Trent Barrett take note: After hours of form research and not a small amount of soul-searching, NRL.com has come up with the following Country Origin team for the annual City v Country clash at Dubbo's Caltex Oval on Sunday May 4. Selectors will name their actual squads at approximately 5pm this Sunday.
1. Josh Dugan
The incumbent NSW fullback, Dugan has been given the nod in our team ahead of Manly fullback Brett Stewart by the skin of his teeth. What the Dragons No.1 lacks in ball-playing skill he makes up for with pure explosiveness and will be a welcomed acquisition for the Country side next Sunday afternoon.
2. James McManus
Knights winger James McManus was born in Scotland, grew up in the Darwin, lives in Newcastle and should be off to Dubbo next Sunday afternoon following a solid start to the year. The incumbent NSW winger has produced 15 tackle breaks and averaged 116.4 metres in 2014.
3. Josh Morris
Josh Morris has found himself in an unusual predicament when it comes to the NSW side this year. With Jarryd Hayne showcasing he has what it takes to be a phenomenal centre for the Kangaroos and Michael Jennings having a mortgage on the other Blues centre spot, Morris could be facing the prospect of missing out on a sky blue jersey for the first time since 2012. A good showing for the Country side is vital.
4. Jarrod Croker
Although the likes of Raiders teammate Jack Wighton and the Panthers' Jamal Idris are pushing for selection, we've decided to hand Jarrod Croker his first representative jumper. Croker has been in sublime form for the Green Machine this season and his five tries in seven appearances is an apt reward for the threatening young gun.
5. Michael Gordon
Brett Stewart can't catch a break. For some, the solution for the NSW fullback problem was to have the Manly No.1 on the wing for Country, but it wasn't enough. The Sharks' 'Flash' Gordon has just edged out Stewart on the wing in our team and may perhaps capture a second Country jumper. Consider it an award for his three try assists and 22 tackle breaks in 2014 while playing for a struggling side.
6. James Maloney
"If you had one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted, one moment, would you capture it or just let it slip?" Roosters five-eighth James Maloney should heed the advice of Eminem if he has any hope of reclaiming the No.6 jersey for NSW. He will need to improve enormously in the coming weeks if he is to keep his Origin spot from City counterpart Josh Reynolds. Jarrod Mullen was very unlucky to miss out on our side.
7. Todd Carney
Sharks half Todd Carney will surely go close to earning another Country cap. Carney – who has struggled with a troublesome hamstring injury and a backlash from his decision to bleach his hair blonde – has tried his best for a struggling Cronulla side, having recorded three try assists so far in 2014.
8. Trent Merrin
Is it a lock? Is it a second-rower? No, it's Trent Merrin! With the Dragons utility comfortable with the majority of positions in the pack, Merrin may be picked in the front row to accommodate others in the Country side. An incumbent NSW player, Merrin has done his selection chances no harm by averaging 145.1 metres and 41.4 tackles per game this season.
9. Michael Ennis
Michael Ennis would have to be one of the first players to come to mind when you think of a typical Country player – he's a niggler. Raised in Newcastle, Ennis is the incumbent Country captain and with his old-sparring partner Robbie Farah under an injury cloud for NSW expect a big game from the Bulldogs skipper.
10. Aiden Tolman
Bulldogs prop Aiden Tolman never gets the raps he deserves. Often confused for lookalike teammate James Graham, the 25-year-old prop is his own man. His 159.3 metres per game this season may shock some people as he looks to capture his maiden sky blue jumper.
11. Boyd Cordner
The softly-spoken Roosters second-rower has already played for NSW and Australia so a second consecutive Country game would be another inevitable notch on the punishing 21-year-old's belt. His average of 115.4 metres per game for the reigning premiers could be enough to see him reclaim his spot in the Origin side come late-May.
12. Glenn Stewart
Consider this a dress rehearsal, Glenn. Obviously by signing with the Rabbitohs for the next two years, the current Sea Eagles back-rower will get the opportunity to go up against several of his future teammates next Sunday in the unfamiliar surroundings of Dubbo's Caltex Oval. The 30-year-old will add an abundance of experience to Country's forward pack.
13. Shaun Fensom
Surely 2014 is the year that Shaun Fensom finally gets an opportunity to play for Country. The Raiders lock is arguably the NRL's best player yet to be rewarded with any representative honours, having impressed again this year with an average of 39.1 tackles and 106.4 metres per game for the Green Machine in 2014.
Interchange
14. Kurt Gidley
This is the Knights captain's chance at redemption. The former NSW skipper has failed to represent his state since 2011 due to injury. While his minutes have been cut in half to maintain the 31-year-old's fitness, Gidley could prove to be a perfect foil in a bench utility capacity if the opportunity arises.
15. Beau Scott
Wayne Bennett called him the form back-rower in the competition a fortnight ago. While this might be a stretch from the aging super coach, Beau Scott has sky-rocketed into contention to build on his already solid representative CV off the back of his four line-breaks and 13 offloads this season.
16. Tariq Sims
When he's not bashing into opponents with his brother for the Cowboys or Fiji, Sims has shown he is more than capable of taking his game to the next level. By producing just under 30 tackles per game and 15 tackle breaks for North Queensland this season, another chance in the Country jersey appears likely for Sims after failing to be named in Fiji's squad for next weekend's Test against Samoa.
17. Luke Douglas
Titans prop Douglas raised the bat for the second time in his career earlier in the season when he reached his 200th consecutive game of first-grade. His 86.6 metres per game is an illustration of his solid contribution he brings to a side, especially in his recent appearances for Scotland, who achieved an unlikely quarter-final berth in last year's World Cup.
NRL.com's Country Origin team
1. Josh Dugan
2. James McManus
3. Josh Morris
4. Jarrod Croker
5. Michael Gordon
6. James Maloney
7. Todd Carney
8. Trent Merrin
9. Michael Ennis
10. Aiden Tolman
11. Boyd Cordner
12. Glenn Stewart
13. Shaun Fensom
14. Kurt Gidley
15. Beau Scott
16. Tariq Sims
17. Luke Douglas
