Calls to blood Jet and Jarrod
WAYNE Bennett has urged NSW hierarchy to hand James Roberts his maiden Origin jumper, while backing Titans young gun Jarrod Wallace for a Queensland start.
Roberts has one final chance to impress Blues coach Laurie Daley when the NRL’s fastest man returns from injury in tonight’s Broncos-Wests Tigers showdown at Suncorp Stadium.
A former Maroons coach, Bennett is not renowned for giving the Blues too many generous tips, but said if NSW had any selection nous, they would unleash Roberts.
“I will tell you what, if he is playing for NSW there will be a lot of Queensland players going to bed thinking a lot about him and how they are going to stop him,” he said.
“They (NSW) can put someone else in there, but they (Queensland’s players) won’t be thinking about that bloke.
“That is your biggest fear as a player, it’s the (opponent) you are playing against and what he is going to do you.”
Bennett admits Queensland have reached a critical juncture in their dynasty where coach Kevin Walters must juggle past triumphs with the need to blood fresh talent.
Walters is set to stick with veteran props Nate Myles and Jacob Lillyman for Origin I, but Bennett says 25-year-old Wallace, whom he coached at Brisbane, must wear Maroon.
“I don’t think Jarrod can do much more,” Bennett said.
“Jarrod is playing a lot of time and minutes on the Coast and they are winning games against quality teams.
“Queensland have to start thinking about the future with that Origin side because there are a lot of issues there.
“They are in a great position, not under pressure to win a series, we know there is a generation change coming.”