City Origin coach Brad Fittler has urged Adam Reynolds to crank up the pressure on NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce by replicating his NRL form in next Sunday’s match against Country in Coffs Harbour.
South Sydney’s Reynolds will get his first taste of representative action after Pearce was ruled out with a calf injury and Fittler is looking forward to working with the 22-year-old, who has enjoyed a superb first two seasons in the NRL.
“The important thing from his point of view is that he can come into a group of strangers and be able to instil what he wants out of the team,” Fittler said after announcing the City team on Sunday.
“I think it’s a massive test for him. We need blokes like Adam and (Country halfback) Josh McCrone to come good and put pressure on Mitchell.”
Out-of-form Tony Williams was named in the City back-row after being axed from the Test side following his below-par start to the year with Canterbury.
However, Fittler insists the giant 24-year-old should not be written off too soon ahead of June’s State of Origin opener in Sydney.
“With some people you go back and look at their history and I think if I remember Origin I (last year), if it wasn’t for him I don’t think we were going anywhere,” he said.
“He broke them open on that left-hand side and then we scored just after that.
“I watched him the other night and I thought he was better although they (Bulldogs) were pretty ordinary.
“He ran that really nice line off Josh Reynolds when he got the ball off speed so that was a good enough sign for me.”
Country coach Trent Barrett also has his share of injuries with NSW incumbents Todd Carney and Brett Stewart unavailable.
Stewart damaged his hamstring in Manly’s win over Cronulla on Sunday and Carney is still recovering from a foot injury.
“Todd is still not right, he came out of a moonboot today so he wouldn’t be able to train at all this week,” Barrett said.
“(Ryan) Hinchcliffe’s got a knee injury and (Jarrod) Mullen’s got a knee injury and we had four blokes in the Australian side.
“So it gives a lot of blokes an opportunity, we’ve got seven debutants so it’s going to be an exciting week for a few young blokes.”
Newcastle prop Willie Mason will make his first representative side since 2010 when he runs out against City and Barrett said the controversial former Test star will be a welcome presence around the camp.
“His form deserves it, he’s been good this year and has played a stack of Origin games and over 20 Tests,” he said.
“He’s matured over the last few years and with seven debutants he will be good to have around.”
Jamal Idris is also recalled after a disappointing two years since making his NSW debut in 2011 and Barrett has warned the giant Gold Coast centre he must grab the opportunity with both hands.
“It’s now or never for Jamal,” he said.
“He’s been part of the `Blues in Waiting’ camps for the past few years, but we can’t be in waiting forever.”
