South Sydney enforcer Sam Burgess wants the Rabbitohs’ lofty standing on the NRL ladder rewarded at the NSW State of Origin selection table.
In a damning statistic, Souths have had the lowest representation in the league in Blues squads over the past 10 years, with utility ace Craig Wing in 2009 the only Rabbitoh to crack even a bench spot.
But with the resurgent Rabbitohs running second behind only Melbourne after six wins from seven starts, calls are growing louder and louder for new NSW coach Laurie Daley to throw winger Nathan Merritt, five-eighth John Sutton and halfback Adam Reynolds Blues jumpers for the series opener in Sydney on June 5.
Merritt, twice the NRL’s leading tryscorer, is once again topping the charts in 2013, Sutton has come of age as a game-breaking playmaker and Reynolds ranks alongside the Storm’s Queensland ace Cooper Cronk as the form halfback in the league.
Burgess won’t be involved in the interstate series, but the British star insists several of his Souths teammates should be.
“I’m a believer that team success brings individual success and I don’t think we’d be playing as well as we are if certain players weren’t performing,” Burgess said on Tuesday.
“I know there’s a few names being tossed around and I’d be more than happy for everyone in our team to get picked.
“It’s the highest honour to represent your country and your state, so I’m always backing players in my team.
Like Sutton, Reynolds said his primary focus was on Souths but the 22-year-old admitted Origin was on his mind too.
“I’m very passionate about State of Origin and the Blues and I’d be more than happy to put my hand up,” he said.
“It’s a goal of mine in rugby league to play for them.”
After burying a Manly outfit laced with representative stars at Brookvale Oval last week, Souths’ Origin hopefuls have another golden opportunity to impress selectors on Friday night against a hot Brisbane side featuring five Queensland certainties in Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, Ben Hannant and Matt Gillett.
And the marquee match will be played in front of 40,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium, venue for Origin II on June 26.
“Brisbane up there, it’s always a tough game,” Sutton said.
“So we’re just looking forward to getting out there and hopefully putting in another big performance.
“I’m just going to keep trying my best for Souths and hopefully things in the future pay off for me.”
