Well, what did you think of the big announcement yesterday?  No, not the budget - the naming of the NSW Team for State of Origin I.

No Hindmarsh, no Kite, no Anasta, no Lyon.

But the biggest shock was in the Queensland camp - where there was No Room at the Inn for the NRL’s most in-form player; Scott Prince.

 

As the new Blues coach this year, it’s obvious that Craig Bellamy got the team he wanted.  And as a passionate NSW supporter, that’s fine by me.

Bellamy is acclaimed as the best coach in the world at the moment, so forcing him to accept players he doesn’t trust would be a recipe for failure.  If he’s going to win after 2 straight series defeats under the hapless Graham Murray, he needs to be trusted.  And if he does indeed pull off an extraordinary win, then every NSW fan, supporter and even player will be happy.

So if Bellamy wants Brett White and Ben Cross as his props, then he can have them.  Irrespective of whether you believe Brent Kite either was in terrific form and was snubbed, or is over-rated and deserved to miss out, it’s an understandable call.

Likewise, if Bellamy wants Anthony Quinn to (attempt to) defend either Inglis or Folau on the wing, then he can have him.  With the Maroons pinching all our former NSW junior wingers to play for them,  who else is there?  Hasem El-Masri?  Eric Grothe?  Please.

And if Bellamy doesn’t believe Anasta is the right man to implement his game-plan, especially in defense, against the awesome Queensland backline and chooses Bird instead at five-eighth (who is, afterall, the Australian incumbent), then once again that’s justifiable.

Finally, if Bellamy wants to go with a young, exciting halfback like Kurt Gidley (before he was injured) and Peter Wallace instead of a tired veteran like Kimmorley,  Orford or Finch, then I’m in favour of it.  Look at what he’s done with formerly unknown Cooper Cronk.

If he loses the series (and on paper, the Maroons do have a superior side), then at least he lost doing it his way.

The full NSW Squad for State of Origin 1 is;

 1 - Brett Stewart
 2 - Jarryd Hayne
 3 - Mark Gasnier
 4 - Matt Cooper
 5- Anthony Quinn
 6- Greg Bird
 7 - Peter Wallace
 8 - Brett White
 9 - Danny Buderus (c)
10 - Ben Cross
11 - Ryan Hoffman
12 - Willie Mason
13 - Paul Gallen

Interchange: Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon, Ben Hornby

When I named my team over the weekend, it was indeed very similar to this.  I had Gidley at half - which this team would have had if he hadn’t fractured his cheek-bone on Monday night - and I also had Laffranchi on the bench.

Although I did have Anasta at 5/8 and Bird at lock, plus I also had Hindmarsh in the second row; because it’s usually beneficial to have the hardest-working forward in the comp, especially with the reduced interchanges this year.  The trouble with this is, who do you leave out?  This is why some criticism of the selectors last night is completely unwarranted - even if you wanted to include Kite, Hindmarsh, or Andrew Ryan - who do you leave out?

Fitzgibbon made the side as much for his goal-kicking as for his form, which has nonetheless been impressive all season, especially in the Roosters’ round 3 win over the Storm (which obviously stuck in Craig Bellamy’s mind).  No problems with him being there. 

If Phil Gould or Ricky Stuart (the previous coaches to win State of Origin series) were in charge, the side would be different, certainly.  Or even Des Hasler.  But this is Bellamy’s team, and under the circumstances, I don’t think we could have done much better.  Especially since the Queenslanders have done us a favour and left out Scott Prince.

Onto the footy tips.

The games for NRL Round 10 and my tips are below - these will be fleshed out over the next 24 hours, so be sure to visit again for the usual high quality analysis you know and love…

updated Thurs 15th 9:30pm

Fri 7:30 - Parra vs Easts - Ch 9 Live
If both teams play like they did last weekend, Easts will win by 20 points - even with no forwards. What were the odds of Anasta, Hindmarsh and Finch all being available for this match? And Craig Fitzgibbon not? Roosters.

Fri 7:30 - GCst vs Cant - Ch 9 Delay
You know a team is desperate when they blow their salary cap on a halfback who has failed at 3 straight clubs, but that’s what Canterbury have just done with Brett Kimmorley. 2009 can’t come soon enough. Titans.

Sat 5:30 - Cron vs Bris - Fox Sports Live
If Cronulla had won just one of their 2 home games (to Wests or Penrith) they’d be on top of the table. Even without the Bash Brothers, Bruise Brothers or whatever Bird and Gallen are called, they should prevail. Sharks.

Sat 7:30 - Manly vs NQld - Fox Sports Live
Brent Kite and Jamie Lyon both have something to prove to the NSW selectors, and a Cowboys outfit missing their playmaker and enforcer should be just the tonic. Manly to win and cover the 10½ points start. Sea Eagles.

Sat 7:30 - SGIl vs Melb - Fox Sports Live
It will be an interesting experiment to watch the NRL’s most disciplined team perform without 9 premiership players and their premiership coach this State of Origin season. This is a game St George must win. Dragons. 

Sun 2:00 - Penr vs NZWr - Fox Sports Live
The toughest game of the round, with the hot-and-cold Panthers up against the cold-and-hot Warriors.  Why am I worried that Penrith have a better record away than they do at home so far this season? Panthers.

Sun 3:00 - Newc vs WsTg- Ch 9 Delay
The Knights usually win at home but one team they habitually struggle against is Wests.  With Buderus and Gidley out, it will be difficult, especially with Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah returning for the Tigers. Tigers.

Mon 7:00 - Canb vs SSyd - Fox Sports Live
The Bunnies enjoyed the week off following their win over North Queensland in round 8, and go into this game refreshed and confident.  But the whole world knows Canberra are a vastly different side at home. Raiders.

Mattus’ Tips : Last Week 4/6.  2008 : 36/62
Home Teams : Last Week 3/6.  2008 : 38/62

Good luck, and RIP Jack Gibson.