By Will Swanton
PETER WALLACE played this bit down. "Aw, I don't know about that," he said to the suggestion his selection for City on the recommendation of NSW coach Craig Bellamy made him a shoo-in for the Origin halfback job.
But he talked the next bit up. "It definitely feels like it's come down to a trial between us," Wallace replied when asked to describe the stakes against rival halfback Jarrod Mullen in the City-Country game at Orange on Friday night.
"I want to play well, I want my team to win. I'll try to take it as just another game of footy but in the back of your mind, you know there's probably something else up for grabs. You're not going out there thinking, 'I've got to play better than him [Mullen] so I get picked for Origin.'
"It's kind of there, but you can't worry about it. Everyone can talk about me and Jarrod or whatever, but all we'll do is try to play our best footy. You don't think about other people, just your own game. It's all too fast to watch anyone else too closely. You'll stuff up if you do that. But to be honest, we know that we're both going for one spot."
Wallace and Mullen are persons of interest to NSW selectors. Ditto opposing hookers Michael Ennis and Robbie Farah. But while Ennis and Farah downplay their selection shoot-out until they're sky-blue in the face, Wallace is prepared to admit the enormity of the opportunity coming his way.
He had a blinder on Origin debut last year. He was less dominant in game two, rupturing a testicle. The injury ruled him out of game three, and he was replaced by Mitchell Pearce. When Bellamy ordered City to select Wallace ahead of Pearce, the Broncos No.7 had taken his first step to regaining his NSW jumper. Mullen is the only remaining obstacle.
"Confidence-wise, I guess now I know I can play at that Origin level now," Wallace said. "Just knowing that is the biggest thing I took away from last year. Before that first game, I wasn't sure, I suppose. You're always going to question yourself a bit when you get up to that level.
"You haven't played there before but you've always wanted to - after it, I knew I could compete. That was pretty pleasing. It's an exciting time for all us blokes. The rep stuff is starting again, it's all happening now. There's another month before Origin so obviously I'm no different to anyone else. We all want to be picked, but Jarrod is going real well.
"It [City versus Country] is shaping up to be a genuine trial this year. We know that spot is vacant, and there's probably not much in it. I think it's probably going to come down to whatever we both do on Friday night."
City yesterday lost Adam Cuthbertson to an elbow injury, replaced on the interchange bench by Mark O'Meley. Centres Michael Jennings and Chris Lawrence were cleared to play despite ankle injuries.
Rabbitohs journeyman Luke Stuart, grinning like a little kid - a bit sheepish - was finally granted entry to a representative dressing room. Next stop for him will be the office of South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson. Stuart remains un-signed for next year.
"I've felt unnoticed before, but that sort of suits the type of person I am," Stuart said. "I've been happy to play my football, walk away, leave the games on the weekend and live a normal life. I've got young kids, I'm married, so it's suited my style. I'm just a year-to-year type of player at the moment.
"Some people say, 'You're still playing?' I say, yeah, one more year.' Next season is looking a long way off at the moment."
Stuart had his mobile phone turned off when the City side was chosen on Sunday. He only learned of his selection when his mother rang to pass on the good news.
"No," he laughed. "She's not a selector."