The Serve

Pearce picked as City half

Rookie halfback Mitchell Pearce has been selected in the City starting 13 to play Country on Friday Night in Wollongong, strengthening his chances of an Origin berth.

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Kangaroos team named

Pearce will be paired with Roosters teammate Braith Anasta, while Broncos half Peter Wallace has been selected on the bench. The non-selection of Manly number seven Matt Orford will more than likely signal the end of his rep career, while Kurt Gidley’s selection on the Australian Test bench will further muddy the waters ahead of the Origin series.

Bulldogs hooker Corey Hughes has been rewarded for his early season form, while Luke Lewis and John Sutton have been picked in the forwards. Parramatta’s Feliti Mateo has been selected on the bench.

City Origin team

Brett Hodgson (Wests Tigers)

Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels)

Ben Pomeroy (Cronulla Sharks)

Brett Delaney (Gold Coast Titans)

Luke Rooney (Penrith Panthers)

Braith Anasta (Sydney Roosters)

Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)

Mark O’Meley (Sydney Roosters)

Corey Hughes (Bulldogs)

Jason King (Manly Sea Eagles)

Luke Lewis (Penrith Panthers)

Mark Minichiello (Gold Coast Titans)

John Sutton (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Interchange

Bryce Gibbs (Wests Tigers)

Ray Cashmere (North Queensland Cowboys)

Feleti Mateo (Parramatta Eels)

Peter Wallace (Brisbane Broncos)