Match Details
Match Date	15th May, 2015
Opponent	Sydney Roosters
Result	Loss 10-24
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	James Graham
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	17,093
Referee	Gerard Sutton Alan Shortall

It wasn’t the stamp of approval Laurie Daley would have been hoping for from Mitchell Pearce, but Josh Reynolds’ inability to demand reinstatement has all but guaranteed the return of the Roosters halfback for the NSW Blues.

There were 12 potential State of Origin players who took the field in the Roosters’ 24-10 victory at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, but this one was all about the battle for the NSW No.6 jumper – or at least it was leading into the match.

Before a football was kicked on Friday night, Trent Hodkinson had one hand on the NSW No.7 jersey and Pearce and Reynolds would fight for the No.6 jersey.

However another disappointing showing from Hodkinson has raised serious concerns over his position in the team, with James Maloney now asking questions of Daley to earn a recall of his own alongside Pearce.

While it wasn’t the performance from the Roosters No.7 that would have sent shudders through the Queensland camp, it appears enough to earn a position in Daley’s team that will gather for camp in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday.

NSW legend Andrew Johns believes Daley cannot afford to pick Reynolds and Hodkinson, making mention of Jarryd Hayne’s contribution to the team in the series victory last year.

‘‘I know they got the job done last year but that was on the back of a guy called Jarryd Hayne,’’ Johns said during Channel Nine’s broadcast of the match.

‘‘There’s no Jarryd Hayne this year. Reynolds and Hodkinson are so out of form.’’

The contest never lived up to the hype that proceeded it but the so called Origin audition raised more questions about Hodkinson’s position in the team than the battle between Pearce and Reynolds.

Bulldogs prop David Klemmer, who looks set to earn a bench spot after skipper Paul Gallen was forced to withdraw through injury, suffered a hip injury but should be fit to make his debut if selected.

All the talk leading into the match suggested it was Pearce’s jersey to lose more than it was Reynolds’ to steal, yet a five-star showing would have put the Canterbury No.6 back in the frame.

While Hodkinson’s first contribution was a kick out on the full, Reynolds’ first major input in the game was a grubber that led to a repeat set and first points for his side through Curtis Rona’s 11th try of the season.

But that’s about all the five eighth had to crow about in a night that will almost certainly be remembered as the night he relinquished his Blues jumper.

It was also a night that highlighted Canterbury’s soft underbelly without James Graham.

The Bulldogs did well to repel multiple Roosters sets of six attacking their line but when they lost their skipper in the 27th minute after he was left dazed following a hip to the head from Roosters back-rower Aidan Guerra, they fell apart.

On the stroke of half-time the Roosters finally found a way through the Bulldogs defence with Jake Friend showing great vision to put Daniel Tupou over down the short side. And just as it seemed the teams would head into the break locked up, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck sliced his way through Hodkinson and Tony Williams to give the Roosters a 10-4 lead.

A penalty against Tim Browne midway through the second half extended the Roosters’ lead to eight points courtesy of the boot of Maloney, before the boot of Pearce led to more Roosters points with Sam Perrett making a meal of a bomb to gift Mitchell Aubusson a try. Guerra would put the result beyond doubt, despite Moses Mbye scoring a consolation try in the dying minutes.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

LINE UP