City v Country Squads

City Origin

1. Lachlan Coote

2. Anthony Minichiello

3. Beau Champion

4. Chris Lawrence

5. Michael Jennings

6. Braith Anasta

7. Trent Hodkinson

8. Bryce Gibbs

9. Robbie Farah (c)

10. Keith Galloway

11. Trent Waterhouse

12. Mark Minichiello

13. Luke O'Donnell

14. Kris Keating

15. Tim Mannah

16. Tim Grant

17. Ryan Hoffman

Country Origin

1. Josh Dugan

2. Michael Robertson

3. Jamal Idris

4. Timana Tahu

5. Luke Burt

6. Greg Bird

7. Brett Kimmorley (c)

8. Kade Snowden

9. Michael Ennis

10. Brett White

11. Ben Creagh

12. Glenn Stewart

13. Anthony Laffranchi

14. Todd Carney

15. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs

16. Willie Mason

17. Dean Young

Tahu and Idris teammates after their little battle the other night.

Tahu and Idris v  Champion and Lawrence.

Surprised they picked Kimmorley at half. I can only assume he'll be NSW half if Pearce is not fit.

Don't know why they persist with Bird at 5/8 either.

Nice to see Snowden and Dugan get rep jerseys. 

I have no idea why they picked Bird at 5/8 mate.

I can only guess that Soward is nowhere in origin calculations and they already have Bird (or Lewis) penciled in for the NSW No 6 jersey.

The more I think about it, why didn't Soward get a run?

Perfect chance to see him under the pump.

A Kimmorley / Bird halves pairing is a disgraceful decision.

Why not give some young halves a run ahead of Origin - Soward, Carney, Mullen etc.

NSW have no hope with a Kimmorley / Bird / Lewis scrumbase.

Why the fuck are Kimmorley and Bird the halves?

Have I mentioned that yet

True.

He's a hog though, I'd rather see Idris and Tahu in the side anyway.

How does Bryce Gibbs get picked as a starting front-rower for City?

 Bryce Gibbs

 He's lucky to be playing first grade

Justin Poore played all 3 Origins last year but he's not as good as Bryce Gibbs

I know Poore hasn't been in the best of form but Gibbs

That'll just about do me.

Anasta out, Keating to start, Reddy on the bench.

Liam Fulton called in as 18th man for City.

This is a quote from an article in todays tele:

Strongly tipped to partner Brett Kimmorley in the halves, Carney was picked as Country's utility after selectors said they needed to have Bird at the scrumbase to accommodate an extra back-rower.

WTF?!

Umm, there are three backrowers on the bench

This has got to be a Laurie Daley quote, and he must have been caught in second mans land when he said it.

If Justin Poore is a dud, what does that make Bryce Gibbs?