The Agenda Setters Rugby League on Channel 7 Aaron Woods says Billy Slater has “a bit of a headache” – Tonight on The Agenda Setters: Rugby League Corey Parker (CP), David Riccio (DR), Aaron Woods (AW) and Luke Keary (LK) discuss the biggest topics of Rugby League.
State of Origin: Game 1 predictions
With one week until the State of Origin selection is announced, The Agenda Setters Rugby League panel discusses major team selection predictions and decisions facing both Queensland and New South Wales. Tommy Dearden is ruled out for Queensland with a syndesmosis injury requiring surgery, sparking debate over replacements including Sam Walker, Jake Clifford, Tanner Boyd, Jamal Fogarty, and Daly Cherry-Evans, with Kalyn Ponga potentially shifting to five-eighth. For NSW, the panel debates fullback selection between James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards, centre spots hinging on Latrell Mitchell’s fitness and Steven Crichton’s form, and forward combinations to suit the modern rolling ruck game. The impact of recent NRL rule changes on Origin team selection is highlighted, with both coaches expected to seek clarity on officiating before naming squads. The panel also touches on rumours surrounding Laurie Daley’s future as NSW coach, with suggestions he may step down regardless of the series result.
CP: Some big news coming out of the north, Tommy Dearden out for the series with what looks to be an eight to nine week injury, requiring surgery on that syndesmosis. Where do you see this one?
AW: He’s the reigning Wally Lewis medallist He was the first one picked at number seven, alongside Cameron Munster who’s a captain at seven. Look, he toughed it out, but geez, that’s a big injury to the Queenslanders. Billy Slater’s going to have a bit of a headache there. There is some great halves at the moment playing Tanner Boyd that you look at. Where do they fit Kalyn Ponga into the mix now? Does he start or does he come off the bench? Mate, this next Monday, I cannot wait to see some of the decisions that Billy and Laurie have to come up with.
DR: Look, it’s a devastating blow. There’s no two ways to look at it for Queensland. Tom Dearden, as you said, would be the reigning Wally Lewis medallist. We talk now about who comes in. Sam Walker, his name’s come straight up. Daly Cherry Evans, the first captain axed mid-series in 30 years last year. Queensland turned on one of their own as Jake Clifford’s name has emerged as a genuine contender with that booming boot of his. Where does it go? Tanner Boyd, Jamal Fogarty, the list goes on. There’s a number of players.
LK: I think Clifford, Fogarty and Boyd could do a fantastic job. We’ve seen it with Queensland. They’ll bring him in.
Munster and Reece Walsh will take care of him. But these top four names, or top three, Cherry Evans, it’s your safe option. We know what you’re going to get. He’ll combine well with Reece Walsh. Sam Walker? It’s similar to the Tadesco. Do you go back to what’s happened in the past? Sam Walker, he’s your jack-in-the-box. He’s going to give you unpredictability. We know what he’s got with his short kicking game. He’s long passing.
CP: To you boys in the Blues, who’s your number one?
AW: For me, it depends on how they’re going to officiate the game. With all these six against at the moment, I’d probably be leaning towards James Tedesco. I just love his broken field play. There’s one bloke in front of you that throws out the unorthodox style. You don’t know what’s coming at you. It’s Tedesco.
CP: How do you want it refereed?
AW: I’d love to see just the take the pea out of the whistle, let the game flow.
LK: I think Dylan Edwards is the best defensive full-back in the game by a margin. By honestly a margin and he’s got that combination with Nathan and James Tedesco. He’s probably our in-form full-back in the competition. I get the feeling if you have Nathan and Mitch there that Dylan’s probably a better fit in terms of he’ll do his job, he’ll help him defensively. When you have Teddy there, he loves getting his hands on the ball.
CP: The other big decision off the back of form is the centres. Is it Crichton, who’s out of form at the moment? Who’s going to fill the wing spot? Does Katoni Staggs find his way out into the right centre position? Dave, what are you hearing on that?
DR: Look, if Latrell Mitchell’s fit, which we anticipate he will be, it’s a lower back issue, he’s straight in so there’s one centre spot and it really is on Stephen Crichton this weekend against the Cronulla Sharks. I think providing he shows something on Friday night against Cronulla, Crichton and Latrell are in the centres.
Last year, Max King, Stefano Utoikamanu, Spencer Leniu and Payne Haas were the people that were doing the work up front. All of those individuals outside of Stefano and also Spencer will not be playing. Do you stick with something similar or do you go completely different?
AW: I really love what Mitch Barnett did in Game 1 and we lost him after that with the ACL. I thought he just keeps that middle of the ruck real tight. He’s an aggressive, he goes looking for the contact. He would be one of my starters. The other one I’m still unsure of, you’ve got the likes of Keaon Koloamatangi, he’s there
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The Agenda Setters Rugby League on Channel 7 Aaron Woods says Billy Slater has “a bit of a headache”
