State Of Origin is lurking, in its rightful position below the Anzac Test and international rugby league in general. Don't worry folks, we'll be going all in on the Anzac Test closer to the time but Origin footy is in a very weird spot right now as both New South Wales and Queensland have a bunch of selection headaches thanks to a variety of factors from injury to suspensions dished out before the season had even began. Today, we'll start with New South Wales...

The biggest issue for NSW coach Laurie Daley is in the halves. Unlike the clutter at fullback and the outside back spots, NSW don't have halves who are tearing up the NRL on a weekly basis, demanding selection. Mitchell Pearce went all silly bugger, effectively ruling himself out of the first Origin game and perhaps the entire series while other halves like Trent Hodkinson and Adam Reynolds don't quite deserve selection based on their performances so far this season. 

James Maloney will be in the mix as the Sharks are one of the better teams in the NRL, his selection will see the Maroons licking their lips though as they'll know that they can target him and earn quick play-the-balls with ease. Josh Reynolds is in a similar position to Maloney in that he's been there before and is a very handy player, especially at Origin level where energy and enthusiasm are mandatory. Reynolds however - like Maloney - has a downside as he's shown this season that he hasn't quite rounded the maturity corner just yet, in terms of both his on-field antics as well as his ability to execute key plays at key moments.

Wildcards for me are Blake Green and Dylan Walker. They wear the No.6 jersey with their clubs and are capable of doing a job, especially if they are partnered with a dominant halfback.

Another wildcard option could be Jack Bird.

Then you have the combos, which Daley has favoured in the past. Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer could get a look in, Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses could have been in the mix if they were more consistent, Jarrod Mullen and Hodkinson just don't feel good enough and the Reynolds x Luke Keary combo hasn't shown me enough just yet.

Mainly thanks to a lack of viable options, I'd go with the Austin/Sezer combo, but that's not doing a great job in convincing me to back NSW. Hodkinson/Reynolds could also work, as could Hodkinson/Maloney.

A good problem for Daley is the fullback/outside back spots. After an excellent start to the season, James Tedesco has to have the inside running to start at fullback, surely.

With Tedesco at fullback, Daley has to fill four spots, two wingers and two centres with a bunch of players in some very slick form that should see them selected out of position just because you need them in there.

Wingers: William Hopoate, Josh Dugan, Semi Radradra, James Roberts, Brett Morris if he's fit.

Centres: Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Jack Bird, Dugan, Hopoate.

I'd go with Tedesco, Hopoate/Radradra, Jennings, Morris, Dugan.

In the forwards, Daley has a mix of veterans who he can trust but might not be in the best form and younger players who give the Blues plenty of oomph through the middle. Robbie Farah isn't exactly playing the house down, but he should be there while James Tamou, Paul Gallen, Beau Scott, Greg Bird, Trent Merrin and Ryan Hoffman can consider themselves certainties as well.

Aaron Woods' injury means that Tamou could need a new starting front-row partner, which could come in the form of David Klemmer's promotion from the bench. The Blues don't lack young, angry and skillful options through the middle with blokes like Klemmer, Andrew Fifita, Shannon Boyd, Ryan James, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo all handy lads to have in any forward pack.

Don't sleep on Gallen starting at prop with Tamou, opening the door for Merrin to start at lock. This would open up a bench spot and so far, the only bloke penciled in on that bench is Josh Jackson who can play through the middle and out on the edge.

Jackson will/should get a bench spot, how the remaining three spots are filled will be very interesting as Daley has tended to go with three big boppers instead of Queensland's utility spot. I love the utility, so I'd go with two big boppers on the bench and if Gallen starts alongside Tamou then it's Fifita and Klemmer on the bench. 

Farah doesn't really need a spell and will battle through 80 minutes, so while I like the utility spot, the Blues don't really need an extra hooker. Instead, they need some razzle dazzle which is where we could see Daley get creative and select Austin/Walker or even someone like Matt Moylan just to add some spice to the Blues, who looked pretty one-dimensional last year.

Alternatively, that spice could come in the form of Bryce Cartwright who is a physical presence while also offering plenty with his hands ... and boot. Wade Graham and Tyson Frizell join Cartwright as players who are on the cusp and would step up if called upon.

In saying all of that, NSW already have the perfect bloke, in a fantastic run of form who would be nothing but an asset coming off the bench in that utility sort of role and that's Greg Bird. Gold Coast haven't looked great this season, however they have shown that they aren't easy-beats and Bird has been immense for the Titans as he does some silky ball-playing as well as leading the way with his toughness. With the form that Bird has been in, Daley could do a lot worse than letting Bird come off the bench without any shackles, allowing him to chime in and generally bring the ruckus with the luxury of freedom.

Starting forwards: Tamou, Farah, Gallen, Hoffman, Scott, Merrin.

Bench: Bird, Klemmer, Fifita, Jackson/Cartwright.