State of Origin Blues

State of Origin selections take place this Sunday afternoon, so it's time to put my selectors cap on again, as we try to beat the Cane Toads for the first time in seven years.

1 Brett Stewart
2 Aquila Uate
3 Josh Morris
4 Jarryd Hayne
5 Brett Morris
6 Todd Carney
7 James Maloney
8 Paul Gallen
9 Dean Young
10 James Tamou
11 Anthony Watmough
12 Glenn Stewart
13 Greg Bird

14 Luke Lewis
15 Tom Learoyd-Lahrs
16 Tony Williams
17 Tariq Sims

Thoughts.

• Brett Stewart has shown himself to be the best attacking and defensive fullback of those who are available for Blues selection. Minichello and Dugan are both good players, but Stewart does appear to be in the best form overall, and he's going to be busy in both departments.
• Uate and Brett Morris are the best two wingers running around at the moment.
• Josh Morris has proven he is ready for another chance, while I think Hayne must be picked, as he has the spark that can win a game on his own.
• Todd Carney has again shown how good a player he is when in the right environment. Let's hope he does us proud.
• NSW will pick Mitchell Pearce, but I really think he just kicks the ball too much. Okay, that's probably the Roosters game plan, but to me we need a tough player who can distribute and kick. It's still too early for Daly Cherry-Evans at Origin level. Maloney has shown for the Warriors that he is a class player, and although he plays at five-eighth for them, I think he can adapt to the halfback role.
• We need big, tough, mobile forwards. All 8 chosen here are that, as well as being the form forwards running around for NSW.
• Despite no one thinking of him (mainly I think because of his knees and inability to train) Dean Young is my hooker. Tough, hard, and can play anywhere, I think he will be better value than Ennis or Farah or Hinchcliffe, which are the three nominees for the position.
• Luke Lewis is the utility, can play everywhere, and should play the majority of the match.

There is no chance of this team being chosen, but this is who I would go with in order to break the Queensland domination. We need to beat them in the forwards and take their halves out of the match, starving their backs of possession. Do this and we can win. If we can't, well, it's another year of sorrow.