Only one South Sydney Rabbitohs player has represented NSW in 10 years - The Daily Telegraph

South Sydney winger Nathan Merritt has the chance to push his claims for a Blues spot when the Rabbitohs take on the Storm. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph

THEY are undefeated and second favourites to win this year's premiership - yet there is something NSW State of Origin selectors don't like about South Sydney.

An analysis by The Daily Telegraph reveals that only one Souths player has represented the Blues in 10 years - glamour utility player Craig Wing - and even he didn't make the starting line-up.

Over the same period, St George Illawarra have had 16 players and Manly 13 picked in NSW jumpers.

On Saturday night at ANZ Stadium, South Sydney's borderline contenders - winger Nathan Merritt, halfback Adam Reynolds and five-eighth John Sutton - get the chance to show NSW selectors what they are capable of in the top-of-the table clash against Melbourne Storm.

There is no better stage or opportunity than playing against Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk in a heavyweight game on the Blues' home ground.

Even Queensland-based clubs the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys have had more players in the NSW team than the Rabbitohs since 2003.

And the Parramatta Eels, who have struggled as much as Souths in the past 10 years, have had five players chosen - Nathan Hindmarsh, Timana Tahu, Eric Grothe, Jarryd Hayne and Tim Mannah.Merritt is probably the unluckiest to miss out.

Coach Laurie Daley is steering towards Brett Morris and Jarryd Hayne, despite the fact both have been in and out of losing NSW teams for the past seven years.

Mitchell Pearce, too, has had three years at No.7 with little success.

Maroons legend Greg Inglis is one of many who believe his teammates are up for Origin.

"Adam Reynolds has got to concentrate on his performance for South Sydney each and every week but he's a remarkable halfback for us and he's been terrific since last year," Inglis told The Game Plan on ONE last week.

"For his second year in he's going terrific and I won't be surprised if he gets in there.

"There's another bloke who should have been in there a few years ago, Nathan Merritt."Souths coach Michael Maguire is hopeful the opportunities will eventually come.

"It's not something I really want to get involved in because it's out of our hands," he said."We just have to keep doing well and those rewards will come for the players."

Club legend Mario Fenech is not surprised the selectors have ignored Souths players.

"We were on the bottom for a long time but it's all changing now," Fenech said.

"Johnny Sutton, Adam Reynolds and Nathan Merritt are all up for it.

"Sutton in particular. He's as big a front-rower and he's intimidating. He can kick and he can run.

"To be in contention to win a comp, which I think Souths are heading towards, you need Test and Origin players - as Manly and Melbourne have shown. They have a great coach and that's what Souths are building for."

If the Blues side was chosen this weekend, there's no question the names Merritt, Sutton and Reynolds would be missing. Even a victory over the Storm would probably not be enough.

The drought will continue, but surely it won't be for too much longer.