Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns says it's "really important" that NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler tweaks his selection strategy for this year's State of Origin series, ending the theory that you pick the 17 best players first, then choose their position.
Fittler was last year criticised by a host of experts for playing fullback Clint Gutherson and five-eighth Jack Wighton in the centres. The criticism was mostly centred around defensive errors made by the duo, which was considered a major reason why the Blues were beaten in the series by the Queensland underdogs.
Johns said South Sydney Rabbitohs weapon Latrell Mitchell and Manly Sea Eagles gun Tom Trobejevic should lock down the centre positions this year. Like Gutherson and Wighton neither play centre at club level, but Mitchell established himself as the best centre in the world before quitting the Roosters and Johns sees Trbojevic as a unique case, special enough to adapt to an unfamiliar position and be one of the side's strongest performers.
"I'd play Latrell at left centre at that level and you could do some cameos with Latrell – bring him into the middle, swap him over with Teddy (fullback James Tedesco) or just get him around the middle lurking around. It's endless what you can do with Latrell," Johns told Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.
"On the other side, if fit – Tom Trbojevic played that right centre (in the 2019 Origin series). He played on the wing but also in the centre. He is such a smart player so he can do that."
But taking a long-term view Johns says that the defensive side of the centre position is so important that he wants to see NSW picking specialists.
While he's yet to make his Blues debut, Penrith Panthers try-machine Stephen Crichton has Johns' backing to play in the centres in Origin "for a long time".
The 20-year-old had a breakout NRL season in 2020, piling up 17 tries to run third behind Alex Johnston and Kyle Feldt on the try-scoring leaderboard.
Crichton's blinding form during the Panthers' record-equalling 17-game winning streak earned him a place in the Blues' squad, but neither him nor centre Zac Lomax were given a run.
"Moving forward I think Stephen Crichton is someone that will be in there and will be there for a long time," Johns said.
"I understand Stephen Crichton played a lot on the right side coming through.
"It's just ridiculous we talk left and right players; they're elite players so they can adapt.
"But I think it's important that NSW start picking guys in their position.
"Zac Lomax, too – I think he's a real contender for the right side."
NSW have a long list of superstar backs to choose from but one problem is most of them play fullback at club level.
Tedesco, Mitchell, Gutherson, Trbojevic and Ryan Papenhuyzen are all Origin-standard No.1s.
Johns no longer agrees with the theory that the best 17 players should be picked for Origin, regardless of their position.
"There is a theory that you pick the best players out there and just let them play, but I thought last year defensively we got caught out a bit, NSW," Johns said.
"Especially in key positions where in centre, for one, is a really important position defensively. I think you've got to pick specialist guys there.
"In other positions, especially around the forwards, you can mix and match.
"But I think centre is one where it's such a specialised position defensively that you have to pick specialised centres."
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