Let's Talk Origin - Round 15

This week we have a look at the contenders for Billy Slater's Maroons jersey and a likely selection headache for the Blues leading into game three.

Firstly though, I'd just like to say how refreshing the football on display in game two was. Many expected another torrid Origin scrap with limited ball movement. What we got was the complete opposite. Melbourne turned on surprisingly good conditions for footy and whilst all the toughness you'd expect from an Origin fixture was still on display, the Melbournians were treated to an open game of Rugby League to go with it.

Once again, there wasn't much difference between the two teams. The Blues forwards, lead by cult hero Aaron Woods managed to get over the top of their opposition pack, but in the end, it was probably the early ball movement from the Blues that left the Maroons legs a little weary late in the contest.

WHO REPLACES SLATER?

Greg Inglis is the obvious choice to move to his preferred fullback position, leaving a spot in the Maroons three-quarter line up for grabs. Whether it's in the centres or on the wing will depend on whether current winger Will Chambers shifts to the centres.

DANE GAGAI - After spending time in the opening two camps as a shadow player for Slater, the Knights centre is the hot favourite to claim the vacant jersey. In a beaten side for most of the year, Gagai has been one of the shining lights for his club and has given opposition defenders plenty of trouble. Whether Gagai is a good fit for the make-up of the Maroons side can't be certain though. Gagai normally plays on the right for the Knights and the vacant spot in the centres is on the left. There's every chance he'll end up on the wing with Chambers shifting to centre, but having not played any recent footy on the flanks, he would surely be tested defensively.

MICHAEL MORGAN - With the probable return from injury of Cooper Cronk in game three, Morgan could well find himself on the outer for the decider with game two halfback Daly Cherry-Evans likely to fill the bench utility role. Coach Mal Meninga has always shown tremendous loyalty to his squad though and he may consider a left field selection to keep Morgan in the team. The Cowboys half has one of the quickest sets of legs going round and could easily match it with the Blues outside men for pace. He's no stranger to playing in the centres either after playing there in the Mackay Cutters Intrust Super Cup premiership side two years ago.

MOSES MBYE - Another left field option for Meninga could be the Bulldogs utility, who has only just cemented himself as a regular first grader. Whether playing in the halves or centres this year, Mbye has been a revelation and has shown great composure in his game. His cover defending tackle two weeks ago against the Titans, where he came from one side of the field to the other to bring down Brad Tighe in the corner, epitomises everything a coach looks for in an Origin player. He's no stranger to the big dance either, after filling in at hooker for the injured Michael Ennis in last year's Grand Final with a minimum of fuss.

VALENTINE HOLMES - If the Maroons are looking for someone who's spent recent time on the wing, then the current junior Kangaroo may be their man. With eleven line-breaks and nine tries to his name this year, Holmes appears one of those players, who has a knack for finding the try line and is fast stamping himself as one of the better finishers in the game. The Sharks flyer has also spent plenty of time at fullback this year and has looked more than capable under the high ball.

JOSH JACKSON SUSPENSION?

The Bulldogs back-rower has been charged with a grade two dangerous throw on Panthers half Jamie Soward on the weekend. Facing a two to three week ban, Jackson's only chance of playing the Origin decider is to front the judiciary and seek a downgrade of the charge which would see him miss only one match for the Bulldogs this weekend.

It appears likely, Daley will be looking for another interchange player for game three and which way he goes, may not be so clear cut. Many are expecting Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims to fight it out after they were shadow players in camp for games one and two respectively. Another option is to recall Andrew Fifita who was part of the squad for game one, although the makeup of the Blues bench did look a lot more balanced in game two with one less big man and a lot more mobility.

The biggest dilemma for Daley is that Jackson was seen as the utility player within the Blues 17 man squad. It's a role Luke Lewis served so well for a number of years and is more than capable of still doing, and his experience may see him back in contention. The other option as far as utility value goes could be Josh Reynolds who's recently proven a bit of a super sub at club level for Des Hasler at the Bulldogs.