Moedogg
Kennel Legend
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You've got two of the form 5/8ths in the comp in Luai and Walker but he's suggesting a left field option of Turbo at 5/8th who has never played there in his career. I'd understand if NSW were short of options but his idea suggests to me that he talks shit and people listen to him because he's an immortal.
EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Johns tosses up Tom Trbojevic as Nathan Cleary's NSW Blues halves partner
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns has thrown up superstar Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic as a radical option for the NSW Blues' No.6 jersey.
That's despite the fact the multimillion-dollar Sea Eagle has never played at five-eighth with Manly and has only ever lined up on a wing and in the centres in State of Origin footy.
Dally M medallist James Tedesco has donned the No.1 jersey in every one of Trbojevic's Origin appearances since he made his debut in game one of the 2018 series.
But Trbojevic has starred elsewhere in the backline, even bagging a hat-trick at Perth's Optus Stadium in game two of the 2019 series.
While prodigious Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary is a certainty to continue in the No.7 jumper, coach Brad Fittler's choice of the Panther's halves partner remains unclear.
Champion Roosters playmaker Luke Keary won't feature in this year's series due to his long-term knee injury, but Fittler could opt for incumbent Blues five-eighth Cody Walker of the Rabbitohs, Raiders weapon Jack Wighton, Panthers young gun Jarome Luai or, in Johns' eyes, even Trbojevic.
Turbo will be there in some position. We all know Tedesco will be fullback, but Turbo can play anywhere," Johns said on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.
"If you had the right halfback Turbo as a five-eighth would be out of this world.
"In Origin you need big, running five-eighths. NSW over the years: (Brad) Fittler, (Laurie) Daley, (Braith) Anasta, Trent Barrett.
"You let Nathan do it all. He organises everything and then you have Turbo as a running five-eighth, but also with his ball-playing and him and Tedesco working together. Wow. It's endless what you could do there."
When asked by host Danika Mason if it was a concern that Trbojevic and Cleary hadn't ever played in the halves together, Johns said the task would be simple.
Cleary has led Penrith to 24 regular-season wins in a row, which includes eight home victories on the trot.
And experts are now comparing Trbojevic to some of the greatest game-changers in history, such as Johns, Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer, after his masterclass in Mudgee last Saturday.
Manly hadn't won a game over the first five rounds of the season and had even been belted by 40 points or more twice, but the return of Trbojevic from a hamstring strain transformed the Sea Eagles in spectacular fashion for their clash with the Titans. Trbojevic was at his scintillating best as Manly romped to a 36-0 victory.
So talented are Cleary and Trbojevic that Johns doesn't believe they need to have played together in the halves in order to thrive in State of Origin footy.
"Nathan just runs the show and Turbo just plays," Johns said.
"If you see space you just run."
wwos.nine.com.au
EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Johns tosses up Tom Trbojevic as Nathan Cleary's NSW Blues halves partner
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns has thrown up superstar Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic as a radical option for the NSW Blues' No.6 jersey.
That's despite the fact the multimillion-dollar Sea Eagle has never played at five-eighth with Manly and has only ever lined up on a wing and in the centres in State of Origin footy.
Dally M medallist James Tedesco has donned the No.1 jersey in every one of Trbojevic's Origin appearances since he made his debut in game one of the 2018 series.
But Trbojevic has starred elsewhere in the backline, even bagging a hat-trick at Perth's Optus Stadium in game two of the 2019 series.
While prodigious Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary is a certainty to continue in the No.7 jumper, coach Brad Fittler's choice of the Panther's halves partner remains unclear.
Champion Roosters playmaker Luke Keary won't feature in this year's series due to his long-term knee injury, but Fittler could opt for incumbent Blues five-eighth Cody Walker of the Rabbitohs, Raiders weapon Jack Wighton, Panthers young gun Jarome Luai or, in Johns' eyes, even Trbojevic.
Turbo will be there in some position. We all know Tedesco will be fullback, but Turbo can play anywhere," Johns said on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.
"If you had the right halfback Turbo as a five-eighth would be out of this world.
"In Origin you need big, running five-eighths. NSW over the years: (Brad) Fittler, (Laurie) Daley, (Braith) Anasta, Trent Barrett.
"You let Nathan do it all. He organises everything and then you have Turbo as a running five-eighth, but also with his ball-playing and him and Tedesco working together. Wow. It's endless what you could do there."
When asked by host Danika Mason if it was a concern that Trbojevic and Cleary hadn't ever played in the halves together, Johns said the task would be simple.
Cleary has led Penrith to 24 regular-season wins in a row, which includes eight home victories on the trot.
And experts are now comparing Trbojevic to some of the greatest game-changers in history, such as Johns, Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer, after his masterclass in Mudgee last Saturday.
Manly hadn't won a game over the first five rounds of the season and had even been belted by 40 points or more twice, but the return of Trbojevic from a hamstring strain transformed the Sea Eagles in spectacular fashion for their clash with the Titans. Trbojevic was at his scintillating best as Manly romped to a 36-0 victory.
So talented are Cleary and Trbojevic that Johns doesn't believe they need to have played together in the halves in order to thrive in State of Origin footy.
"Nathan just runs the show and Turbo just plays," Johns said.
"If you see space you just run."
Johns' radical proposal for Cleary's NSW halves partner
'Would be out of this world'
