Apparently New South Wales are in crisis. Apparently the Blues are struggling to put a competitive team on the field for State of Origin I at ANZ Stadium on the 27^th of May.

Sure the incumbent halves are a worry.

Canterbury-Bankstown pair Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds have been sub-par to start the season and on form alone, don’t deserve to be there. But this is only a problem if the likes of Sydney Roosters’ captain Mitchell Pearce and Canberra star Blake Austin weren’t playing the house down for their respective clubs.

All this does is force NSW coach Laurie Daley to pick a team purely on form.

And that my friends, is an exciting prospect.

My Blues team has five debutants and every single one of them has Origin written all over them.

Fullback Matt Moylan

The Penrith custodian has a fractured hand but early reports suggest he’ll be okay to play the opening match thus making his Origin debut. Moylan flat out deserves his place.

Wingers Alex Johnston and Josh Dugan*

Both men recently ran out for Australia in the Anzac Test and struggled to get involved, something that happens quite a bit when you’re the wingers in a team that gets thoroughly dismembered. Dugan has an injury to overcome and Johnston will be desperate to get back into the South Sydney jumper to do what he does best.

Centres Dylan Walker and Michael Jennings

Walker missed the representative weekend due to a knee injury but will be good to go against the Maroons. His gutsy performance against the Wests Tigers, where he played the entire match with a broken hand, is State of Origin. His partner should be the equally silky Jennings who had a frustrating afternoon at Suncorp against the Kiwis.

Five-Eight Blake Austin

Mark Geyer on Triple M: “If you’re going to pick it on form, it has to be him. He’s the reason the Canberra Raiders are where they are. He’s one of those blokes that is great in open play and broken play. He always backs up for support. He has a high energy.”

Half-Back Mitchell Pearce

There is no fight here; Pearce has to be the half-back. It’s funny we say that now after hammering him and blaming him for Queensland’s greatest ever Origin team which really wasn’t his fault. Pearce first, daylight second.

Props Aaron Woods and Paul Gallen*

Woods is one of the first picked and if Gallen plays, that’s a guaranteed 300+ metres which is so important in the Origin arena.

Hooker Robbie Farah

The Wests captain has felt the wrath of Queensland and helped conquer them too. With Pearce, Austin and Moylan in the team, there will be less pressure on Farah to perform miracles in the middle third.

Second-Rowers Boyd Cordner and Ryan Hoffman

Both these guys were stiff to miss out on Australian selection, especially Cordner.

Lock Trent Merrin

Merrin prior to Anzac Test: “If you let things get on top of you they can dead-set do a real big job on you. It’s been a great learning curve for myself personally and to be able to step back and take a good look at the way things are going and what you need to work on.”

Bench

Luke Lewis – Worked hard in Aussie lost, can cover backs if needed

Andrew Fifita – Back to his best, a damaging and dangerous prop

Tyson Frizell – Hits like an axe and can bust tackles

James Tamou – The perfect rotation for Woods and Gallen

My Blues Team:

1 Matt Moylan (Panthers)

2 Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs)

3 Dylan Walker (Rabbitohs)

4 Michael Jennings (Panthers)

5 Josh Dugan* (Dragons)

6 Blake Austin (Raiders)

7 Mitchell Pearce (Roosters)

8 Aaron Woods (Tigers)

9 Robbie Farah (Tigers)

10 Paul Gallen* (Sharks)

11 Boyd Cordner (Roosters)

12 Ryan Hoffman (Storm)

13 Trent Merrin (Dragons)

14 Luke Lewis (Sharks)

15 Andrew Fifita (Sharks)

16 Tyson Frizell (Dragons)

17 James Tamou (Cowboys)

18^th Man Josh Jackson (Bulldogs)

(Cover for Gallen. If the skipper is ruled out, Tamou to start and Jackson onto the bench)

19^th Man Daniel Tupou (Roosters)

(Straight swap for Dugan if the Dragon doesn’t come up)

@CurtisWoodward1