Brad Fittler take note: After hours of form research and not a small amount of soul-searching, NRL.com has come up with the following City 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.
- See NRL.com's Country Origin team
- See NRL.com's Australian Test team
- See NRL.com's New Zealand Test team
1. Matthew Moylan
Moylan should count his lucky stars if he gets the nod for City. With James Tedesco currently on the shelf with a knee injury, it has paved the way for the Panthers No.1 to make his representative debut. His five try assists in 2014 is a credit to his attacking capabilities.
2. Jorge Taufua
Two games back from a knee injury (three once the actual sides are named) Jorge Taufua is on track to be selected for the City side for his second consecutive year. With his name being chucked around for a possible NSW Origin berth in recent seasons, Taufua has done his chances no harm with three tries for Manly in 2014.
3. Michael Jennings
Jennings will be without a shadow of a doubt one of the first picked for City. The 26-year-old has played two Tests for Australia and he hit double figures for NSW appearances last year. Jennings has broken 23 tackles for the reigning premiers in 2014 and will be looking to solidify his place in a sky blue jersey once again.
4. Joey Leilua
Knights centre Joey Leilua has notched a massive 38 tackle breaks so far in 2014, proving extremely hard to stop when he gets his hands on the ball. His 13 tackle breaks against Canberra in Round 6 alone should be enough for Leilua to edge out Will Hopoate for his second City cap.
5. Josh Mansour
If Josh Mansour gets picked on the wing for City and combines with our centre selection of Leilua they would have combined for 70 tackle breaks between them in 2014. Mansour has averaged an astounding 191.2 metres per game this season for the Panthers and will attract plenty of attention from Laurie Daley in the coming weeks as a possible NSW bolter.
6. Josh Reynolds
Josh Reynolds will get the opportunity to put Country to the sword and win his first starting sky blue jersey next Sunday afternoon at Dubbo's Caltex Oval. His tenacity for the Bulldogs this season has been next to none and the five-eighth has gained plenty of punters' confidence to do a job as NSW's next five-eighth.
7. Adam Reynolds
With Mitchell Pearce having a reputation for avoiding the annual City-Country clash, Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds will get the chance to showcase his talent for the City side for the second consecutive year. Reynolds will need to have an absolute corker of a game if he's to make his NSW debut in 2014.
8. Aaron Woods
Woods came into calculation when deciding our Australian side so it's no accident that he has been selected to lead from the front in the City side next Sunday. His average of 147.6 metres for the Wests Tigers in 2014 is almost as impressive as his glorious beard.
9. Nathan Peats
Peats has shocked the masses with his performances for the Eels after arriving from South Sydney this season. While he was handed his first City jumper last year to many people's surprise, Peats has definitely earned his opportunity this time around in the absence of NSW vice-captain Robbie Farah. The 23-year-old has averaged 41.5 tackles per game in 2014.
10. Tim Mannah
The ever-reliable Parramatta captain has averaged 128.1 metres for the rejuvenated Eels side in 2014. Mannah just nudges out Keith Galloway for the starting role in our side as the big man looks to add to his four Origin games for NSW. The 26-year-old will go close to captaining the side.
11. Anthony Watmough
With injury ruling him out of Australia's World Cup campaign at the end of last year, Watmough should consider himself unlucky not to making another appearance for the Kangaroos. While he is currently in doubt with an elbow complaint, don't be surprised to see the Manly veteran make his first City appearance since 2007.
12. Wade Graham
There is a reason why Wade Graham is the Sharks' vice-captain. His work rate and heart on a rugby league field is second only to the club's inspirational leader Paul Gallen. He's skippered a depleted Cronulla side admirably in 2014 and could get the nod ahead of experienced campaigners Ryan Hoffman and Tony Williams in the starting side.
13. John Sutton
Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire has been flirting with the idea of playing John Sutton at lock throughout the 2014 season. With Brad Fittler coaching City – a man himself who was capable of filling both five-eighth and lock competently – expect the future immortal to be in Sutton's ear trying to convince him that he belongs in the forward pack.
Interchange
14. Jamie Buhrer
With a lone NSW Origin appearance to his name, Buhrer will not look out of place in another City jumper next Sunday afternoon. Has had limited minutes in Geoff Toovey's Manly side in recent weeks although he has played brilliantly when gifted a rare starting chance for the Sea Eagles.
15. Ryan Hoffman
While the Storm haven't started in the usual fashion we're used to seeing them this season, last year's City captain Ryan Hoffman has performed well enough to secure a bench spot. The back-rower has averaged 125.1 metres in 2014.
16. Tony Williams
We would tell Tony Williams his form has been down in recent seasons but we're afraid he might hurt us. While Bulldogs fans aren't necessarily happy with his performances since he's joined the club, T-Rex has undeniably improved this year. His 112.9 metres and 25 tackle breaks this season is a testament to this.
17. Keith Galloway
Big Keithy just missed out on a starting spot for our City team but more than deserves his spot on the bench. A former Australian and NSW representative in his own right, Galloway has averaged smack-bang on 100 metres per game for the Wests Tigers this year.
NRL.com's City Origin team
1. Matthew Moylan
2. Jorge Taufua
3. Michael Jennings
4. Joey Leilua
5. Josh Mansour
6. Josh Reynolds
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Aaron Woods
9. Nathan Peats
10. Tim Mannah
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Wade Graham
13. John Sutton
14. Jamie Buhrer
15. Ryan Hoffman
16. Tony Williams
17. Keith Galloway
See NRL.com's Country Origin team