Does NSW coach Laurie Daley stick with a champion team or pick a team of champions?
That was the debate on NRL 360 on Wednesday night as the panel discussed whether Daley selects incumbent series-winning captain Jake Trbojevic.
Manly middle forward Trbojevic is considered the ultimate team man but his limited minutes last year as the Blues starting prop and captain were ridiculed.
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Trbojevic has struggled for form this season at the Sea Eagles which has left new coach Daley with a selection dilemma.
“It’s a good headache but I don’t think it’s a migraine,” James Hooper said.
“I love Jake, he’s an absolute lionheart of a player for Manly and has never let NSW down, to the point where he’s been dropped in previous series and they’ve had to bring him back in, in a rush, when they lose the opening game such is his importance to the side.
“But I don’t think you can pick him on current form.”
Dave Riccio said he echoed the sentiment but Gorden Tallis pointed out that Origin isn’t always about picking on form.
“The game loves Jake Trbojevic, everybody does but you’ve got to pick the best team. And the best pack, unfortunately, I don’t believe includes Jake,” Riccio said.
“I reckon Jake is one of those players, like a Gary Larson or a Billy Moore and you get those guys, Nate Myles, and they just embarrass you to stay on edge,” Tallis said.
“And it’s always team first, there is nothing selfish about them. You don’t know what it is. They don’t get the raps, Wally Lewis always thanked Garry Larson and those hard-working guys. Is he that guy for NSW?
“Jake will make 35 tackles in the middle, he doesn’t miss, he hits and sticks.”
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Anasta believes the Blues are talented enough to pick a workhorse like Trbojevic if it means getting what he brings off the field.
“They’ve got enough creativity in the team too, to have someone like Jake in there. If he’s good for the team bus and environment and he leads off the field and they love him and he just gets the job done in the first 10, 15, 20 minutes,” Anasta said.
“They’ve got enough talent and points in them, it’s not like they need a front-rower or a lock to come out creating opportunities.”
Anasta then asked the panel who will be captain if Trbojevic isn’t picked.
“Isaah Yeo, he’s the Australian captain,” Riccio said.
“I like Stephen Crichton, I think what he’s been doing for the Bulldogs,” Hooper responded.
“When you’re playing in good sides, there are five captains, like every Australian side has five club captains. They’re all leaders,” Tallis said.
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Anasta threw his support behind Crichton but Tallis raised one possible issue with the former Panthers centre leading NSW.
“I love Stephen Crichton, he is a good leader. He’s 23 and what he’s been able to do for the Bulldogs, you look at that game on the weekend against Canberra and he was the difference,”Anasta said.
“He leads by example with his actions and he’s also very vocal, he’s got both. He’s a freak of nature, I would happily have Stephen Crichton as the captain of the Blues.
“And he’s going to be there, he’s first picked for the next 10 years.”
“The only question mark is the guys who captained him at Penrith, what they think,” Tallis said.
“You know a bloke left and he wasn’t captain, you were captain, and now he’s gone and got it. That’s the only question mark.”
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