I Told You So...

Well, Origin II is done and decided, and as I predicted Queensland are the champs. I take no pleasure in being right. Like every footy-loving New South Welshman, I would have loved to see the Blues level the series in front of the home crowd at ANZ Stadium. But I knew in my heart that we didn't have the team to do it.

Queensland's early run of soft tries certainly didn't help. For the second time in as many encounters New South Wales were left playing catch up for most of the match. This extra pressure, rather than inspire the team, choked them. Dropped balls, poor options in attack and zero spark, save for Jarryd Hayne, easily the best in a beaten team.

NSW "saviour" Trent Barrett's only contribution was a high shot on Greg Inglis which will see him front the judiciary. Over-hyped fullback Kurt Gidley was competent if ordinary - thankfully he didn't make any dumb errors like in game one, however he didn't set ANZ Stadium on fire either, with sub-par goalkicking to boot. Peter Wallace too failed to make any kind of impact. I doubt he'll feature in game three.

So Queensland have made history with four successive series wins, and will be pumped to make 2009 a clean sweep in three weeks time up at Suncorp Stadium. If the Blues selectors don't make the right decisions that is precisely what will happen.

Barrett is gone, he will get up to three weeks for his high shot. Wallace too is likely to go. But if the selectors are serious, a few more changes are needed.

Foremost, I would get rid of Kurt Gidley. He has done nothing all series. Move Jarryd Hayne to his preferred spot at fullback. Joel Monaghan will man one wing with David Williams on the other. In the centres, Matt Cooper MUST be brought back. He has played Origin before, is still young and in good form. Michael Jennings should reclaim his spot if he has recovered from injury.

At five-eighth, I would give Jarrod Mullen the call-up he should have received at the start of this series. Brett Kimmorley should get the nod at number seven, I'd hate to lose him from the 'Dogs for a round but he is clearly the best man for the job. Goalkicking also gets handed to him.

Gallen can continue to lock the scrum. In the second row, Anthony Watmough should start, with the other position going to Luke O' Donnell, whose otherwise solid game last night was marred by one critical error. In the front row, Michael Weyman is an instant selection, with the other spot going to a returning Luke Bailey if fit. Farah retains the hooking spot - he had an ordinary game in Origin II but not a lot to work with either.

On the bench my first selection if fit would be Craig Wing. He spearheaded the Blues fightback in game one and can slot in anwhere from the backs to halves to hooker. I would also select Ben Creagh, Justin Poore and Glenn Stewart. Hence my team I believe is capable of avoiding a series whitewash in Brisbane reads as follows:

1. Jarryd Hayne
2. David Williams
3. Matt Cooper
4. Michael Jennings
5. Joel Monaghan
6. Jarrod Mullen
7. Brett Kimmorley (c)
8. Luke Bailey
9. Robbie Farah
10. Michael Weyman
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Luke O'Donnell
13. Paul Gallen

14. Craig Wing
15. Ben Creagh
16. Justin Poore
17. Glenn Stewart