NEW LOOK BLUES! 🔵 7 Debutants Listed as 'Dynamic' Teddy Pips Edwards for No.1 role 👀 | NRL 360

Welcome back, let's take a deeper dive into the New South Wales Blues line -up for game one of State of Origin.Only six players remain from last year's losing side.Are we surprised?

Doggy.I'm not really brave.We lost, well I shouldn't say that, New South Wales lost last year.

Oh, so you're not part of it now?

Well, I've got to try to be a little bit objective.I don't think Laurie had any obligation or to be loyal.The blokes that he put trust in last year didn't do the job for him.And I think, Reedy, you touched on that today in one of your columns.Basically saying that Laurie had no reason to be loyal.to have to pick certain players.

He thought, let's start from scratch, it's a clean canvas and let's go again.

Yeah, well some of them were forced right because Luttrell's not there.

Rabin, Turbo, I've got them here, Payne Haas, Zach Lomax, Liam Martin.

So it's a few, few missed here.Moses coming back, but it's still a lot of changes.And look, they were obviously really disappointed with Game 3 last year.It was a pretty pathetic performance, let's be brutally honest, right?So, Laurie obviously walked away from that and felt, I don't know, or anyone in Lawty after that performance.And we've seen that reflected in this team.

Just on that, how much pressure is Laws under with this game this year?He's under enormous pressure.

He's aware of that.I'm not sure what Laurie will do next year.

Is it his last year do you think?

It's his last year contractually.Whether he decides to go on next year, I'm not in his...Well he can't get, if he loses the job, he cannot get the job.

Because his record, even if you take out this past two years.His record before that was, I think, losing five out of six series or something.He won one series.So if he loses this series...

That was a great Queensland side.

It was a great Queensland side, it was.So if he loses this series, there's no... the decision's made for him.

Yeah, he's in some trouble.Massive decision to drop Edwards and put Tedesco in.Why did he do this and do you like it?

I think it's a positive.I think there's some decisions where there's no wrong.There is no wrong decision.Dylan Edwards is one.four comps, he's played there, he doesn't do anything wrong.Listening to Laurie today in all of these interviews, it's about the style that they want to play.

You can't argue with it.If he says, I want to play this style, he's going to suit it.the style that we're going to play?

I was going to ask him when he said that in the interview we just had with him.I was going to say what style is that?But he wouldn't have told us, right?Because, let's be honest, you're not going to say that.Do you know Doggie?So, I'm guessing, I'm guessing, I'm guessing Gordie, it's going to be on the ball and if you've got Robson, which is probably why they've picked Tedesco, Robson's been jumping in a dummy half, they've been combining really well, their combination has been very dangerous through the middle, on the front foot, quick play of the balls, Murray, I'd have Murray starting and we might get to that, but I think quick feet and fit and fast around the ruck is where they think they can get him.

Luttrell was flying, How much of a loss is this for the Blues?

It's a huge loss for them.He's the best player in the game on his day, literally.We've seen him this year just about win games on his own, so it's a massive out for them.And they're lucky they've got Crichton and Staggs, right?They're pretty good footballers.But he's a huge help for them.

He's such a good player.

Crichton's form's not great, let's be brutally honest.I think it's been on the decline for the last few weeks because the Doggies have lost five in a row.But Critter is a big game performer.He's been there before.He's done the job before.And I particularly like, I've said on this show before, I'm a massive fan of Ketone Staggs.

I love his aggression.I love his toughness.So if we do lose the trill, which is a blow, to have Staggs and Crichton there, I don't think New South Wales lose a lot.

So La Trobe ruled himself out, is that right?Yes.

Well I think the medical staff were involved obviously.He's not going to play for South this weekend.Obviously he rang Laurie to say he was out but there was medical staff involved.

Was he any chance or was just none?

Well I think he was a slim chance.but obviously it wasn't going to be 100 % and that was the concern.

Alright, no surprises in the halves.Do we think dominating origin?What do you think?Come on.It's got to be on his mind.It has to be.

It has to be.

Yeah.

Because Nathan is the ultimate professional.He's a sports nut, so he follows the NBA, NFL.He watches sport globally.and he wants to be the best.And that's why I don't think he'll leave our game and leave the NRL.And this is going to be the only thing hanging over his shoulder now.

really until he dominates at this level.People may argue, well he's played very good, and he has, he's played very good at Origen, and he's a great Origen player and all that, and he's the first one picked and no one doubts that he's a very good player.But it's still that dominance right, that everyone thinks that, and I know he would, he'd want to dominate a series, he'd want to get man of the match, he'd want to carry New South Wales to victory.

Is that why he's got to get the Wally Lewis medal before we go, he's that player?

I think he just has to own a series, right?I think that's as simple as that.He has his own moments but he hasn't been the hands down dominant player in a New South Wales series win.

He's said it himself.

He has said it himself.And I think it's interesting, right, because we're all talking about his future now and what he does in 18 months' time.That's the one thing he hasn't done.So if he does that, I wonder whether he goes, OK, I've done everything now.I can sit down and think about maybe going to the Super League.Maybe going over to see Mary and spending time with her, as you wrote about Dog exclusively a little while ago.

Maybe he switches codes because that's the one thing, and he's going to be remembered as a great player, regardless of what he does there, but that's immortality.That's becoming an immortal.You dominate Origin, you tick that off the list, then the immortal debates over as far as I'm concerned.

I think you're right.I think he's got to dominate Origin to be an immortal.and I think we all believe that Nathan ultimately will get there.He has won a couple of series, let's be fair, but he's never dominated that Game 3 decider and that bugs Nathan.It really annoys him.

So why hasn't he?

I don't know, Gordon.He just hasn't done it.I mean, is it style?I mean, we know his commitment, we know his skill level, We know how good he is, but he just hasn't been able to get the job done.Some people say that he's a system player, and inside the Penrith system he dominates, but out of that system he might not go to the levels that we think he can attain.I don't necessarily agree with that, but I'm saying that is the speculation.

He's so meticulous in what he does, and the preparation and systematic Penrith Panthers that they are for so long now, being in that same environment and having so much success where, yeah they tinker with it, but they just know their games inside out so well.Origin we've seen is very different.You've got less time and space to make decisions, to come up with plays, to deliver what he usually does for Penrith.And they play a different style than what I believe.translates into success at origin and we've seen that when they've picked numerous players and they've been winning the comps every year and they've still lost origin and they still haven't played near where they need to be at and that's why they've got to put Isaiah Yeo in my opinion in the front row and they've got to put Ken Murray at lock.and Barnett may be back to the bench, come off.

I just think, you know, quick feet from Murray, he's fit, he's a great defender and he's got an off load.

So you think that the starting 13 might not be the starting 13?I think so.For both sides?

Yeah, for both sides.But if I'm Loz, I think Yo can easily play front row and he can swap that over with Barnett and whatever.But I think Murray, if you've got Robson, Murray, you know, Moses, Cleary and then Tedesco, like that That's on the ball, playing at speed around that ruck.you know I think that's and again it's that system at Penrith that you want it you don't want it you just want to leave that behind it's a different game different speed.Isaiah I think can get in the way of Cleary at origin and Cleary gets the ball too late you need it fast at the advantage line quick to then execute where you need to.

He's got to be a bit more selfish I think and I know that sounds like that but when Andrew Johns was he touched the ball as many times as he wanted when I asked like him as a famous and I keep on going back to Wally Lewis, I asked Wayne Bennett what made him so good because he got it, the play that he wanted.

Madge did it in 24 when they won as well.That's the way Madge played it and I'm bringing Madge back into this but I agree with it.I think that's the way to play.

We shouldn't forget Peter Sterling often said he didn't conquer State of Origin and some might even argue Andrew Johns didn't conquer State of Origin.So Nathan Cleary's not the first.Are you serious?Well, Gordie, he played a lot off the bench.He played a lot of...Yeah, mate, but I played against him.

Andrew John's the best player I've seen, so it's not a knock on Joey.I'm just saying at that level, I think even Joey would say that.He wasn't consistently dominating.So Nathan's not the first biker.

And that's a great point.That's why we're so hard on it now.And it's got so competitive, right, that Joey did have some games where he felt like he was unstoppable with him and Danny Medeiros and obviously Lockie.There's some games in GI where they've had those moments.And I think Nathan...But Nathan... is so unselfish with his team first mentality where and I'm not saying that the other guys aren't sometimes if he does do that you know it gets a little bit more selfish but we might notice that.

That was the emphasis with Joey when I played with him in that 2005 series where he dominated it completely was service you know it was getting the ball he got the ball when he wanted it no matter what like it was his and then it was important that you had the ball out in front you had Badiris just giving him great service off the ground and then And then he had time to execute more time and space.And then he would get the ball to his outside men, the Crichton and the Snags.early ball.You know what I mean?Because that's big bodies, late footwork, quick play of the ball, that's Origen.Not fancy block plays and all that.

It's just a different game.Now was Appie Corrisale unlucky to miss out?

He wasn't unlucky, I don't think Braith in that.Yes, he was certainly in the conversation, but the three game suspension I think pretty much ended his chances.I know The Blues have a big rap on Appie, as we all do.But here's the hip drop here coming up, I think, where he did get suspended.But look, right from the beginning, Laurie had a soft spot for Reece Robson.His form improved as the season went on.

And Blake Braley, I think, has grown into an absolute elite player.So I think Appie just fell short, probably anyway, but the suspension nailed his chances.

What about Keon, Kalawa Matangi and Jackson Ford?Do we consider them unlucky?

I do, yeah.Because I saw Laurie, I'm sure Laurie got quoted saying Jackson Ford was not in the team because he couldn't play on the edge.He's played about the majority of his career on the edge.39 games in the back row.So I didn't really understand that one from Laurie because he's been outstanding this year, Jackson Ford.So good for them.

And that just didn't make sense.

He's a bigger body Jackson Ford too.Like if you look at the Blues bench, depending on what they do with Murray and what I just spoke to there.

You'd think Saifede's a little bit lucky.Yeah, I do.He's been pretty good for Newcastle.Yeah, he's been pretty good.But to me, that's a bit out of left field.Just a little bit.

Because they've got Radley and Braley, right?Who aren't big guys.Radley's aggressive.But he's probably limited to the positions he plays.He could play back row a lot.

But as you said, they might drop Barnett back to the bench.And then it looks different.That's what I think.

And Crichton is a beast.Angus Crichton's a beast.Yeah, we're surprised he got left out.

I think we'll find that the Origen, if we believe the NRL, will be playing in the Premier League.the same rules as the NRL, which is going to mean a fast game.So I think that's why Laurie, as he said today, was why he only went for one prop on the bench, Jacob Saifidi.It was only a three big bopper policy as opposed to having a fourth.

He's ripped off Queensland.He's just stolen Queensland's game plan.How have you ripped off Queensland?It's what we do every year, we pick small forwards.Oh, so you repeated this, did you?He's ripped off our game plan.

Oh, fair enough.Fair dinkum.I love it how you say our all the time.

Okay, Radley will make his debut off the bench.Very happy for Victor Radley.I think everyone's said it now forever.He's built for it.He's built for Origin.He gets his shot with the rule change.

Yeah, he's a bit of a make or break selection I reckon, Victor.Because, look, God bless him.He does have a tendency at times to get a bit wound up.He's been simping a bit over the course of his career.He's been charged a few times.Look, if he gets it right, he's a difference maker.

And he brings something not many other players in the game bring.But he can get it wrong.

He's on the edge, but he'll compete.He'll get under your skin.

He's a kindred spirit with you, you lunatic.

No, but that's what you want, mate.You want blokes to push the envelope, to go to that red line.And they're the guys that are built for it.And Victor Radley, when he did go to England, you're thinking, because he was in the squad, he was around the squad and he'd get suspended or he'd always miss out and I'm thinking that's one guy that I'd love to watch him play.

But can he control that?

He obviously thinks he can.

I want him to go and bash the shit out of Queensland.I want him to take their heads off.That's what we want, right?The fans want it.He's the hitman, right?We want him to go out there and just absolutely tear shreds off them.

Like he used to do, Gordie.That's what we want.You can't do it in the modern day game.I hope he kills, I'm glad he's been picked.But it's a risk, because if he gets it wrong, there's a player off the field.You know what I'm saying?

Let the red mist just descend on Victor and let him rip in.That's what Origins is about.And look, Laurie did say today in his press conference that he won't go out of his way to talk to Victor about discipline, but it's expected these days and both of you are spot on.But you know what?Let him loose.Let the Tiger loose.

I can't wait.

I've got to say, Tommy Flegler's a bit like that with Queensland.Tommy can get a bit loose as well.

You're Queensland team, Rudy.