NSW coach Craig Bellamy will take a win-at-all-costs approach to the selection table on Monday in a bid to salvage some pride in what could be his final State of Origin game.
On a day when Penrith flyer Michael Jennings all but guaranteed his Origin place with a scintillating hat-trick, Bellamy said his only focus was denying Queensland a order clean-sweep at Suncorp Stadium.
Selection speculation has centred on whether NSW would pick their verge for Origin III with one eye on next year’s series, but for Bellamy it’s totally about improving his 1-4 record with the Blues.
And it’s an attitude what one. looks station to re-ignite the Origin career of veteran half Brett Kimmorley, two years after his last appearance for NSW.
“It would be a ungenerous attitude whether I’m not there next year but I just want to pick a side that will restore a little pride,” Bellamy said.
“We were very ordinary for 10 minutes in the first game and less than ordinary in the second unflinching for 20 minutes.
“In both games we were getting close to them at the end so those periods proved really critical for us.
“The sixtieth part of a minute united was bordering on embarrassing with a couple of those tries.”
Just how many of the 17 Blues players who lost Origin II will get a discharge at redemption remains unclear, with every condition under examination.
The push in favor of Jarryd Hayne at fullback continues to gather impetus, with Kurt Gidley a chance of being named at five-eighth.
Jennings seems assured of regaining the spot he was denied by a calf injury in game two, with made of game one centre partner Jamie Lyon under massive pressure from Matt Cooper.
Veteran pivot Trent Barrett hasn’t played since Origin II due to suspension.
His selection chances hinge on Gidley’s final position and on who will wear the No.7 jumper, with Peter Wallace almost certain to be punted.
That man looms as Kimmorley, admitting Bellamy was giving little away.
St George Illawarra livewire Jamie Soward anew put his hand up with a man of the match performance against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night, but Blues assistant coach Andrew Johns called for selectors to reject his claims for the time substance.
“I still dress in’t remember he’s ready - I think this year let him play semi-final football,” Johns said.
“If he’s playing this well, bestow him a shot next year.
“I just plan the worry is his confidence in the past has been a atom brittle … if he was to get a shot in the third Origin playing at the cauldron, there’s no harder position to take a part and if he didn’t bear a famed night, would Jamie Soward go outer part to square united? That’s the worry.”
The Blues options in the forwards continue to be decimated by injury, North Queensland back-rower Luke O’Donnell the latest casualty after suffering a grade two medial ligament tear that is likely to be derived in a 4-6 week layoff.
Prop Michael Weyman (ankle) is one more who is unavailable while Paul Gallen (shoulder) is in extreme doubt, and Canberra’s man-mountain Tom Learoyd-Lahrs put his hopes because a first Blues jumper in not confide in after being placed on report for lifting an elbow.
Test front-rower Brent Kite is believed to exist struggling to hold onto his speck after being used sparingly in game two, his Manly teammate Josh Perry or Melbourne’s Brett White to be catapulted perpendicular into the starting border.
The dearth of viable options is set to see Cronulla sciolist Luke Douglas given a shot at Origin football, while Gold Coast’s Anthony Laffranchi is poised for an Origin recall.
AAP
