Postcard from Trent in the UK #2

Give Pearce Half A Go.

Former NSW five-eighth Trent Barrett has called on the Blues to stop comparing every “new” Origin halfback to Andrew Johns in his latest exclusive column for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. He also talks about England’s clinical thrashing of France recently.

Trent may be thousands of kilometres away playing Super League in the UK, but it didn’t stop him and other fellow Aussies taking a keen interest in the Origin series. He watched the Origin decider with Wigan team-mates and Blues supporters Phil Bailey and Pat Richards and assistant coach Phil Vievers, a staunch Queensland supporter. Here’s what he had to say:

NSW dominated Queensland in the first game and in true Queensland style, they levelled the Series at home, but to come and win the Series in the decider in Sydney was something else. To do so after losing Scott Prince after 15 minutes was a pretty fair effort from them. It was Johnathan Thurston’s brilliance in the end.

His opposite, Mitchell Pearce did really well in his Origin debut in game three and was really solid. He looks like the long-term solution for the Blues at halfback … but he needs to be left there. He looks like he has got what it takes. He has a lot of ability, but just needs time in the role to settle.

New South Wales have to stop comparing every halfback to Andrew Johns. There is nobody like him … and there never will be. Each player should be judged on their merit.

Pearce has earned the right to have a shot at the spot again next year. And certainly I wouldn’t say no to playing five-eighth alongside him for the Blues if I am playing well enough and the opportunity arises when I return to the NRL next year.

But I have a lot of work ahead of me and I’ll cross that bridge if and when it comes. I would have to be playing exceptionally well, and there are a lot of guys who rightly have the jump on me.

The form of the Origin players looks good for the Australian team for the World Cup, and while Queensland’s backline is outstanding, I would expect the Blues to have an equally strong representation on the Kangaroos. My old Dragons team-mates Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper had a good series for NSW.

England showed they are going to be a genuine threat to Australia in November after their 56-8 thumping of France last month.

They had a very strong side, featuring a lot of Leeds and St Helens players who are the in-form players and teams in the Super League.

They were very clinical in what they did and they will get a lot of confidence out of that.

France will improve again before the World Cup. They would have gained a lot out of that and will lift again if the Catalans Dragons get to play in the Super League semi-finals.

We are currently fourth behind St Helens, Leeds and Catalans, so are in line for a home semi-final if we can maintain our form.

In the NRL, my old team, the Dragons, should have a lot of confidence coming into the semi-finals. They were a team no one really talked about considering the start they had, but they have snuck up on a few teams.