Push El Masri

Skyhunter · Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 1:33 am Post subject: Push El Masri

Push...El Masri may make debut at 31. Pic: Craig Greenhill

Skyhunter · Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 1:41 am Post subject:

El Masri would be a great asset for blues just his goal kicking alone could be the edge the blues are looking for his good in defence and his great in attack. He should be on the bench at least.

Skyhunter · Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 2:13 am Post subject: Four spots: 13 players in line

Four-way...Orford has stiff competition. Pic: Phil Hillyard

By Steve Mascord
May 11, 2007
MORE than a dozen players this weekend are competing for four spots in the most open New South Wales Origin team since the Super League war.

Not since the Blues were robbed of half a team by the catastrophic schism have selectors relied so much on a round of football to pick a team to take on Queensland.

"It's wide open - we still don't have a dominant halfback who has put their hand up and grabbed the No.7 jersey. Hopefully this weekend that will change," selector Bob McCarthy said last night.

Brett Kimmorley, Craig Gower, Matt Orford and young tyro Jarrod Mullen are the participants in an absorbing battle for scrum-feeding duties.

And while at least eight of the nine New South Welshmen who played for Australia in the Anzac Test seem assured of being at Suncorp Stadium on May 23, two or three forward spots in coach Graham Murray's 17 appear open.

On the wing, Hazem El Masri is eyeing an interstate debut at 31 while Coffs Harbour standouts Brett White and Ryan Hoffman are bidding to grab bench spots when they play for Melbourne against El Magic on Monday.

"It's fair to say strong performances from backs and forwards this weekend will be a pretty big determining factor when we sit down to pick our side on Monday," said McCarthy.

"We're looking for those that stand up and stand out - it's as simple as that."

Here, The Daily Telegraph looks at the first NSW line-up to enter an interstate series as outsiders since 1925.

That year, Queensland went into a five-game series played under the old residential rules on the back of six consecutive victories.

Even during Wally Lewis's heyday in the 1980s, NSW was consistently favourites before a ball was kicked in anger.

FULLBACK

NSW coach Graham Murray has said of Sydney Rooster Anthony Minichiello's City-Country form: "Everyone in the country would pick him."

Manly's Brett Stewart is an outstanding prospect but McCarthy said after City-Country: "Do you
want to take a gamble with blokes who haven't been there before?"

WINGER

Australia and Melbourne star Matt King will grab one winger's shirt. Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne was part of Australia's Tri-Nations squad last year and is likely to compete with club-mate Eric Grothe and Bulldog El Masri. "Haz is safe in everything he does," said McCarthy.

CENTRE

Back from concussion, St George Illawarra's Matt Cooper would seem an obvious choice for one centre spot. Cooper said: "A few of the boys would love to get one back on the Queensland side.

"They've been saying how good a side they've got. They have - it will be a good test."

Assuming he is not five-eighth Manly's Jamie Lyon should be the other centre.

FIVE-EIGHTH

Murray and McCarthy are both on record as praising the current form of Sydney Roosters' Braith Anasta.

HALFBACK

Mullen was known late last week to have enormous support among selectors but missed out on playing against the Bulldogs because of a leg injury. He is back tomorrow night against the Warriors.

Penrith's Craig Gower gets the ideal opportunity to press his claims when he lines up against Queensland's Johnathan Thurston tomorrow night.

The Sharks Brett Kimmorley returns from a neck problem tonight.

And the spotlight is on Manly's Matt Orford tonight against Parramatta. "I won't let anyone down if I get the honour," he told colleague Dean Ritchie yesterday.

"I publically criticised my own game last week against Canberra but, to be brutally honest, I won't do that again."

LOCK

Andrew Ryan is the runaway favourite here.

SECOND ROW

Likewise, internationals Willie Mason and Nathan Hindmarsh have the inside running.

PROPS

Australia stars Luke Bailey and Brent Kite are short-priced favourites.

HOOKER

McCarthy described incumbent captain Danny Buderus as "a lay-down".

BENCH

The inside mail has Newcastle's Kurt Gidley beating Wests Tigers' Robbie Farah and Sydney Roosters' Craig Wing to the coveted bench utility role.

Steve Simpson has another bench spot sewn up, it would seem.

Simpson's Test teammate Anthony Tupou has admitted he fears being the only green-and-gold player not to have a Blue jumper.

Asked about the issue, Murray said: "... if you've played for your country, then you're a pretty good player aren't you?"

Missing Origin after playing a Test "will happen from time to time but I'm not going to say it's going to happen now".

Chasing bench spots, Melbourne's Ryan Hoffman and Brett White were the outstanding forwards at BCU Stadium last week.

"I've always thought the man of the match in City-Country doesn't automatically make the NSW side," said Murray. "But those two players were very good and they are playing with a winning club side and playing good football."

Then there are the Sharks Paul Gallen and Greg Bird, plus Dragon Jason Ryles and Bulldog Reni Maitua who made his Test debut last year.

Bird was even mentioned in Anzac Test dispatches.

"When people are talking about you, it's hard not to take notice," said Bird.

Whoever gets the nod, the task is imposing. With the legendary Duncan Thompson in his prime, Queensland won the 1925 series 4-1.

Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21710467-23214,00.html