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Mundine identifies 'unbelievable' blunder by Blues selectors

Anthony Mundine has given his thoughts on Laurie Daley's team for the Origin opener, singling out an unbelievable choice to leave out "the most dynamic player in the game".

The former Dragons flyer revealed he was shocked by the selection of Jarryd Hayne over his cousin, in-form flyer James Roberts.

"Why on earth wouldn’t NSW pick the most dynamic player in the game? James Roberts!," Mundine wrote.

"They pick jarrod (sic) Hayne in centres ? I’m a fan of jarrods & he does perform in the big games but he ain’t no centre & he ain’t been playing like jimmy the jet... unbelievable! Fair dinkem."

Mundine's FB post. Pic: Facebook
Mundine's FB post. Pic: Facebook

Mundine recently hit the headlines after announcing he could make a successful return to the NRL, becoming the oldest player in premiership history.

The boxer and former St George Illawarra and NSW State of Origin player, who just turned 42 at the end of the month, reckons he can set the record for being league's most senior player, surpassing Billy "Bluey" Wilson, who retired in 1967 at the age of 40.

Roberts has been in great form. Pic: Getty
Roberts has been in great form. Pic: Getty

"I feel that good and that youthful," Mundine told AAP.

"If I can get anywhere up to the speed of what I used to be as a youngster, that could definitely be an option.

Mundine is never far from the headlines. Pic: Getty
Mundine is never far from the headlines. Pic: Getty

"I want to do things that have never been done. I want to make it possible."

Mundine said despite being out of the game for 17 years - having left the Dragons and quit rugby in 2000 to pursue a boxing career - it is all about having "the speed, instinct and the football experience".

"I believe I am capable of it," he said.

"Obviously I would like to go back to the Dragons but I don't know what their plans are. I will have to try and talk to them.

"But I am not really thinking of that right now. I just want to train my body and train my mind.

"I am doing the things I used to do, but I am just doing them better because I am wiser."

Meanwhile, Hayne will have a license to roam in next week's State of Origin opener as coach Daley maximises the returning star's attacking threat.

The hero of the Blues' 2014 series win as fullback, Hayne has been named at centre in his first series since, marking just the second time he will fill the role in his 20-game Origin career.

But he has revealed he won't be restricted to the left corridor as the Blues seek every opportunity to score the points required to win at Suncorp Stadium on May 31.

"Laurie has given me the license to roam," Hayne said on Tuesday.

"If I see something, he's got the confidence in me to back myself."

Hayne was easily the Blues' best player in the 2014 drought-breaking series victory, breaking the line three times and busting through 22 tackles.

Incredibly, his three games at the back that year are among just six he has played in the No.1 jersey for NSW, and the Blues have a 50 per cent win record in those.

With Hayne playing elsewhere that win percentage drops to just 35 in 14 games since 2007.

He aims to use his licence to roam to ensure he has a strong influence in attack, like he did in 2014.

"You want to make plays for the team and you always want to be the difference maker," he said.

"It's about making plays work when I see something developing or happening."