Did Maloney just play himself into a blue jersey

[Guest]

A part of me would rather not have Pearce and Maloney get selected. Pearce has probably been ruined by Origin; it's been nothing short of emotionally damaging. If they won the series and performed certainly the confidence taken out of that could propel then onto better things later in the year. However the moment things come apart no doubt it will be whipping boy Pearce dragged over the coals again and again.

The things with Pearce that has constantly bother me is that since he was a kid he's had every big name NRL personality blowing smoke up his arse. Andrew and Matty Johns, Freddy, Ricky Stuart, Sterlo, Laurie Daley all have professed his talents and potential. Honestly he came into his first Origin as a 19 year old. It sounds ****ing ridiculous now - who puts a kid into the most important role on the field in a must win match? Who does that?!

All everyone has heard about him is '10 year player', 'could be one of the best halfbacks in the game', 'the Roosters have built a side around him' yadda, yadda yadda. The reality is that although he is quite proficient and has a range of good skills he's never been able to reach those great expectations.

To me he is no failure. It's not his fault that people who should have known better hoisted him up as some legend well before he earned it. It's unfair that he's always had to try and live up to things that are far beyond his capabilities. It's unfair that he's is always measured by these standards.

Laurie Daley is a prick for picking him before he's proved himself as the best NSW halfback. He may think this gives Pearce security and some sort of confidence but it doesn't feel like that at all. Reynolds deserves a look it and Pearce deserves the opportunity to know within himself that he is good enough for Origin without being viewed as some sort of 'protected species'.

In Jimmy's favour is that he probably has the temperament to handle Origin. He doesn't get fazed by anything which is important. By comparison Carney well and truly shat himself in the last series. Along with his GF capitulation I think it is legitimate to question his capacity to perform in high pressure games. Temperament isn't everything though and I think Carney, if he can recover from his injury, will probably have the first chance. Carney can win games without a dominant forward pack. I don't know if that's within Maloney.

Great post Cindy spot on when it comes to Junior and what had been expected of him over the years

[Guest]

A part of me would rather not have Pearce and Maloney get selected. Pearce has probably been ruined by Origin; it's been nothing short of emotionally damaging. If they won the series and performed certainly the confidence taken out of that could propel then onto better things later in the year. However the moment things come apart no doubt it will be whipping boy Pearce dragged over the coals again and again.

The things with Pearce that has constantly bother me is that since he was a kid he's had every big name NRL personality blowing smoke up his arse. Andrew and Matty Johns, Freddy, Ricky Stuart, Sterlo, Laurie Daley all have professed his talents and potential. Honestly he came into his first Origin as a 19 year old. It sounds ****ing ridiculous now - who puts a kid into the most important role on the field in a must win match? Who does that?!

All everyone has heard about him is '10 year player', 'could be one of the best halfbacks in the game', 'the Roosters have built a side around him' yadda, yadda yadda. The reality is that although he is quite proficient and has a range of good skills he's never been able to reach those great expectations.

To me he is no failure. It's not his fault that people who should have known better hoisted him up as some legend well before he earned it. It's unfair that he's always had to try and live up to things that are far beyond his capabilities. It's unfair that he's is always measured by these standards.

Laurie Daley is a prick for picking him before he's proved himself as the best NSW halfback. He may think this gives Pearce security and some sort of confidence but it doesn't feel like that at all. Reynolds deserves a look it and Pearce deserves the opportunity to know within himself that he is good enough for Origin without being viewed as some sort of 'protected species'.

In Jimmy's favour is that he probably has the temperament to handle Origin. He doesn't get fazed by anything which is important. By comparison Carney well and truly shat himself in the last series. Along with his GF capitulation I think it is legitimate to question his capacity to perform in high pressure games. Temperament isn't everything though and I think Carney, if he can recover from his injury, will probably have the first chance. Carney can win games without a dominant forward pack. I don't know if that's within Maloney.

Maloney didn't exactly set the world on fire in his recent GF.

[Guest]

It would work.

For the life of me I don't understand why Robinson puts SBW in the scrums.

He'd be triple marked in the back line in those situations.

He'd either break the line anyway, or get the ball to players in space.

Indeed.

[Guest]

Maloney didn't exactly set the world on fire in his recent GF.

That's true, it was Johnson who well and truly shone. Maloney missed important conversions, no?

I'm not advocating Maloney's selection over Carney at all though. Carney, like Shaun is a different breed of playmaker. As I indicated Maloney does his best work with a dominant and dynamic forward pack and in Origin I think he may just be rendered incapable in those moments that need an opportunity creator rather than an opportunist (the latter of which I think he is). Carney though does have legitimate and important queries on his ability to control his nerves.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

A part of me would rather not have Pearce and Maloney get selected. Pearce has probably been ruined by Origin; it's been nothing short of emotionally damaging. If they won the series and performed certainly the confidence taken out of that could propel then onto better things later in the year. However the moment things come apart no doubt it will be whipping boy Pearce dragged over the coals again and again.

The things with Pearce that has constantly bother me is that since he was a kid he's had every big name NRL personality blowing smoke up his arse. Andrew and Matty Johns, Freddy, Ricky Stuart, Sterlo, Laurie Daley all have professed his talents and potential. Honestly he came into his first Origin as a 19 year old. It sounds ****ing ridiculous now - who puts a kid into the most important role on the field in a must win match? Who does that?!

All everyone has heard about him is '10 year player', 'could be one of the best halfbacks in the game', 'the Roosters have built a side around him' yadda, yadda yadda. The reality is that although he is quite proficient and has a range of good skills he's never been able to reach those great expectations.

To me he is no failure. It's not his fault that people who should have known better hoisted him up as some legend well before he earned it. It's unfair that he's always had to try and live up to things that are far beyond his capabilities. It's unfair that he's is always measured by these standards.

Laurie Daley is a prick for picking him before he's proved himself as the best NSW halfback. He may think this gives Pearce security and some sort of confidence but it doesn't feel like that at all. Reynolds deserves a look it and Pearce deserves the opportunity to know within himself that he is good enough for Origin without being viewed as some sort of 'protected species'.

In Jimmy's favour is that he probably has the temperament to handle Origin. He doesn't get fazed by anything which is important. By comparison Carney well and truly shat himself in the last series. Along with his GF capitulation I think it is legitimate to question his capacity to perform in high pressure games. Temperament isn't everything though and I think Carney, if he can recover from his injury, will probably have the first chance. Carney can win games without a dominant forward pack. I don't know if that's within Maloney.

Hi Cindy

For someone who is only 14 you make a lot of sense with great footy and people insight. Enjoying reading your posts very much.