Mason to the Knights?

Speculation is ripe.. Willie Mason could be headed home to Newcastle!

The premiership winning forward is reportedly being chased by Newcastle officials, to revive his career in the Blue and Red, under mastermind coach Wayne Bennett.

It's no secret, Newcastle's forward pack are their one big downfall. Even with elite hooker Danny Buderus, they struggled to gain metres on the Dragons defensive line on Friday night and have soo for most of the opening rounds. Highly wrapped, NSW prop Kade Snowden managed a measly 57 meters (11 runs) and former Warrior - Evarn Tuimavave gaining only 72m (10 runs).

Their bench offers little size without Richie Fa'aoso, with big weighing on the shoulders of the likes of Adam Cutherbertson and Joel Edwards who are both built as backrowers.

It seems the perfect fit - Mason - hungry for success, hungry to prove his worth. Newcastle hungry for meters and in need of damaging front rower. An injection of aggression up front, could prove to be the ace up Wayne Bennett's ageing sleeve.

Round 26 wraps up and the finals set to begin

Last night, Storm coach Craig Bellamy decided to rest stars Billy Slater and Cameron Smith and copped a pasting at the hands of a pumped up Sydney Roosters outfit. The Storm also struggled with injury and were quite simply run off their feet, by the Braith Anasta led runners-up of season 2010.

The Roosters season has finished strongly, ever since Todd Carney was suspended indefinitely, due to recurring off-field matters. It's now clear where the Roosters problems have originated all season and the coming days should deliver some closure on the issue of Todd Carney, with the 2010 Daly M award winner, tipped to be sacked.

Special mentions to Roosters outside back Joseph Leilua who had a strong game, along with Braith Anasta and Mose Mosoe. I'm tipping a top 8 finish for the Roosters next season - as long as their backs remain relatively injury free. Anthony Mitchell and Jake Friend are also proving to be a strong hooking combination.

Finals

Wests Tigers vs St George-Illawarra Dragons

Expect a very close game. Could go either way. The Dragons have been pretty disappointing over the past 6 weeks and their only attacking option doesn't appear to be yielding the same success as in previous years. The Tigers, on the other hand, are cruising.

NSW Win Game 2 !

Well, what an epic game! I was there in the Blues Supporters Bay throwing everything I had into supporting the Blues! My voice was about finished, before the kickoff!

As I predicted, NSW won by 10 ! (Finally got one right..)

Ricky Stuart and Paul Gallen... both should be given the utmost respect after Stuart went with a mobile pack who ran QLD off their feet. Good on him for picking the best players and letting their positions sort themselves out. Fantastic work with the rotations too. Paul Gallen - about the best individual Origin display I have ever seen. Up there with Andrew Johns in 2005. To play 80 minutes at Prop and accumulate over 200 meters, was just incredible. Congratulations to the NSW Captain.

Anthony Minichiello - 8
Jarryd Hayne - 7.5
William Hopoate - 8
Mark Gasnier - 7.5
Akuila Uate - 8
Jamie Soward - 8.5
Mitchell Pearce - 9
Paul Gallen - 10
Michael Ennis - 7
Tim Mannah - 7
Beau Scott - 8
Ben Creagh - 7
Greg Bird - 8
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Kurt Gidley - 8
Trent Merrin - 5
Luke Lewis - 8.5
Anthony Watmough - 7.5


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Billy Slater - 7
Jharel Yow Yeh - 6
Dane Neilsen - 6
Greg Inglis - 6.5
Darius Boyd - 6
Darren Lockyer - 7.5
Johnathan Thurston - 6.5
Matt Scott - 7
Cameron Smith - 8
Petero Civenoceva - 6
Nate Myles - 7
Sam Thaiday - 5
Ashley Harrison - 5.5
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Cooper Cronk - 5
Ben Hannant - 6
Corey Parker - 6.5
David Taylor - 8

Origin 2

NSW

Anthony Minichiello

Comes in to replace injured Canberra star, Josh Dugan. Mini hasn't played good football since suffering a string of injuries over the last 4 years. This is a very odd selection, given the quality form Brett Stewart has been in.

Akuila Uate

Super player, who deserves his spot again

Mark Gasnier

Could well be playing for his representative future with Jamal Idris breathing down his neck for that right centre position. Was well contained in game 1 and will need to stand deeper and get some early ball if he's to cause havoc next Wednesday night. Superstar on his day and NSW need him in form.

William Hopoate

Another odd, odd selection. Having played only a handfull of first grade games, let alone playing in the centres, Hopoate is given a chance to play for his state. This is also odd considering he won't be playing NRL football for the next 2 seasons, due to religious commmitments. A reshuffle to put Hayne into the centres and Blake Ferguson on the wing, would have been a better option.

Jarryd Hayne

Should've been there in game 1 and should have this spot tied up for seasons to come. Long way ahead of Brett Morris as a player who failed miserably in game 1.

Jamie Soward

Standard selection. Stuart was always going to persist with the halves and Jamie will remain in the no.6 NSW jersey until Todd Carney gets his act together or Terry Campese gets some game time.

Mitchell Pearce

Looks likely to have this position held down for many years to come. Good player.

Paul Gallen

Smart move putting Gallen into the front row. He'll have a great game.

Michael Ennis

Few errors in game 1, but a very classy player. Happy to see him retained.

Tim Mannah

Happy also to see Tim retained, strong in game 1 but needs a bigger performance if he's to combat the likes of Matt Scott and Petero Civenoceva.

Beau Scott

Was strong defensively, but opened the flood gates to allow QLD score the match winner in game 1. Needs a big game and needs to keep his head if he's to retain this spot in the team

Ben Creagh

Ineffective off the bench last game. Again, another player under the pump for game 2

Greg Bird

He's not a lock... He was our best backrower in game 1 and should've remained on the fringes. Having said that, origin is a funny game and he's built for it. Might move into the backrow when Luke Lewis or Anthony Watmough come on.

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Trent Merrin

Hopeless in game 1. Not built for Origin football. Soft and slow. Tom Leroyd-Lars please.

Kurt Gidley

Thankfully he replaces the hopeless Dean Young. Will add spark from the bench and is a good inclusion

Luke Lewis

Should've been there for game 1. Very, very good player. Hopefully he gets plenty of game time

Anthony Watmough

Another player who should've been included for game 1. Done it before for NSW and will do it again.

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I like what Ricky Stuart has done in bringing in Anthony Watmough and Luke Lewis. These players are built for Origin football. However again I think he's made a few mistakes and NSW may well pay for them. Whether the problems in the team selections are the difference, we'll have to wait and find out. One thing is for certain, NSW have the strike power to win this football game... but do they have the heart ?!?!

I'll be there, sitting in the Blues Supporters bay, screaming my lungs out and getting behind the boys. GO NSW!!

My tip - NSW by 10

Watch out for Jarryd Hayne..

NSW State of Origin

Ricky Stuart has named his 17-man team to take on Queensland in 8 days time

Fullback - Josh Dugan

The kid is a superstar and thoroughly deserved selection. He'd been earmarked by Ricky for a long time and was always going to get the #1 jersey. Quite an upgrade on Kurt Gidley and certainly better suited to the Origin Fullback role than Jarryd Hayne

Winger - Akuila Uate

The Fijian flyer! Akuila the Thriller ! The Newcastle Winger is a game breaker, with blistering speed and again was a much deserved selection.

Centre - Mark Gasnier

Playing his first Origin game in 3 series, Gaz has played himself into form and trained hard to get back to peek fitness. He's had a stunning last month at the Dragons and his last 2 performances have been his best in a long time.

Centre - Michael Jennings

A surprise selection with the Penrith centre struggling to shine this year in a team which has underperformed all season. However Ricky's decision, I believe was justified. Jamal Idris is a loose cannon and specialist right centre. Jennings is a specialist left centre, who has done it before for NSW. There aren't many other options and even though Matt Cooper retired from rep footy, he was average in last years game.

Winger - Brett Morris

No surprise here, but Jarryd Hayne should have nabbed this position. Morris has scored just 2 tries for the Dragons this season and has failed to perform on the rep scene over the past 2 years. He's a good straight runner and strong finisher, but is not quite the player Jarryd Hayne is. A good club player, but unfortunately not the man I'd have gone with. Penrith's Michael Gordon would have also gotten the nod over Morris in my team.

Five-Eighth - Jamie Soward

Deemed finally ready to wear the sky-blue jersey, Soward's form is unquestionable. His kicking, passing and goal-kicking abilities, backed up by his attitude have proved he is the right man to take the job. Todd Carney miserably drank himself out of contention this season.

Half-Back - Mitchell Pearce

His organisation an Origin level has been quality in the past and he'll need to replicate it again in this years series. He's held his own at this level in the past and deserves selection.

Prop - Jason King

Dear oh dear. Another failed selection. King is well and truly past it. Aiden Tolman should've had this position locked up.

Hooker - Michael Ennis

Good call. Very strong game vs the Dragons last week and is the perfect player NSW need at hooker.

Prop - Kade Snowden

Was always going to get selected here and has not failed in the past. A strong player who is sure to get go-forward for NSW

Backrow - Beau Scott

Interesting selection. I'd have said no to Beau Scott, but having him defend next to Gasnier and Soward, as they do at club level, will be a big advantage. Luke Lewis robbed IMO.

Backrow - Greg Bird

Done nothing all year.. but has proved himself worthy in Origin series gone by. Good call.

Lock - Paul Gallen

Needs no justification. He's tightened the loose screws in his game and will hopefully bust a few of them in the QLD pack.

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Bench - Ben Creagh

Disrespected the NSW jumper by pushing Justin Hodges and running off in the 2009 series. If the defence gets in his face, he is absolutely useless. Big call, but there aren't many other options, apart from a player who has torn QLD apart in recent series, Anthony Watmough.

Bench - Dean Young

Interesting call, but he can play Hooker and backrow which makes him the right choice for a bench utility.

Bench - Trent Merrin

Tom Leroyd-Lars absolutely robbed, as he was the only player to get go-forward to NSW in the past series. Who is Trent Merrin ?

Bench - Tim Mannah

Good call, deserving of his spot in the side.


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Ommissions

Jarryd Hayne - The only bloke who could hold his head high from last series, Hayne has been overlooked in favour of Canberra's Josh Dugan, with Ricky Stuart stating that he sees Hayne as a 5/8th and that he should play there at club level. IMO I totally agree and I think Dugan's running game is better suited to Origin footy. However a spot should've been made for Hayne on the wing, instead of Brett Morris.

Jamal Idris - Another good call. Would get caught out in defence again.

Aiden Tolman - Needs no justification. A lot better than 2 other props selected in this team

Tom Leroyd-Lars - Same deal as Tolman.

Todd Carney at it again..

Again, again, again... Todd Carney again caught red-faced after a night out drinking with former team mate Anthony Watts. It's one thing not being able to put the bottle down, but it's another to have the stupidity to put yourself in the situation where alcohol is readily available. With a 6 figure contract (probably starting with 3), a NSW jersey calling and bunch of fans cheering you on each week, how hard is it to restrain yourself from going out into the city!

Why are the Roosters soo hesistant to let Todd Carney go ?

Well in 12 months time, he'll pop up again at another NRL club and will come back to haunt them. It will be tough for Carney to get a visa to travel overseas to play in the Super League as well and will mean he is even further away from his family - so a move to England is unlikely.

Not only that, the Roosters will struggle without their star player whom they've given numerous chances to.

If Carney is suspended from playing for the rest of the season, which is likely, he's odds on to turn back to the bottle and disgrace himself again.

A troubled star on the brink of losing everything... pull your head in!

Bennett to the Knights & Round 6

Wayne Bennett this week signed a 4-year contract worth an estimated $6 million with the Newcastle Knights. South Sydney have missed out on a coach that I believe is one of the few people with the ability to transform the losing culture that has plagued South Sydney in recent years.

Speculation has risen as to the future of Dragons fullback Darius Boyd who has pledged his allegiance to Wayne Bennett, rather than the club he plays for. With the likes of Kade Snowden and Canberra's Joe Picker also on the radar for Wayne Bennett, the Knights will need to make room and a clean out would be necessary. Junior Sau looks likely to move on, unless he agrees to a deal worth less than his asking price of $250,000. Players like Ben Rogers, Shannon McDonnell and even Isaac De Gois could be on the chopping block.

Round 6

Parramatta vs Bulldogs

Traditionally a very good game. With the Dogs coming off a Sunday afternoon loss to the Dragons, they will be hungry for victory. Things just aren't shaping up for the Eels this season and they need a strong performance from Jarryd Hayne to stop this from getting ugly.

My tip = Bulldogs

Gold Coast vs Wests Tigers

Titans are another team who have started very poorly. Injuries and poor attitudes have plagued their campaign thus far, but the return of Scott Prince, at home, against his former club, should make for a good game of footy. However the Tigers have been far too impressive this year and even with Chris Lawrence and Lote Tuqiri, they have still been very good with Benji Marshall on fire.

My tip = Wests Tigers

Manly vs New Zealand

Brookvale oval, 5pm should draw a decent crowd for Manly. Both teams backing up from close victories in their previous games. Manly are currently 3 wins from 5 games and I expect them to take the points again tomorrow night.

My tip = Manly

North Queensland vs Canberra

The Cowboys are currently sitting at 4th on the ladder and have looked very strong with Thurston controlling them around the park. The Raiders welcome back U20's half Sam Williams who will slot in for an injured Matt Orford, who copped a knee to the back in Canberra's 4th successive loss last week. Although I think Williams will add plenty to this team, the Cowboys should be too strong at home. Watch out for Cowboys winger, Kalifi Faifai Loa.

My tip = North Queensland

Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos

The Roosters are coming off a loss to the NZ and should bounce back strongly. The halves from both teams have big roles to play in getting their teams over the line. Expect a close game with plenty of free flowing attacking football.

My tip = Sydney Roosters

Newcastle vs Cronulla

Newcastle just couldn't find the line last week and Cronulla were unlucky to not hold on. Expect another close and hard fought game, but I think the Cronulla pack will help their team prevail

My tip = Cronulla Sharks

Penrith vs Melbourne

This could get ugly.. Penrith have been pretty useless this season and Melbourne have been brilliant and are sitting on top of the ladder. Expect big points to be scored in this game and don't be surprised if it gets embarrassing !

My tip = Melbourne

South Sydney vs St George

The Dragons don't like Monday night football.. having won just 1 out of their last 4 Monday night games. However South Sydney are travelling very poorly this season and the Saints were great last week vs the Bulldogs. Expect a comfortable win for the "Red V"

My tip = Dragons