‘Go towards May’: Debate rages over King pick as Daley defends shock Blues snub

Debate has raged over the selection of Max King ahead of Terrell May as Blues coach Laurie Daley defended the decision to overlook the in form Tigers enforcer.

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There has been plenty of speculation over the reasons for May missing out on the squad, but Daley preferred to focus on King and what he has done to earn his debut.

“No, no, no, it’s strictly on what we see as important in our team,” Daley said on NRL 360 when asked if May’s antics online had anything to do with the decision to overlook the Tigers star.

“I think if you’re focused really on Max King, if you watch your footy, you see some of the things that he does, is very, very special.

“He’s an underrated player. There’s been a constant in Canterbury’s performance this year when they’ve lost a lot of forwards, and one of them has been Max King.

“He does all the efforts in the team that you’re after. Terrell’s a wonderful player, but we couldn’t find a spot for everyone.

“But we just thought that Max was knocking too hard on the door and he had to be included.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read believes Daley has gone with form and King was just ahead of the other candidates.

“You’ve gotta reward form and Laurie’s done that,” Read said.

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Max King and Terrell May. Source: FOX SPORTS

“Koloamatangi has been great the past fortnight, but I think over the course of the season, Max King’s been more consistent and played better footy than him.

“I think Terrell basically cost himself two weeks ago. They played in Melbourne and he had a shocker. They got carved up.

“Melbourne exposed Terrell May that day. He missed a lot of tackles. Craig Bellamy’s on the coaching staff for NSW. They obviously went there with the game plan to get to Terrell May.”

Read explained the story behind May’s infamous jersey burning incident.

“He does a live vlog where he’s playing a computer game and he joked about burning NSW jerseys,” Read said.

“There’s a background story to that that he’s got a mate, a Queenslander, who he sent the jersey to as a joke, and he said to the mate, jokingly, you can burn that now.

“And obviously, when you cut it out and just show the clip, it looks as though he’s having a go at NSW.

“But he was having a joke, so I feel a bit sorry for him in that respect. But I don’t think that’s cost him the jersey.”

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However, despite Daley’s comments, Anasta questioned if the incident did play a role in May being overlooked.

“Loz was always going to say it didn’t cost him a jersey, but do we think it cost him a jersey?” Anasta asked.

Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield believes close selections will always go to the player that is better for the team.

“Well put it this way if you’ve got two players and it’s almost impossible to separate them in King and Terrell May and one has been a goose on social media, you go with the straighty 180,” Rothfield said.

“But having said that, King dead set deserves his spot on that side.

“I have certainly doubted the middle forwards at Canterbury, and that’s why they signed Thompson from Newcastle.

“I’ve doubted them for 18 months, whether they had the middles that could win them a title. That guy has turned up each and every week. He won nine out of ten. He’s been the cornerstone of their go-forward and he deserves his spot on that side.”

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However, based on football alone Anasta would go with May and Koloamatangi ahead of King.

“It’s an interesting one because for me, King definitely deserves it more than anyone,” Anasta said.

“The hard work, the story behind it, missing being out with a serious injury years ago, being at the Bulldogs for a long period of time, being their most consistent forward.

“If there’s anyone that deserves a blue jersey, it is Max King.

“But if you ask me the question, would you have Terrell May or would you have Max King? I’d probably go towards May, if you’re talking footy-wise. That’s just my honest opinion. I would probably even go Koloamatangi.”

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Anasta also took issue with King being picked as a bench impact player and believes he may end up starting on Wednesday week.

“I’m thinking if I’ve got Max King, I’m starting Max King like a Jake Trbojevic for the first 20 minutes because he’s reliable, he’s fit,” Anasta said.

“I reckon that’s what’s going to happen because you wouldn’t think Max King’s one that you bring off the bench for impact.

“I’m looking at the team thinking that that doesn’t seem right to me, him being 17. I’d have him starting and Mitch Barnett drops back to the bench.”

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