscope in Wollongong. If it's Gallen, Hoffman and Bird to start, then it's Tupou and Mason for the bench, with Laffranchi a big chance to grab the remaining spot. But Hindmarsh, Ryan, Chris Heighington and Ben Cross are in the mix as well.

[Steve]

To be honest, I'm surprised Rooney is even getting a look. I know he's actually scored a couple tries this year (as opposed to last) but really...

If I was going to pick anyone out of Penrith, it would have been Sammut. I know he's young, but hey, so's Pearce and Wallace.

[dee13]

I really don't see the point to this game at all. All it does is puts players at risk of injury. eg. our very own Preston Campbell last year.

What do these 2 teams actually play for. What reward is offered to the winner besides State of Origin selection. You will understand what Im talking about if Boof, Mini or Dizzle get injured tonight.

IMO, The Origin team is already selected. If a selector can't gauge who is inform and pick a State Of Origin side from the 8 rounds of footy prior to the series, then I think he isn't much of a selector.

I would like to see the City V Country game played like a residents game. Jim Beam Cup players V actual Country players. Then they play against the best from the QLD Cup and QLD Country areas in a State of Residency game.

[Ryan]

Just heard Gus on TV saying Fitzgibbon is playing front row to allow Lafrancci to play in his preffered position. What a champion