Greg Bird at five-eighth… Todd Carney on the bench… Ben Creagh at lock. These are just some of the surprises in Brad Fittler’s New South Wales State of Origin side for Game One in Melbourne on May 23rd.
With a record 31 appearances for the Blues, Freddy knows a thing or two about Origin football, and that’s reflected in the team the former skipper would like to see take on the Maroons in the series opener.
1. Brett Stewart (Sea Eagles)
2. Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
3. Josh Morris (Bulldogs)
4. Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers)
5. Akuila Uate (Knights)
6. Greg Bird (Titans)
7. Mitchell Pearce (Roosters)
8. Paul Gallen (Sharks)
9. Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
10. James Tamou (Cowboys)
11. Luke Lewis (Panthers)
12. Glenn Stewart (Sea Eagles)
13. Ben Creagh (Dragons)
Interchange
14. Todd Carney (Sharks)
15. Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles)
16. Tariq Sims (Cowboys)
17. Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
Freddy explained to NRL Daily host John Gibbs why this side would have the size, speed, skill and toughness to wrest Origin supremacy from Mal Meninga’s dominant Queensland outfit. “I think they’re tough. I think they can actually go down there and surprise Queensland with their toughness.”