City v Country NRLCEO Predicted Teams
It seems like the season just started but we’re already into the Rep Season! Sure, not many people actually care about City v Country. For mine, I’m still a fan of the concept. Sure millions are not going to tune in on TV, but it gives players a good crack at each other in front of some passionate country supporters. In this instance, it gives us a good look at which players are performing well on NRLCEO at this early point in the season. Eligibility is confusing, but I gave it a good crack at who would be in the sides if it was based on NRLCEO points.
1. Reece Robinson (Sydney)
Not many people could say they have represented Lebanon AND the Indigenous All Stars. We’re not too sure on what his eligibility is, but being born in Sydney and scoring five tries so far this season we believe he is worthy of another jersey for his pool room. Whilst you could never say he is a chance to play Origin, he wouldn’t do too much wrong for the City Slickers.
2. Pat Richards (Sydney)
Everyone wrote off this signing when the Tigers announced it late last year. It had been over 3,000 days since his previous NRL appearance and the majority of people (me included) thought that he would be off the pace. He proved us all wrong! Another international, Richards represented Ireland in the two most recent World Cups and whilst it’s his boot which has been getting all the praise, he’s also finished extremely well and has managed six tries so far.
3. Michael Jennings (Sydney)
As a former Test star, Jennings would be disappointed to be pulling on the yellow and blue instead of the green and gold. By this time last year he had already scored six tries on the way to a season total of 18 tries. Both Jennings and the Roosters have been disappointing this year, but he has shown flashes of brilliance and will most likely waltz into the NSW side again regardless.
4. BJ Leilua (Sydney)
Although Joey Leilua hasn’t done much since Round 4 when we scores a hat-trick against the struggling Sharks, he gets in mainly based on that demolition of Blake Ayshford. In fact, I think most players who have come up against Ayshford could demand a spot in this side. He will likely get selected in the real life City team as well and he’ll do a good job.
5. Josh Mansour (Sydney)
The NRL faithful are already drooling over this fella and fantasy players are drooling over him even more! Similarly to Reece Robinson, Mansour has played a couple of Test matches for Lebanon, but this would be the first of his real representative footy and if you were picking the NSW Origin team on form, Mansour would get a run. He is more than just a finisher, he is particularly powerful when helping get his side out of his half through his powerful leg strength.
6. Josh Reynolds (Sydney)
When he plays against you, you hate him. But when he plays for you, he certainly knows how to get results. A hard nosed player who knows how to bend the rules in his favour, Reynolds has been a big part of why the Bulldogs sit atop the NRL ladder and on a five game winning streak. Hasn’t scored a try this year yet, which was one of his biggest strengths last year, but he is always involved in try assists and line breaks.
7. Trent Hodkinson (Sydney)
He’s been in this sort of form before in 2010 for the Sea Eagles and it earned him a City jersey. With three tries of his own and five try assists to add to his two game winning field goals he has been a good pick up for CEOs. In my own competition we laughed at the guy who drafted him late in the count, but he has been having the last laugh with the Bulldog’s great form.
8. Aaron Woods (Sydney)
Picks himself in these sorts of games. We have seen him at Origin and most would say he’s not quite up to that level, but at club and for City, he is the perfect player. He digs deep and does a heck of a lot of work each and every week. Averaging 27 tackles and 19 runs each game he easily gets the numbers for a workhorse each week although he hasn’t been hitting the numbers to get a double workhorse as yet.
9. Nathan Peats (Sydney)
When Robbie Farah went down the Kurt Gidley Haters Club (and there’s a lot of them) sent out an SOS to Nathan Peats. Gidley hasn’t worked in the past for NSW, so why now when we’re seven series down. Nathan Peats is probably the best signing of the year from both a CEO perspective and from the Eels. Already with 44 points this season (even missing one game through suspension), he’s a walk in for the City side.
10. Tim Grant (Sydney)
I actually found it difficult to find the second prop for this city team based on NRLCEO points. Tim Grant will most likely get picked in the City side, but after only two workhorses and a line break for the year, he wouldn’t even go close to making the Country side.
11. Wade Graham (Sydney)
This guy is a beast. You can see why the Sharks and Rabbitohs were both so keen to sign him. He’s not overly consistent as a workhorse forward, but that’s because he is so flexible on the field. When Carney went down this weekend, Graham stepped into five-eighth and did an admirable job. After three tries and three workhorse this year sits on 26 points averaging three per round.
12. Mitch Aubusson (Sydney)
This is probably the most surprising pick of them all, but you know what? I have actually been impressed with Aubusson this year. Even though the Roosters haven’t been firing, Aubusson has completed every assignment asked of him. When SBW was out earlier in the year, he was actually really impressive. Two tries, three workhorses and a few line breaks give him a deserved spot in this City side.
13. John Sutton (Sydney)
He hasn’t had a huge season, but his scoring means that he could have been selected as either five-eighth or back rower. He’s played in two prior City v Country games and has assisted in six tries for the Bunnies in the first eight rounds. It’s been a big year for him as he broke the record number of games for the Rabbitohs, but it certainly won’t get bigger; he is no chance to get an Origin call up. 
1. Brett Stewart (Wollongong)
Surprisingly the Snake has only scored one try so far this season, but such is his influence at the Sea Eagles, he has racked up 10 try assists in the first eight rounds. A dominant force at the back he has never looked out of place in the sky blue but injuries and competition for the jersey have meant he has only managed eight games.
2. James McManus (Banff)
An obscure selection which just goes to show how much the eligibility can often be a farce! Born in Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland… Sure it’s a long way from metropolitan Sydney, but it’s not country NSW. Despite playing for Scotland, McManus has played three games for NSW and two times for Country. So despite only scoring three tries so far this year, most of the top wingers are Kiwis and Islanders, so in he slots.
3. Josh Morris (Kiama)
Whilst this game is mostly used as a stepping for further rep honours, Morris has been there and done that on the rep scene so makes his way into this team on default. Only three tries so far this year, but the Dogs have been in good form and Morris has certainly played his part in that. So while his twin brother represents Australia, Josh Morris will have a run out at Dubbo Oval and a few nights in the luxury of the Country Inn.
4. Jarrod Croker (Goulburn)
As I write this, Croker is on the end of a hiding from the Sea Eagles, but still managed a try of his own to take his season tally to six tries. He will never be good enough for NSW, but he deserves a spot in this representative fixture as a proud Goulburn product. His kicking has been superb this season and his defence much improved.
5. Nathan Stapleton (Deepwater)
Who knows which state this guy is actually eligible for, but at the same time, who cares! He will never actually play representative football and if it wasn’t for his four tries against the Warriors in Round 5 then we wouldn’t even be talking about him. This selection is a joke, but once again, the Islanders are dominating the point scoring on the wing this year.
6. Jamie Soward (Wagga Wagga)
A much maligned character. It’s just lucky Beau Ryan will not be in the Country camp this year. Gus Gould rates him and to be fair he has racked up seven try assists this year, but he’s not exactly dominating any other point scoring territory so far this year. Will never play Origin ever again.
7. Albert Kelly (Macksville)
The boys on the Moneyball podcast like to have a laugh about this guy, but the stats don’t lie. Five tries already by Round Eight and boy he knows how to pick out an intercept. Kelly has been working so hard he’s even managed the stats for a workhorse in the past two rounds!
8. Trent Merrin (Wollongong)
Now we are into the Country forwards and they were much easier to pick. Every single one of these selections are hard working and tackle machines. Trent Merrin leads the way averaging 41 tackles and 17 hitups each game. He has scored a workhorse in every game, converting two of those into doubles. A very easy selection.
9. Mitch Rein (Kiama)
This actually surprised me. Not that he was just doing well, but that he is doing THAT well. Rein is one of the top point scorers in the whole competition. Two tries, six workhorse (two of those doubles) and three try assists. He quietly goes about his work in a non flashy way, but is an integral part to the Dragons and deserves his spot ahead of Mick Ennis.
10. Aiden Tolman (Kempsey)
It’s a shame this bloke has never been given a crack at Origin. When you think that even Tim Mannah has been given a go during the NSW drought, it’s a crying shame that Tolman hasn’t had a look in. Sure he doesn’t bend the line like a Tamou or Merrin, but on stats alone, he is a bloody hard working guy. Eight workhorses in the first eight rounds with one converting to a double – he doesn’t let you down.
11. Ben Creagh (Blacktown)
We have given this bloke a lot of shit in the past, and deservedly so! For so long a master of 39 involvements in 80 minutes of play he was touted as lazy and soft. Now that he has moved into the front row on occasions he has started to score what he always should have. Five workhorses and two tries are a great return for those CEO’s who gambled on him.
12. Boyd Cordner (Taree)
He’ll be unlucky to not be in the Test squad, but his performances so far this year have not granted him automatic entry. He’ll be back in the NSW team again this year, but he’ll need to earn his stripes in Dubbo rather than against the Kiwis. His average so far of 29 tackles and 13 hitups each game just scrapes him over the line in most games to get a workhorse, but he makes sure CEOs have their heart in their mouth each week. Two tries mean averages five points a game.
13. Shaun Fensom (Camden)
Just a tackle machine. It will be a great shame if he misses out on a Country selection yet again. Averaging a huge 45 tackles in each game and 16 hitups, Fensom does not miss out on a workhorse unless he is injured (which he was in Round 4). Three double workhorse are a tribute to his hard work once again this year.
JB
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