The NRL Telstra Premiership is on hold this week as we enjoy the ANZAC Test and the City v Country clash, which really is just a sword fight for the NSW Blues Origin selection.
It is always a close fixture score-wise with little separating the teams in terms of depth and determination, and this year the 2015 AAMI Country vs. City Origin clash runs on Sunday May 3 at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga with a 4pm (AEST) kick-off.
A host of potential State of Origin stars could emerge from this match, and it’s an exciting one to enjoy a punt on with us at Ladbrokes.
Obviously the big Australia v New Zealand Test on Friday night is where you will find the guaranteed Blues superstars for Origin Game 1 (May 27) with eight on the side, but there are plenty battling for a spot playing in the other rep game of the week.
Form-wise it is really hard to put a line through this one, but we’ve got City as narrow $1.80 favourites over their Country rivals at $2.
If those odds are too close for you, try getting in on our additional markets including the winning margin and popular first try-scorer offering where $10 for Akuila Uate (Country), James Tedesco (City) and Daniel Tupou (City) is the shortest price on offer!
City ($1.80)
Brad Fittler’s KARI City Origin side has welcomed into the line-up Tigers James Tedesco, while injury has seen Rabbitohs duo Luke Keary (foot) and Dylan Walker (knee) pull out of the side.
It’s always exciting to see the No. 6 battle in this time-honoured clash, and this year City have Canterbury’s Josh Reynolds in halfback looking to snap up the position for the Blues. He’ll have to be at his best though with Country’s James Maloney more than capable of causing him a few headaches.
Reynolds and Sydney Roosters premiership-winning Maloney – whoever wins the battle on Sunday arvo is likely to snap up the Blues’ halfback selection.
There’s speed galore among these City slickers out on the sides too with James Roberts, Tedesco, Moylan and co. all ready to fire.
Moylan is one of five Panthers named in the City team this year along with Waqa Blake, Tyrone Peachey who was 18th man last year, Reagan Campbell-Gillard on the bench and this year’s No. 18 Bryce Cartwright.
The team also welcomes back props Andrew Fifita and David Klemmer from suspension, and they’ve got enough youth in their Penrith-lead forward pack to suggest this is where the NSW Blues will draw strength from in upcoming years, including skipper Wade Graham.
Fifita and Klemmer are two of only five players in this squad who played for City last year along with Moylan, Tupou and Reynolds – so they’ve got youth but not Test experience on their side.
City Team: 1. Matt Moylan, 2. James Tedesco, 3. James Roberts, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Daniel Tupou, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Blake Austin, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Nathan Peats, 10. David Klemmer, 11. Curtis Sironen, 12. Wade Graham (c), 13. Tyrone Peachey. Interchange: 14. Joseph Paulo, 15. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 16. Kane Evans, 17. Jason Clark. 18th Man: Bryce Cartwright. Coach: Brad Fittler.
Country ($2)
If this game descends into a battle of the forwards, you have to like the Country line-up with the likes of Tyson Frizell, Kade Snowden and Joel Thompson all in red-hot form so far this season.
Frizell is one of only three debutants on the Country squad in 2015 along with Jack Bird and Jarrod Croker, Barrett naming eight men to return from last year’s team.
He is joined in the second row by fellow Dragon Thompson and that’s a combo that should work well for Country.
Maloney in the No. 6, as mentioned, also has a lot to play for here. He ran as the NSW five-eighth alongside Pearce two years ago, and will be looking to reward his coach Trent Barrett for naming him as captain on Sunday.
Pearce won’t be there this weekend however, he and NSW half-back Trent Hodkinson both rested, and MP is being tipped to make a representative comeback.
Country Team: 1. David Mead, 2. Akuilla Uate, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. James Mcmanus, 6. James Maloney (c), 7. Jarrod Mullen, 8. Dale Finucane, 9. Ryan Hinchcliffe, 10. Kade Snowden, 11. Joel Thompson, 12. Tyson Fizell, 13. Josh Jackson. Interchange: 14. Jackson Bird, 15. Paul Vaughan, 16. Tariq Sims, 17. Ryan James. Coach: Trent Barrett.
History Says / We Say
Historically, City boast 13 wins over Country’s 10 of the 25 played between the two, but it is the bumpkins who have the advantage in recent times with three of the past five going to Country.
It was a super-tense 26-all draw last year, City fighting their way back in the final five minutes of play with a trio of tries to tie up the scoreboard.
The last time they faced off at Wagga Wagga though it went the way of the market favourites for 2015, City winning 26 – 16.
That said, Country have the experience to outstay the young guns here and at the underdog price represent nice value.