Even Immortal Andrew Johns has difficulty splitting Laurie Daley and Brad Fittler as the best NSW five-eighth of all time.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Australia's greatest sporting rivalry, a panel of Channel Nine's Origin legends, which includes Johns and NSW coach Fittler, have been tasked with selecting their best teams.
And Johns decided that the Daley-Ricky Stuart club combination just tipped out Fittler for the No.6 jersey.
"I wanted to pick Freddy at five-eighth but I went with combinations with Ricky and Laurie," Johns told nrl.com.
Fan-voted NSW and Queensland teams will be announced on Channel Nine's pre-show before Origin I with the Legends' NSW team being named prior to game two and the Queensland team before game three.
Here is Andrew Johns' greatest Blues 17.
Joeys Blues
Fullback
James Tedesco: "Him and Anthony Minichiello were neck and neck. It was hard to split them. Tim Brasher was close too. But I went with Tedesco."
Wingers
Eric Grothe Snr: "He was so damaging. In an era when they didn't do much scientific weights, he would have been incredible."
Jarryd Hayne: "He played in an era where Queensland were so dominant, and he was still the best player on the field in both teams. Some of the things he did in those series was just unbelievable, and when they won the series it was on the back of him."
Centres
Brad Fittler: "I wanted to pick Freddy at five-eighth but I went with combinations with Ricky and Laurie. Freddy is the ultimate competitor. You could play him anywhere on the field and was always one of the best players."
Mark Gasnier: "He added the X-factor. He had the footwork and speed. He was so dangerous when he was on."
Halves
Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart: Growing up that was the era in the early 1990's when they won three in a row, and it was on the back of those two players. Just that combination, the long passing of RIcky and the running game of Laurie.
Front-rowers
Paul Harragon and Glenn Lazarus: "Chief picks himself because at Origin level he was just such an intimidator. Lazo is the best front-rower I've ever seen. Early on I played hooker in between those two and Lazo taught me a great deal about ruck defence. Not only was he a great player, but he was incredibly smart."
Hooker
Danny Buderus: I was tossing up Benny (Elias) also, but I had to put my great mate Bedsy in there. I remember when we kicked off, might have been the first game at Suncorp, and the ball bounces. Shane Webcke gets it after it bounces and as he looked up Bedsy launches at him. It set the tone for the whole series. We won the series ... it was all set up from the first play from Bedsy.
Back-rowers
Paul Sironen and Ben Kennedy: Siro is one of NSW's finest in the back row. He always aimed up. Ben Kennedy was my favourite player to play with. He was just so intimidating and everyone loved playing with him. A great player in any era.
Moments that matter - James Tedesco
Lock
Bradley Clyde: "One of the greats."
Reserves
Paul Gallen: I couldn't put him in the front row ahead of Chief and Lazo, but his leadership and the way he ripped into Queensland is what we're all about here in NSW.
Steve Roach: No one hates Queensland more than Blocker. Growing up when it was catch and kill out there, Blocker was catching and killing.
Steve Menzies: Beaver is the perfect bench player because he can play any position other than front row.
Craig Wing: He's probably the best jersey 14 player ever. No one talks about his toughness because he's such a handsome devil, but he was so tough.
Coach
Phil Gould: Taught me so much about footy and big-match mentality. He was the perfect coach for that six week period to get anyone in tune. He was a genius at it.
You are able to vote for your teams until November 2 and the fan-voted teams will be revealed on November 4 prior to this year's first Origin match. The legends' NSW team will be announced before Origin II on November 11 with the Queensland team 2 on Origin III on November 18.
Not only will you be able to compare your selections with the best players who played Origin, but you also have the chance to win a fantastic Weber Store prize pack valued at $3500. To see the list of prize on offer, download the pdf.
To enter, opt-in when you select your teams. With Weber Store we've upped the stakes.
Share your teams and get on the BBQ with #steakoforigin.
