Wont somebody please think of the children?

As the NRL continues to seemingly bend to the will of the PC brigade, the polarizing Gus Gould recently unleashed an opinion piece unsurprisingly coming to the great games defence which has been receiving a lot of traction. As I sit here watching a replay of Wild Turkey Bourbon Super Saturday, with an entire Sharks team running around the field with Luxbet printed on their backs, one part of Gould's column stands out in particular

Please don't compare junior league football with the win-at-all costs professional sport you see on our TV screens. If you don't like some of the stuff you see, tell your kids why it's not right for them to do the same. If they behave badly on the football field, discipline and educate them.

I love the NRL, I watch every game, every week, but lets put a few things in perspective, the NRL is an entertainment business.

The competition is built in large part on violence. I hate when people say violence makes the game because the skill of these players at times defies belief, but at its core, a large part of the entertainment of the game is watching these huge, intense men running into each other trying to smash each other. The junior game need not be as violent, because it isn't comprised of finely tuned professional athletes who are hellbent on winning. These aren't guys who play for fun, of course they enjoy the game, they grew up enjoying the game, but there comes a time in everyone's sporting life where a line is drawn between playing for fun and playing to win. In the NRL, these guys play to win and they play to live, this is their career, their livelihood, of course it is going to get intense, of course it is going to get violent.

and then, Hodges said my skills weren't up to the required standard to play in this competition

More than half the teams in the competition are sponsored by gambling companies....

Broncos - Sportingbet
Raiders - ACT TAB
Titans - BET EZY
Manly - Centrebet
Knights - Sportsbet
Roosters - Sportsbet
Sharks - Luxbet
Warriors - Skycity
Panthers - Centrebet (who play out of Centrebet stadium)

Big Dell always knows how to get a slice of the pie

Factor in the in game segments from the likes of Tom Waterhouse, the TAB and the advertising around the stadium from various betting agencies and each NRL game is a gigantic gambling advertisement. There is no way to hide from it, every time you watch the NRL you are being bombarded with gambling advertising, most people probably don't even realise, they think nothing of it, that's how it is meant to happen. You still know, there's no better bet than a sporting bet. Was it only me that found saw the irony when Ben Barba returned after his various issues, including problems with gambling, that he was at fullback hovering around posts with BET365 advertising on the padding?

"I know what punters want"

Then there's the alcohol. Attending the VB Blues vs XXXX Maroons clash last Wednesday at ANZ Stadium, I was left with no question which beer was the right choice for a "hard earned thirst" after seeing thousands of jerseys point it out to me all night and the Sharks, Dragons, Roosters, Tigers would surely all agree.

I whole heartedly endorse this event or product

But the following teams may feel a little differently...

Broncos - XXXX
Bulldogs - Tooheys
Titans - XXXX
Manly - Tooheys, Jim Beam
Cowboys - XXXX
Eels - Tooheys
Panthers - Tooheys, Jim Beam
Warriors - Lion Red

and the Raiders likely don't care, as long as you make your purchase from Local Liquor. Again, add in the sponsorship of particular nights e.g. the previously mentioned Wild Turkey Super Saturday, or the Woodstock advertising that regularly appears during broadcasts on Sky in New Zealand, the alcohol advertising around the stadium, the numerous alcohol stands around the ground. Our "great game" is used by these companies to sell you alcohol, and the NRL, in all its family friendly goodness, takes that money quite happily. Then we turn around and complain about the impact the drink is having on the game and the players and how Dugan is up on a roof drinking and Tamou is out drink driving and George Burgess is parading the streets doing Hulk impressions.

So what we have is a violent form of entertainment in a contest between men battling for money, battling for their livelihood, sponsored by gambling and alcohol companies, It's clearly incredibly popular, but the NRL is built around adult themes. If the NRL is so concerned with creating a child friendly environment, stop launching hundreds upon hundreds of examples of alcohol and gambling advertising at young children who tune in to games, who show up to games, who buy the jerseys. Oh no, we couldn't do that, too much money to lose there. The NRL is an entertainment outlet that serves as a huge advertising vehicle for adult escapades yet is watched by thousands of children. How many players have we seen undone by the rare punch up during a game? and how many have we seen undone by alcohol and gambling problems? the NRL promotes bigger threats to its players than the issue it's trying to clear up.It's the parents job to teach children about violence, just like it is to shield them from the alcohol and gambling onslaught their children are unwittingly exposed to every game.

But hey, if the kids get the right jerseys, then they too can be a walking gambling and drinking advertisement!

3 sleeps to go

Just three more sleeps to go now, this whole starting the season on a Thursday thing was a fantastic idea, otherwise we'd be looking at four more sleeps to go! but we aren't, so not to worry. On that gleeful note, let's move on to number 3 on the countdown...

#3 Paul Gallen

Despite being restricted to just 16 games, the 31 year old Sharks and NSW Captain delivered another stellar season, capped off by winning the 2012 Dally M Lock of the Year. On the back Gallen's tireless shoulders, the Sharks finally found themselves back in the top eight, taking 7th place in the standings. While the Sharkies made a hasty exit, going out in the qualifying finals to the Canberra Raiders, it was finally at least a taste of success for starved Sharks fans. Gallen would once again turn out for Australia, starting in the front row in their 20-12 ANZAC test victory, and add another three Origin appearances for NSW to his resume, though once again failing to secure the series victory. In just 16 games, Gallen would amass 359 runs for 3174 metres and would be third in the NRL in offloads with 50. All up a very strong year for Gallen, but missing games, losing another Origin series and a swift booting from the playoffs would have no doubt left Gallen with a lot of unfinished business on his mind. Adding another feather to his cap however, Gallen would participate in the 2012 Fight for Life charity event, taking on the heavily favoured Chiefs and All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot. To the surprise of many, at least many in the Union fraternity, Big Gal would score an impressive upset victory over the trained martial artist, showing the toughness that he displays in the NRL week after week.

"Oh, shark has fangs"

Gallen of course also has a substantial list of awards to his name in what has been a sparkling career. Spanning 216 NRL games, 22 Tests for Australia and 14 Origin's for New South Wales. Gallen has been the premier backrow forward in Rugby League, and indeed at times front rower, for several years now...

• 2008 RLIF Lock of the Year
• 2010 Harry Sunderland Medal
• 2010 RLW Player of the Year
• 2011 Brad Fittler Medal
• 2011 Dally M Lock of the Year
• 2011 Harry Sunderland Medal
• 2011 Peter Frilingos Memorial Award
• 2011 RLIF Lock of the Year
• 2012 Dally M Lock of the Year

In four out of the past five years, Gallen has been recognized by either RLIF, RLW, or the Dally M's as the Lock of the Year or Player of the Year. He's also the only player in history to receive a rating of 10 from Rugby League Week for a State of Origin game, and in 2012 became only the third player to receive a 10 rating twice in his career after a win against the Cowboys in March.

Probably the best title of any video I've put in the blog so far

There was once a time when Gallen was arguably the most hated man in Rugby League. The reputation of his attitude, dirty play and a pretty vocal mouth to go with it certainly didn't earn him many fans outside of the Shire. He was known as one of the grubbiest players around, and was labelled a "racist" after being fined $10,000 by the NRL for alleged comments he made to Micky Paea in a game, supposedly referring to him as a "black ______" I'll let you fill in the blank. But my how times have changed, today scarce few, no matter who you support, aren't a fan of Gallen's work. He's rebuilt his reputation on toughness and hard work, traits that everyone can appreciate. Even the staunchest of Queensland supporters had to concede that Gallen's miraculous 234 metre 30 tackle 80 minute effort in the front row in Game 2 2011 was the stuff of legend. Gallen has played the full 80 minutes in 118 games, twice for Australia, four times for NSW and 112 times for the Sharks. That someone can play his style of game, do it for 80 minutes, and do that regularly just defies belief. We've seen guys who can regularly pull off big games in terms of metres, we've seen guys who can regularly pull off big games in terms of tackles, but Gallen combines the two like few others have. 200 metres isn't an excuse for him to come up short in the tackle count, he does it all. There's forwards around who can give you an 80 minute effort if required, but not in the fashion that Gallen does. His durability and toughness is unparalleled by anyone in the game today and few in the games history. He has a motor that never stops, he never stops running, he never stops tackling, absorbing so many punishing collisions and continuing to soldier on. It's what makes Gallen such a great captain, there is nobody who sets a better example in terms of all around toughness and work rate than Gallen. That's the foundation of what has changed Gallen from criminal in the public eye to one of the games greatest heroes, a game based on toughness and hard work that demands respect. You can't fault a guy who just pours so much into the game every week.

How could anyone hate this guy?

Cronulla pulled a massive recruitment drive for the 2013 season, bolstering their forward pack with the additions of Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington. While they lose Kiwi hardman Jeremy Smith to Newcastle, the Sharks forward pack remains on paper one of the best in the competition with these new additions. Subsequently, Gallen is set to actually see a reduced role in 2013, something his team had rarely been able to  offer in the past. For all of his personal accolades, Gallen's Sharks have won only 44% of the games he has played in over the years. While Gallen was clearly more than capable of carrying the extra burden, it should prove a huge load off his shoulders to be able to have a spell on the sideline knowing players of such class are there to support him. Gallen will now be able to play 60-70 minute games rather than expending himself over 80 minutes regularly. This should see Gallen have a bit more in the tank to pump out while he is on the field, as if he needed that, and should also help Gal manage his body over the next few years as he traverses his 30s and the rigorous NRL, Origin, International seasons that players of his calibre must endure. 

Although he has had his moments

Check back in tomorrow for number 2, if you've been following then it should be pretty clear to most who the last two are, but what order will they come out in? and thus it dawns on me that once I reveal number 2, the idea of "revealing" number 1 will effectively be redundant because everyone will know who he is! but by then it will will be NRL eve and nobody will care anyway because we'll be settling in for footy the following night. I'm on Twitter @WellsNorthShore throw me a tweet if you have any comments.

9 more sleeps to go

So here we are into the single digits with 9 more sleeps remaining. I like to continue to set little markers within the countdown to make it feel like more progress was being made, and cracking into single digits was one of those. Next it's the march towards the one week mark, which is only a couple of nights away, yes after just two more posts we'll be looking at only one week of sleeps until the footy is back! on with the countdown...

#9 Robbie Farah

2012 was a turbulent year for the Tigers rake both on and off the paddock. Injuries saw him restricted to just 16 games and the disappointing Tigers, predicted by most to be amongst the competitions elite fizzled out and missed the top eight, but when he was on the paddock, he once again showed why he's the best hooker in the game not named Cameron Smith. For a long time Farah has been ignored when it comes to NSW selection, with only two appearances in 2009 and 2012 looked to be no different as he was advised that the returning Danny Buderus would be taking on the blue number 9 jersey as Farah, once again, was deemed not an "Origin" type of player. But fortune would favour Farah in the form of an injury to Buderus, and after an outstanding performance for NSW City, Farah finally found himself back in the Origin arena.  While the Blues would once again go down to Queensland, Farah stood out as one of the best players in the series, picking up the Brad Fittler medal for NSW and putting on one of the great Origin performances in the game 2 victory for New South Wales. Farah would handle the ball 101 times and amass an Origin record 63 tackles, with no missed tackles, leaving anyone who questioned Farah's credentials as an "Origin type player"  with a fair bit of egg on their face. But a cruel twist followed, after Farah played quite possibly the greatest game of his career, he soon lost his mother Sonia to her battle with pancreatic cancer. To make matters worse, his mothers untimely passing was thrust into the media as miscreants on Twitter thought it an opportune time to put the knife in to Farah, who opted to take this as an opportunity to draw attention to the way people use the social media platform and make them held more accountable. 2012 would see Farah become the most capped Tigers captain in club history, and at the same time once again see rumours of a rift between he and star half Benji Marshall which he vehemently denied in a scathing interview with Matthew Johns on NRL on Fox. The end of the year saw bitter disappointment from a club perspective, but a finalist for Dally M Hooker of the Year as one last testament to the level of his own individual performance.

Not sure what's going on with this guys TV but it can't be good for his eyesight 

At 29, Farah has logged 185 games for the Tigers, was part of the 2005 Premiership winning team, 3 games for Australia and 1 for Lebanon, 5 for NSW, 6 for NSW City as well as appearing for the NRL All Stars. He's a two time Dally M Hooker of the year, a two time runner up for Dally M Player of the year, as well as a RLIF Hooker of the Year winner. Consider for a moment the competition Farah has been up against for those Hooker of the Year awards,namely, one Cameron Smith. Many believe Smith to be the greatest hooker the game has ever seen and, surprise, he'll be revealed later on in the countdown. In recent times, Smith has had somewhat of a monopoly on the award, winning it 4 times, so it says a lot that Farah was able to take it twice. In a competition without Cameron Smith, Farah may well be a 4 or 5 time winner. So too has Smith denied Farah much of the international acclaim he deserves. With Australia having Smith who is incredibly durable and plays 80 minutes like it's a stroll on the beach, there simply hasn't been much room in the Kangaroos for Robbie. If Smith wasn't on the scene, we'd be talking about Farah as the premier hooker in the game after the departure of Buderus. But what of his lack of Origin matches? after all, Cam Smith doesn't stand in his way there. Danny Buderus had laid claim to the Origin hooking spot before Farah even entered the competition, and went on to amass a total of 21 games for NSW. Once Buderus was gone, the NSW selectors turned a blind eye to Farah, labelling him as not "Origin material" compared to players perceived to have more of an edge to them like Michael Ennis, of course, when Robbie finally got his opportunity, this theory went right out the window.

Farah putting another grub in his place

The notion that Farah didn't play an Origin type of game wasn't entirely unfounded. Despite his herculean defensive effort in 2012 game 2, Farah is first and foremost known for his exemplary abilities on attack. The high flying offensive style of the Tigers isn't just about Benji Marshall, Farah is just as much a part of it. His sniping runs around the ruck are extremely potent and he has a bit of toe on him once he cuts loose. He's got a great understanding of what's going on and has a very crafty passing game to back that up, he's extremely dangerous near the opponents goal line with his ability to either make the slippery scoot out of the ruck, or hit a crispy short ball to put a man over the line. On top of this, he's got a fantastic kicking game, often taking the pressure of his halves by launching some big, precise kicks out of dummy half, the occasional drop kick too if need be, he has all the tools to play in the halves and indeed has in the past. Like many others who have made my countdown, he brings to the table the skills of various positions to separate him and make him one of the elite. In Robbie Farah, you have a hooker with the speed, darting runs and distribution that you want from your number 9, but then you add to that the kicking, passing and mental game of a half, and then you start looking at a guy who isn't just a great hooker, but one of the greatest overall players in the competition. The high octane attack at the Tigers which was powered in large part by Farah is a far cry from the gruelling defensive slugfest that Origin often becomes, but if people couldn't see this in Farah at an NRL level, they certainly saw it in Origin. Farah is a real heart on his sleeve type of player, and that's why he's been such a great captain for the Tigers. He doesn't have the reputation of one of the hard men in the competition, but he's all heart and when you have as much heart as Farah does then that's enough to make you one tough competitor. This guy gives you absolutely everything he's got and never gives up, he might not always get it right, but at least you know he's going to do all he can to get you a win. Defensively, well all you have to do is once again point to that effort in Origin 2, when you break the tackling record for Origin, then that's about all you need to prove your defensive credentials. Once again I feel this comes back to the heart Farah plays with, he's 179cm and 89kg, on the Origin paddock that makes him one of the small blokes, and Queensland wanted to exploit that, but he just dug deeper than anyone else on the field and refused to yield. 

"Even Rocky had a montage"

Farah enters the new season as the captain of a team with a lot to prove. The Tigers should have been much better than they were, and they should be much better in 2013, the majority of that expectation falls on the shoulders of Farah and Marshall. For the first time, Farah enters a season as "the guy" when it comes to the NSW hooking situation, and while 2012 was such an up and down season for him in so many ways, knowing that you're the premier hooker from your state must put a bit of a chip on his shoulder. I expect this to only be a good thing for Farah, in no way do I think he will become lazy or assume he will make Origin again, in fact quite the opposite. Getting that taste of Origin, only to ultimately lose the series, is going to just spurn Farah on more, push him to ensure he gets an opportunity for another crack at it. He's waited a long time to be that guy, and I don't see him letting anyone take that blue 9 jersey away from him. No longer needing concern himself with the once looming threat of DJ Yallah reappearing at his restaurant should ease a massive load off his shoulders also...

HECTIC BRO

Check back in tomorrow for number 8, special marks for you if you know where the montage quote is from.  As always if you have any comments, criticisms, suggestions then let me know @WellsNorthShore one more  great Farah clip to see us off...

14 sleeps to go

Exactly on the two week mark we come to number 14 in the countdown with a guy who will certainly prove no trouble to find highlight videos of . So as I'll be sure to put in quite a few videos of this guy for everyone's enjoyment I'll make the intro short and snappy and get straight into it.

#14 Jarryd Hayne

 Prepare for take-off 

No doubt somebody is rolling their eyes thinking "eugh Hayne, really?", yes, really. The man known as the "Hayne Plane", "Hayne Train", "Hayne Machine", "Haynesy", "Jazzer", and no doubt countless other things certainly has his fair share of critics. Like him or not however, Hayne back in 2009 was the clear cut best player in the world. As good as Barba was in 2012, his brilliance for mine still wasn't enough to eclipse what Hayne produced in 09, and I'd struggle to think of anyone who produced a season of such magnitude. Hayne's list of awards is a long one, 2006 Dally M Rookie of the Year, 2007 Brad Fittler Medal, 2007 Dally M Winger of the Year, 2008 Brad Fittler Medal, 2009 Dally M Fullback of the Year, 2009 Dally M player of the Year, 2009 RLIF Fullback of the Year, 2009 RLIF Player of the year, 2009 RLW Player of the Year, 2010 Peter Frilingos Memorial Award. Hayne truly was on top of the Rugby League world, but his amazing level of play was never going to be sustainable, and in recent years injuries have clipped Hayne's wings. While he's still played at a high level, he's been clearly hampered, a couple of yards slower than he once was, and an inconsistent squad surrounding him has been of little help. Regardless, I'm not yet ready to write Hayne off, and still see him amongst the upper echelon of players in the league. 

Hayne's 2009 was basically a season long highlight reel

At just 25, Hayne has already forged a very impressive career. 140 games for the Eels with 75 tries, 4 games for Fiji, 6 for Australia, 5 for NSW City, and a whopping 16 Origins for NSW. He's a big, powerful guy for a fullback at 189cm and 100kg, it often takes you by surprise just how strong he is because he moves so lightly on his feet, but when he decides he'd rather barrel into a defender head on instead of prance his way around them, he often sends the would be tackler stumbling back, and he's quite capable of throwing out a big hit if he is in the mood. Hayne may well be the most skilled player in the competition, he's certainly in the conversation. He's got all the tricks, the steps, the flashy passes, the no look passes, the skip out passes, the chips, all of the "park footy" repertoire. 

Looking where you pass is cheating

Then he's got an absolutely booming boot on him. He can really bang the ball a long way. While he plays most of his time wearing the number 1, he is capable of slipping into the five-eight role, and indeed many argue he would be best served staying there. The way Hayne plays fullback in the Eels attack seems him regularly move in at first receiver, he often floats about the backline on attack, waiting for when he decides he should inject himself, then moves in to first receiver for a play and the show begins. Then he returns behind the attacking line, waiting again for when he sees fit to insert himself into the action again. While he does this very well and is very dangerous, keeping in the 1 allows for his gamebreaking kick return abilities to be unleashed also. While he's slowed down a few paces, it's still very exciting to see Hayne bring the ball back, he's always a threat to break a tackle or four, the type of guy who can really produce something out of nothing. 

Shut the gate

I've mentioned a couple of times now about Hayne not being as fast as he once was, and it's true, but he's still amongst the quickest men in the competition, If he breaks the line, you likely aren't going to catch him. He's an attacking wizard, if you made yourself on Rugby League Live, his skill set is what we'd all like to imagine we have. While a lot of fans like to take shots at Hayne, I find that he also has a bit of mongrel in him  when he's pushed which I think is great. Hayne realizes that first and foremost, his job is to be an elite attacking player, not get caught up in the niggly stuff, but he's not afraid to get amongst a bit of biff if the need arises, and if you get him ticked off then don't be surprised if the Hayne Train comes in to try run you over. Most of the time however, he'll do his best talking by utilizing the vast array of skills he has at his disposal.

Step, bump off, step, turbo, gone

I for one hope that 2013 brings with it a healthy Jarryd Hayne set to return to form. The NRL is a better competition with the Hayne Plane in full flight. He is one of the true superstars of our game and he makes for fantastic viewing. From a talent perspective Hayne has all the potential to be number 1 in these rankings come next year if his body allows it. The Eels have anointed Hayne one of the co captains of the team for 2013, a testament to the developing maturity of the young superstar. Hayne's Eels proved very underwhelming in 2012, and a lot is going to fall on Hayne's shoulders if that is to change in 2013, but he certainly is one of the players in the competition with the ability to put a team on his back and lead them to the 8.

Hopefully we see a bit more of this in Origin also

Check back in tomorrow as we move on to number 13, any criticism, any comments, throw me a tweet @WellsNorthShore

17 sleeps to go

On forth we march into the second to last week until the 2013 NRL season is under way. Fortunately this week features four televised games with the Charity Shield, World Club Challenge, Broncos vs Warriors trial game and the Foundation Cup, that's almost as much as we get in a regular NRL week! and after we enjoy the smorgasbord of offerings this weekend, there will only be one more week of horror to deal with! so with 17 sleeps to go, let's move on to number 17 in the countdown with one of the competitions more infamous blokes

#17 Greg Bird

Whether you love him, hate him, or love to hate him, everybody has an opinion on this character. At 28, Bird is heading into his 11th season, and 12th professional season overall as he played 2009 in the UK Super League. Throughout that time he's been a menace both on and off the field. Off the field he's been far from a poster child, despite posing in the 2007-2008 Naked Rugby League calendar. He was accused of sending "inappropriate" text messages to Lara Bingle, appeared in court charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on his girlfriend by smashing her face with a glass. He eventually faced 5 charges including common assault against a female unrelated to the "glassing" case. In the end, Bird was found guilty of 1 count of recklessly wounding his girlfriend and 1 count of making a false accusation to police. But Bird appealed the charges and was acquitted of the charges after evidence from both he and his girlfriend. Since then, Bird has managed to keep his nose fairly clean off the paddock, but on the paddock he's always getting into something, much to the chagrin of his opponents...

Watmough would surely know a good grub if he saw one

But in no way am I saying that's a bad thing, despite his "grub" reputation. Whether people like it or not, Bird's carry on can be a successful tactic in the NRL, and Bird's put together a very successful career with 164 NRL games, 4 games for Australia, 3 for the Indigenous All Stars, 3  for NSW Country and 11 for NSW. Bird is the type of guy who will get under the opponents skin and take them off their game, but he's a tough bugger as well and he's not afraid to mix it up. While he walks a fine line at times, he's another one of the blokes that Gould is talking about when he's going on his tangents of what an "Origin" player is. Bird is at his absolute best in the Origin arena, and although he's more often than not coming out on the losing end, as has every NSW player in recent years, he's put together a couple of Man of the Match performances and always seems to elevate his game when he buts on the blue jersey. He thrives in the physical, niggly, aggressive Origin atmosphere, it brings out the best in him, he's taken some huge hits over the years but bounces right back up ready for more, this is what he was born to do. He's an old school player, right down to the sleazy moustache, he would have fit right in during the 70s or 80s, where a clothesline was just a good tackle.

Simmer down gents, it's just a game right?

There's more to Bird's game however than just running about stirring the pot, and you don't get the rep honours he's earned without the skill to go with it. Bird is one of the most versatile players around, while he's most at home in the backrow or at lock he can fill in at five-eighth in a pinch, which is a testament to the footy skills he has that he can slot into such a pivotal position on the field. He doesn't have many stand out elite skills, but he does everything well, and brings the aggression and enthusiasm to support those skills. Bird always seems to bring whatever the game requires, not only is he versatile in his skill set, but he's very versatile in his approach to the game, he adapts to the way the game is flowing and injects himself however is needed. When the situation dictates, he's more than capable of putting up big tackle numbers, he's also capable of logging huge metres on attack also, but he isn't the time to consistently bring those huge numbers week in week out. When you need him however, he'll deliver for you. It's that sort of adaptability, and his aggressive, physical approach to the game, that also makes him a fantastic leader, leading to him being a co captain of the Gold Coast Titans this season. 

Come at me bro

Like him or not, it's hard to not admit that he demands you respect his ability on the field. I think it says a lot about the man that after his troubles off the field in his earlier years, to the point where his visa to the UK was rejected when he tried to make a move to the Bradford Bulls, that he's managed to now leave those things in the past and become the type of player that has deemed worthy of being a captain at his club. In what are now likely to be the prime years of his career, what is now left for Bird is to take on the captaincy role and lead his team to the promised land. Despite a very respectable career, Bird has experienced very little team success. Courageous efforts for an outmatched NSW outfit have garnered nothing, and he's only been to the playoffs in 2002 and 2010, both times winning 1 game before being eliminated. As part of what is arguably the best, on paper, forward pack in the 2013 competition, Bird will be no doubt be desperate to finally start adding a feather or two to his cap in the form of Origin series wins and NRL Premierships. But win or lose, one thing you can be sure of is that Bird will give you all that he's got, and his opponents are going to hate playing against him.

He's also got one hell of a sweet tooth

Check back in tomorrow for number 16, as always if you have any comments or criticisms, give me a message on @WellsNorthShore 

NSW Game 1 Selections

It’s nearly that time again, State against State, mate against mate, one of if not the most exciting times in the rugby league calendar, State of Origin. Every man and his dog have an opinion on who should be in the teams and I’m no exception. Picking the Queensland team is about as easy as choosing between a cold beer and a smack in the face but once again the NSW team is a different story presenting many difficult choices. Tossing my selectors hat on, here is my NSW team for game one.

1. Brett Stewart

The Brett Stewart fan club has taken a pretty big blow in membership numbers over the past couple of years due to his dramas off the field and he’s also had a tough time of it with injuries. Many as a result seem to have forgotten that it wasn’t all that long ago that Snake was arguably the best fullback on the planet not all that long ago. Slater won’t be relinquishing that title to anyone else anytime soon, but Stewart has made great strides in returning to his best. He has a nose for the line almost unparalleled, a tremendous strike rate and as fast as they come.

2. Brett Morris

Has found new legs playing in the number 1 jersey for the Dragons, Morris should have no problems sliding back over to the wing. A fantastic mix of speed and power, he has looked very strong and very threatening for the Dragons this year. NSW has few wingers putting their hands up, so seeing Morris moving back to the wing is the logical choice here.

3. Michael Jennings

 A selection that will raise a lot of questions after the enigmatic Jennings was dropped by the Panthers to their NSW cup side, but his talent Is simply too much to ignore. Some will argue that you can’t reward his attitude problems with a rep side selection, but with the hole NSW has dug themselves in past years, a win is an absolute must this season and Jennings simply gives you a better chance for that than any other centre available. Frustrating that Jamie Lyon doesn’t make himself available as he would have walked in here otherwise.

4. Josh Morris

Has turned in some blistering performances for the Bulldogs this year, looking very unstoppable at times. The same fantastic mix of speed and power that his brother possesses, having one of these big boys on each side of the field should prove troublesome for the Queensland defenders. Another position where few NSW players have really stood up, but Morris is definitely the exception and has been a large part of the early season success of the Doggies.

5. Akuila Uate

No comments really necessary with this one. Walks into the NSW team just like he would walk into any team he was eligible for. The best winger in the game.

6. Todd Carney

A month or so ago I was discussing the potential NSW team with a friend and I was not ready to commit to naming Carney, at this point however you simply cannot ignore his efforts in leading the Sharks to one of the best records in the NRL. NSW have struggled to solidify a halves pairing, one of the issues commonly cited among the reasons for their lack of success in recent years. In Carney they have a Dally M level talent, on his day as good as any other and his day seems to be coming around every week at the moment. A bloke who hasn’t done himself any favours over the years but appears to have, finally, turned the page and commit to making the most of the world class talent he has.

7. Mitchell Pearce

Effectively the default halfback for NSW at this point, if you aren’t going to pick Pearce then who else is there? While not the ideal situation for deciding on someone in such a pivotal position, Pearce has delivered some fantastic performances in recent weeks for the up and down Roosters, making a statement that he is an Origin talent rather than just the best of a weak pool of options. His kicking game has been very accurate and having some history with Carney should provide at least some chemistry, although nothing in comparison to what the Queensland line up has.

8. Paul Gallen

Once again, nothing much to say here, an automatic selection for NSW, Australia and planet earth if the need arises. Traditionally a lock, Gal moved into the front row for NSW last year and the rest is history, turning out one of the greatest performances seen by any player, a resounding 10 out of 10 rating from Rugby League Week and the acclaim of every fan and player. No question that he takes up a propping spot again this year and sets the example for the rest of the pack to follow.

9. Michael Ennis

The injury to Danny Buderus has made the hooking picture somewhat less cloudy, still debate rages between the incumbent Ennis and Tigers stalwart Robbie Farah. NSW needs to remain consistent in their selections rather than selecting a new group every year and Ennis is one of the keys to this. He’s been around the track plenty of times now, he’s a mongrel, he’s niggly, he’s tenacious and he knows what Origin is all about. He may not have the attacking prowess of Farah, but as Phil Gould would put it, “he’s an Origin player” and he’s shown great leadership for the Dogs this year.

10. Tim Mannah

His Eels have been terrible this year, and Mannah may not be setting the world on fire, but once again it’s time to create some consistency here. Mannah has been in the NSW team for a couple of years now and started two of the games last season. He’s a massive bloke, has proven he’s up for it at Origin level, and delivers just what you need to start the game, an aggressive hard running style to set the platform in that first 10 -15 minute period.

11. Glenn Stewart

There’s a lot of positions where NSW is lacking in options, second row certainly isn’t one of them and produces the most difficult selection choices. Glenn Stewart, still seems to go under the radar for many, brings a great mix of size and ball playing ability that cannot be ignored. Has dealt with injury this year but has been back in the swing of things for a couple of weeks now and looks every bit the part. His ball skills are almost unmatched amongst forwards and at the same time he’s not opposed to getting a bit rough and putting a big hit on somebody.

12. Greg Bird

The type of guy Phil Gould dreams about, when you hear “Origin player” you think about guys like Bird. Proven at the Origin level, with a man of the match performance on his record, he’s another tenacious player who you know will leave absolutely everything on the pitch for the blue jersey. He’s extremely versatile, able to provide cover in the halves at a pinch, but his ability in the second row alone should be enough to ensure his selection.

13. Luke Lewis

Another extremely versatile player, Lewis can and has played literally everywhere and has played at rep level as a centre, wing, lock and second rower and always does an admirable job. Another who delivers that leave it all on the field mentality, Lewis has been churning in gutsy efforts every week despite his Panthers struggling. A tremendous leader, he’s basically everything you could ask for in an Origin player. On paper, there’s few advantages for NSW, but Lewis at lock is one of them.

14. Robbie Farah

Filling the utility spot is the gusty Tigers playmaker. The NSW second rowers allow for a great degree of versatility, but Farah brings a special degree of attack that they do not possess. Ennis can handle 80 minutes no problem but Farah allows for a change of pace or change of game plan if required and can also cover in the halves if need be. A difficult decision to leave him out of the starting team, he’s clearly been doing all he can to prove himself to the selectors this year and it has shown through in his play even if the Tigers have struggled.

15. James Tamou

Making his debut for Australia in the ANZAC test, Tamou has been a real workhorse for the Cowboys this season, especially with his Queensland counterpart Scott being out with injury. Subject of much debate around his eligibility, what isn’t up for debate is that the Kiwi born prop has looked every bit the part this season. An enticing mix of ball skills to go along with his big strong frame, he’s a young bloke who will likely be appearing on these lists for years to come.

16. Tariq Sims

Another big youngster from the Cows, the selection of Gallen as a front rower looking at 80 minutes allows for the freedom to start blooding Sims. Still relatively fresh to the NRL, physically he’s a mountain of a guy who will be more than capable of handling the Origin environment, already with a reputation for devastating hits on any NRL opponent who crosses his path. This selection is as much about now as it is five years from now when Tariq should be a real leader for the Blues. If he’s physically up for it, then throw him in there and reap the benefits in a few years when he is terrorizing opponents with his Origin pedigree.

17. Anthony Watmough

With an injury scare now dismissed, Choc is available for selection and takes the last bench spot. You want guys who can make an impact to bring on and Watmough certainly knows how to make an impact. Another niggly character who knows the ins and outs of Origin, he’s a real fireball with the ability to spark a team with his aggressive defence or by  taking a gap with his deceptive speed. He’s got the mentality to put a forward pack on his back in stretches when needed.