BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

Apparently New South Wales State of Origin coach Brad Fittler is considering a selection shock by picking Tongan World Cup hero Andrew Fifita in his Blues squad for Game I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

If only Freddy came out and just knocked it on the head. If only Fifita hadn’t already gone on record saying he didn’t want to play for the Blues because his allegiance was with the Tongans.

If only, if only.

Come on Freddy. You’re better than this. Please. We’re begging you. Don’t do it.

Some argue Fifita is the best prop in the world, leads the Dally M (and The81stMinute’s Arthur Beetson Medal), and above all else, is eligible for selection.

But do we really need to open this can of worms?

To put it simply, Fifita can’t be picked because it tarnishes Origin. It wouldn’t just change the fabric of the concept, it would rip it to shreds.

Fifita wants his cake and eat it too. You can’t blame him for trying. Play Origin and for Tonga? Bloody oath!

“You’re either all in, or you’re all out,” former Blues enforcer Mark Geyer said on Triple M.

“It’s a chance for Freddy to make a statement and show how much the Blues jersey means to every player.

“If you’re giving a bloke options to play Game I and III, you’re not really valuing the Blues jersey.”

Another Blues great, Steve Roach, agreed with Geyer.

“You can’t say, ‘look I’m going to play in Game I and III’ and all of a sudden say, ‘I’m going to be missing for Game II, I’m going to the Bahamas’ or ‘I’m going somewhere’, where’s he going? Tonga or something like that?” he told Fox Sports.

Tell ’em the time Block’!

“I think it’s a bit of a disrespect to the blokes who are going to be there anyway.”

If you pick Fifita, you might as well put a bullet in the back of Origin’s head. It won’t die straight away but you won’t stop the bleeding.

If you let Fifita play, let Sam Burgess have a Sky Blue jersey too. Hell, give Jimmy Graham one while we’re at it.

Bring Sonny Bill Williams back from rugby union and put him in the Queensland side.

Where’s The Chef from? Sweden? Make him Blues halfback (did you know in the German version of the show he’s not from Sweden but Denmark? #MindBlown).

The point is, if it wasn’t clear by now, if you let anyone play Origin it isn’t Origin, anymore. It becomes a glorified all-stars match.

State of Origin is the most watched sporting contest annually because everyone, everywhere tunes in to see the brutal and very real duel between warring states.

Expect there to be changes to the Blues under new coach and our mate Brad Fittler. #9NRLSFS pic.twitter.com/IjfR72yHfs

— Sunday Footy Show (@SundayFootyShow) November 30, 2017

Brad Fittler chats to @jamestedesco93 after FT!#Origin#NRL pic.twitter.com/8hh1x2IP48

— NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2017

When you lose the hate, you lose the audience.

Sporting content these days is already so watered down. Players move around and change clubs constantly. It’s hard for fans to stay engaged. Origin still has its essence. It’s still tribal. It’s real.

Don’t wreck it, Freddy. Please don’t pick Fifita. For the sake of the game.

@woodward_curtis