State of Origin Game II NSW selection analysis, Paul Crawley column, Mitchell Moses picked, Jarome Luai, Dragons robbed, latest news – MASHAHER

Blues coach Michael Maguire has made the expected but still potentially dangerous gamble selecting Mitchell Moses on the back of two average performances for Parramatta.

If you were picking the NSW team on current form Jarome Luai should have been named to play halfback, not five-eighth, with either Cody Walker or Matt Burton as his halves partner.

While Moses was terrific in his return from injury in the round 13 win over the Sharks, Moses’ efforts in the losses to the Bulldogs and Roosters were extremely worrying.

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In fairness to the Eels playmaker, it’s a tough ask returning after an extended layoff and expecting him to hit top gear straight away.

But don’t expect the Queenslanders will show Moses any sympathy when he runs out in Melbourne.

There is no argument Maguire had to make the tough call to replace Nicho Hynes who is clearly struggling with confidence.

But right now, Moses’ reluctance to back himself in the big moments is concerning going into an Origin where one wrong move, or more to the point a failure to seize the moment, can be the difference between winning and losing.

Putting Luai at halfback and either Walker or Burton at five-eighth may have been the safer bet.

Moses was clearly overshadowed by halves partner Dylan Brown in the tough loss to the Roosters, where Luke Keary (again named in the Blues extended squad) was also outstanding.

Meanwhile, Luai has been the most consistent of all the halfback options filling in for the injured Nathan Cleary in recent weeks.

The polarising Luai has had his knockers over the years for some very good reasons, but his form for the Panthers is phenomenal.

Even though he has played the majority of his career in the No 6 jumper, he looks an even better player in the seven jersey when he’s allowed to take complete control.

Walker was also outstanding in the Rabbitohs’ win over the Broncos, and his uncanny understanding of new left centre Latrell Mitchell could have been a massive bonus.

Don’t forget Walker was man of the match in the game three win over the Maroons last year. Some suggest he would have been selected in game one if not for a minor calf injury.

Burton has also been in terrific form for the Bulldogs and outplayed Moses last round. Burton also has a great understanding of the Panthers connection of Luai and Dylan Edwards, and that monstrous kick.

No doubt at his best Moses is the most naturally talented with the best all-round kicking game.

I just worry he goes into this huge game under done, and obviously lacking some of his trademark confidence.

Of the other NSW changes, Latrell had to be named, although Bradman Best was a beast in his return from injury in the Knights’ tough loss to the Panthers.

Cameron McInnes also loses his spot to make way for Cameron Murray’s return, which was another no-brainer.

But Connor Watson as the bench utility ahead of Api Koroisau and Burton was another contentious call.

No doubt, Watson has the potential to be a Craig Wing style impact player off the bench, and he was very good in the Roosters’ win over the Eels.

But he’s also only just returned from injury.

SIN BIN FARCE NOT A GOOD LOOK

The outrageous inconsistency of what constitutes a sin bin/send off and what doesn’t is getting beyond embarrassing.

If it was happening down the local footy you’d have to cop it.

But this is a billion-dollar professional sport that is becoming increasingly reliant on money ploughed into the game from betting agencies.

No one is suggesting for a second there is anything untoward going on.

But it’s not a good look when so many crucial calls can have such a huge bearing on the outcome of games.

Watching some of the incidents over the weekend, you can understand why so many fans, players and coaches are becoming increasingly frustrated.

The send off Joseph Suaalii in State of Origin for taking out Reece Walsh was supposed to set a precedent.

Yet when the match officials had the chance to double down with two incidents over the weekend, they went to water.

Let’s start with Parramatta backrower Kelma Tuilagi who escaped with 10 minutes in the bin for an extremely dangerous lifting tackle on Lindsay Collins.

It was only good luck that Collins escaped without a serious injury after being flipped on his back.

The fact Tuilagi is now facing a four match suspension if he cops the early guilty plea for a grade three dangerous throw means we’re entitled to question why wasn’t he sent off in the first place.

In the same game Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also copped the same penalty as Tuilagi (10 in the bin) for minor contact on a slipping Shaun Lane.

How is that fair?

Then you had Jordan Riki’s brutal high shot on an unsuspecting Cameron Murray in the Rabbitohs’ win.

Even Kevvie Walters said after the game he thought Riki was lucky not to be sent off.

Yet on this occasion Latrell Mitchell copped the same on field punishment as Riki for just running into the melee.

Then you see other players not binned for being third man in during the same round of footy.

Warriors playmaker Te Maire Martin was also penalised but not binned for taking out Storm fullback Sua Faalogo, which was much more forceful contact than Waerea-Hargreaves’ shot.

Does Martin get leniency for the fact he plays in the halves and Waerea-Hargreaves is a renowned enforcer?

To make matters worse Faalogo did not leave the field for a head injury assessment, yet Murray did even though he bounced off the turf following the Riki shot.

It shouldn’t be that difficult to get some consistency across the board.

WERE THE DRAGONS ROBBED?

Speaking of controversial calls, lost in the wash of the Dragons’ 30-14 loss to the Sea Eagles was the crucial no try decision that went against Zac Lomax.

This time the Bunker backed on-field officials when ruling Lomax knocked the ball into Luke Brooks when attempting to catch a bomb.

It was a big call with the Dragons trailing 24-14 with just over 10 minutes to play.

While there’s no question Lomax knocked the ball into Brooks, it appeared knocked in the direction of his own goal line.

For more than a 100 years that was always regarded as a knock back in rugby league.

Even veteran Fox League commentator Warren Smith (a renowned stickler for the rules) seemed as perplexed as everyone how that could be called a knock on. Same with Steve “Blocker” Roach. If they don’t get it, how are the punters supposed to make sense of it?

The injury riddled Sea Eagles scored minutes later to secure a heroic against-the-odds win.

But that no try decision was another huge call in the context of this game.

The irony was Panther Scott Sorensen was awarded a try from an almost identical play off a bomb in the final Sunday game after Sorensen knocked the ball into Tyson Frizell.

The Panthers then got up in a cliff hanger.

You can only shake your head.

HAMMER’S FLASHBACK OF HAYNE

Was that the Hammer, or a flashback of Jarryd Hayne in his prime spotted at Cronulla?

Seriously, go back and watch Hayne’s memorable 90 metre try for Parramatta against Penrith in 2010.

Then watch the replay of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s spectacular solo effort in the win over the Sharks and tell me there aren’t freakish similarities.

Just the effortless way the Hammer and Hayne could weave through an entire team of players like they were covered in spiders.

Wayne Bennett mentioned it reminded him of Steve Renouf at his dazzling best in the Broncos’ glory days.

The breathtaking Brett Mullins at his best was in the same conversation. Ditto Greg Inglis.

But for mine Hammer’s free flowing style is closest to Hayne at his magical best.

What made Hammer’s effort extra special here was the way he smiled as he slowed down before beating Will Kennedy at the end.

Just priceless.

BENNETT’S GREATEST COACHING PERFORMANCE?

Back on Wayne Bennett, what he has done to get the Dolphins into the top four this season is up with the super coach’s greatest performances – and that’s taking into account the seven premierships he’s won.

Don’t forget the Dolphins are playing without three of their best middles in Tom Gilbert, Tom Flegler and Jesse Bromwich.

But with a makeshift pack they turned up and scored arguably the biggest win in the club’s short history when taking down then co-competition leaders on the Sharks’ home ground.

It’s just extraordinary what the Dolphins have been able to achieve when you look around to some of the struggling clubs who fail to get it right decade after decade.

It goes to show having the right team off the field is as important as having the right players on it.

From Dolphins’ chief executive Terry Reader who has instantly made this club a financial powerhouse, to Bennett, assistant coach Kristan Woolf and departing recruitment chief Peter O’Sullivan, they’ve all done a fantastic job.

BRONCOS GO FROM BAD TO WORSE

I wrote last week that the Broncos were premiership pretenders without Adam Reynolds.

The lacklustre effort against the Rabbitohs only confirmed my opinion.

As good as Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker were masterminding the win for the Rabbitohs, the Broncos were just terrible given the quality of their roster even without Reynolds and Reece Walsh.

The Broncos now sit ninth on the ladder on equal competition points with the Cowboys and Dragons.

To put it in perspective, look at the way the Storm are humming along on top without Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster.

It does help to have Jahrome Hughes who is playing outstanding and was the difference against the Warriors.

TIGERS AIM UP IN WOODEN SPOON SHOOTOUT

We can’t finish without giving the Tigers a rap for a gutsy win to snap a nine-match losing streak on the back of the bake we gave Benji Marshall last round.

But let’s face it, as tough as the Tigers played, the Titans were dead set diabolical.

No wonder Des Hasler looked so frustrated post match because that ranked in my grand final of worst games in 30 years reporting on rugby league.

The Titans finished with seven line breaks to two but just couldn’t hold the ball against an inexperienced Tigers side who were led superbly by Api Koroisau.