Fitzgibbon rewarded, Anasta and Prince left to wonder
May 13th 2008 09:52
Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon deserves his Origin call up
At long last we have the Origin lineups that will battle it out in the most important series in the history of Rugby League in Australia.
Both New South Wales and Queensland have picked strong teams for the opening game at ANZ stadium next Wednesday.
In what should be a momentous occasion for all involved, all 34 players will be eager to give their heart and pride in this latest instalement of Rugby League's greatest rivalry.
One player that literally cannot wait to play for the Blues will be Craig Fitzgibbon.
After three seasons in the wilderness, Fitzgibbon is once again displaying the form that made him the competition's premier forward in 2004-05.
His form for the Roosters has been outstanding and all this on top of strong speculation that the ironman will retire at seasons end due to salary cap restraints.
I applaud the NSW selectors for once again showing Fitzgibbon the keys to Origin folklore once again. He has never let NSW down and will be a key ingredient when the Blues seek to end QLD dominance over these past couple of years.
Whether it be in defence or attack, Fitzgibbon will do the job for the Blues and he will be desperate to finish his career with the Origin shield back in NSW.
While i will credit the selectors for giving the Roosters captain a new lease of life in Origin, fellow Rooster Braith Anasta can consider himself the unluckiest cockroach in NSW.
Like Fitzgibbon, Anasta has been in career best form and looked an absolute certainty to be picked for the Blues.
He has done everything that has been asked for him this season yet the selectors stick with Greg Bird at five-eighth.
While BIrd has displayed awesome form in both Origin and Test football, the Cronulla Shark plays his most damaging football at lock but will now have to take alot of responsibility alongside newcomer Peter Wallace.
I really do not understand the selectors reasons for leaving out Anasta, who has shown this year that he his once again ready to take up League's pinnacle challenge.
When Anasta did get picked for the Blues in previous years, He was not playing the greatest football of his career by any stretch of the imagination yet the selectors gave him a shot.
Now that the Roosters five-eighth is in inspired form, they choose to leave him out. Confusing don't you think?
Another man that can consider himself unlucky is Titans captain Scott Prince.
Although the Maroons looked to have picked the better squad, Bird's selection at five-eighth should have immediately brought Prince into the frame.
The Titans captain has been the best halfback this season but for one reason or another, he just doesn't get picked.
It really dazzles me how a player of Prince's calibre can just sit at home next Wednesday night and watch his beloved Maroons on television. What does he have to do to get a callup?
Prince has won a grand final let alone the Clive Churchill medal and has also played three Origins for QLD and two tests for Australia. It's not like the man hasn't performed on big occasions.
It really is just frustrating not being able to see two of the form players in their respective positions battle it out in the biggest spectacle rugby league has to offer.
In the end both Anasta and Prince will have to bide their time and wait for an opportunity to shine in Origin football.
Let's just hope the wait is over for games two and three in this years series.
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