Lyon tipped for Origin recall
May 7, 2006
NEW South Wales are poised to produce an Allan Langer-style selection shock by sending an SOS to English-based Jamie Lyon to play five-eighth in this year's State of Origin series.
The Blues' stocks at No 6 are limited following Trent Barrett's retirement from representative football after the Dragons captain announced last week he was moving to Wigan.
NSW selectors face a giant headache filling the pivotal position with the skinny list of contenders, including the out-of-form Braith Anasta, raw Rabbitoh John Sutton, Newcastle's Kurt Gidley and Scott Hill, who is playing for Storm feeder club North Sydney in Premier League.
The Blues are investigating the possibility of luring Lyon to Australia for a hit-and-run mission.
NSW coach Graham Murray was tight-lipped when asked about the Lyon option, but said the Blues had to "investigate all options to come up with the best possible side".
Lyon has been a superstar for St Helens in the English Super League since leaving Parramatta in 2004 after a falling out with coach Brian Smith.
The 24-year-old won the 2005 "Man of Steel" award for the Super League's best player and is tipped to re-join the Eels in 2006 with Smith heading to Newcastle.
Lyon played five Tests and five Origin games for NSW as a centre between 2001 and 2003, but has spent a lot of time at five-eighth in the UK with considerable success.
He also won a Group 4 premiership at five-eighth during his time with the Wee Waa Panthers before he left for England.
Former St Helens coach Ian Millward switched Lyon to pivot during his time at Knowsley Road, and urged the Blues to follow suit.
Millward said Lyon reminded him of a young Brad Fittler.
"The way he comes on to the ball takes you back to Freddy Fittler in his prime," Millward said.
"I honestly think it would be a fool-proof plan for the Blues to get him back for the Origin series.
"He is such a talented natural footballer with all the skills imaginable, and he would be a real X-factor for NSW because with the ball in his hands anything could happen.
"I would regard him as equal to Trent Barrett and NSW should definitely look at him as a serious option because the cupboard is pretty bare for five-eighths.
"He won't be fazed by the occasion and he won't have any troubles adjusting to the speed and intensity of the game.
"I know Australian league fans know him just as a centre, but in the last two years over here in England he has matured and shown he has all the tools to be a brilliant five-eighth.
"It is a bit out there to get someone from England for the Origin series. But Queensland got Alfie back and it would be an outstanding choice for the Blues to do the same with Jamie."
In 2001, Queensland made the stunning move of flying Langer back from the Old Dart to play a leading role in the Maroons' series-clinching victory at ANZ Stadium.
