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 Why Blues need Brett Morris for State of Origin III 

Why Blues need Brett Morris for State of Origin III

06 Jul, 2009 05:00 AM
Former Queensland State of Origin star Wendell Sailor is adamant St George Illawarra Dragons team-mate Brett Morris has just the attacking firepower NSW need to threaten the marauding Maroons' dominance.

While Sailor - who played 14 Origin games - has revelled in Queensland's record fourth successive series win, he called on NSW selectors to pick Morris alongside his brother Josh for game three in Brisbane next Wednesday.

Sailor strutted his stuff on Friday night, doing the moonwalk to celebrate a try in the 34-12 victory over the Roosters at WIN Jubilee Oval, while Morris had a tryless outing - a rarity this season.

  • Full coverage of The St George Illawarra Dragons

    But Sailor said the Blues could not ignore Morris' outstanding form, which has resulted in 13 tries so far this year.

    "You're not going to beat Queensland by just defending, you've got to outscore them and he's a tryscorer," Sailor said.

    "He doesn't just score them, he sets them up and he takes the load off the forwards.

    "He's a true winger, you see blokes like (Wests player Taniela) Tuiaki and (the Warriors' Manu) Vatuvei, we're different sorts of wingers, but he's a true finisher.

    "He glides when he runs and the confidence he's playing with, he's doing unbelievable things."

    Josh Morris, now playing with Bulldogs, made his Origin debut in game two, playing off the bench.

    And Brett has been viewed as a contender to join him for game three as NSW look for answers to break the Queensland stranglehold.

    The brothers could play alongside each other on the left hand side of the field, in a move which would likely see Jarryd Hayne switch to fullback and captain Kurt Gidley move to five-eighth or the bench and Canberra's Joel Monaghan dropped.

    Sailor said Morris' try against the Wests Tigers last week, where he out-manoeuvered Beau Ryan to score, was a perfect example of why Morris should be in the NSW team.

  • "I watched the replay and that cross kick from Sowie (five-eighth Jamie Soward) and the move on Beay Ryan - and he's a pretty good defender - well, how can you not pick a bloke like that for Origin," Sailor said.

    "And I think at Suncorp Stadium, you throw him in the deep end, he'll do more than his job.

    "... I truly believe that he's not only the best winger at the club, but one of the best wingers in the competition and he has a great future."

    While NSW will be without powerful prop Michael Weyman, who has an ankle injury, for game three, Justin Poore and second-rower Ben Creagh are expected to retain their places in the Blues team when it is named at half-time of tonight's Manly-Bulldogs clash.

    Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward will also come into consideration after another sensational performance against the Roosters on Friday night.

    Suspended Sharks five-eighth Trent Barrett is believed to be favourite for the position, ahead of Gidley and Soward.

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