State of Origin II - QLD vs NSW

I don't have too much to add to what others have to last night's game but just thought I'd chime in.

Great turnout, must say I thought NSW supporters were more vocal even before scoring a few points.

Our forwards just couldn't get the metres to build pressure. This in turn gave their kick returns easy territory.

NSW dominated the ruck, infact every facet of the game.
We looked flat, lacking intensity, line speed.
Also seemed to be not much talk.

Where to from here?
Arrow and Offa are big losses, that should be Wallace's last origin jumper.
Geez we are light on quality backs..
 
Morgan was disappointing in defense, but I still rate him highly as a player. He's definitely the next half in line IMO. He looked out of position in the centres and also being on the left side. If we picked him in the centres again, I'd try him on the right, where he's more comfortable.
Chambers just seems hopeless. He was exposed last game, but Gagai covered for him well. This time, Gagai had a poor game too, and there was nothing to mask Chambers' shit performance. 8 missed tackles for Chambers, the most out of any QLD players (or NSW players for that matter).
Hunt is a utility at best too. He was alright in the 2nd half of game 1, but just hasn't been up to par in any of the other 3 halves. Friend being injured is such a massive blow too, he would have been there for sure.
 
Looking back on that game, i dont think NSW were that great or had to play that great. We played dumb footy, had too many players have off nights and we just got it all wrong. Apart from Maloney and Tedesco, i dont think any of their players were really outstanding.


Its clear we simply dont have the cattle to really compete with the cockroaches. Our depth is abysmal in many positions. I dont see where the changes will come from. Our fowards stocks are very poor right now. We have some potential coming through, but right now, do we blood them. Aside from that, we are very, very weak for center options. We really have nothing playing in the NRL at center that wouldnt be anything more than solid. People will laugh at me for this no doubt, but i couldnt see players like Opacic, Seve or even O'Neill if he was fit doing any worse defensivley that Morgan or Chambers ( which shows how poor our center stocks are ), or the likes of Flegler or Molo performing worse than Jarrod Wallace.

We are just struggling from losing Holmes, Thurston, Inglis, Smith, Cronk and Slater in the last couple of years as well. We dont have the players to replace losing that amount of quality, and most sides would struggle to replace them as well. I fear we are in for a few more years of misery until a few of the young blokes start playing NRL regularly.

Saying that, i'd start shaking things up for the future now. for game 3 i'd go with

1 Ponga
2 Oates
3 Chambers ( last chance to redeem himself )
4 Morgan ( Same as Chambers )
5 Gagai
6 Munster
7 DCE
8 Papalii
9 Mahoney/ Turpin ( injuries are hampering us in this position )
10 Joffa
11 Gillett
12 Kafusi
13 Moose

14 Hunt
15 Welch
16 Molo
17 Fifita

The only possible change i could think of is swap around Morgan and Munster, and let Munster just roam around a bit like Tommy T did for them.
 
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Looking back on that game, i dont think NSW were that great or had to play that great. We played dumb footy, had too many players have off nights and we just got it all wrong. Apart from Maloney and Tedesco, i dont think any of their players were really outstanding.


Its clear we simply dont have the cattle to really compete with the cockroaches. Our depth is abysmal in many positions. I dont see where the changes will come from. Our fowards stocks are very poor right now. We have some potential coming through, but right now, do we blood them. Aside from that, we are very, very weak for center options. We really have nothing playing in the NRL at center that wouldnt be anything more than solid. People will laugh at me for this no doubt, but i couldnt see players like Opacic, Seve or even O'Neill if he was fit doing any worse defensivley that Morgan or Chambers ( which shows how poor our center stocks are ), or the likes of Flegler or Molo performing worse than Jarrod Wallace.

We are just struggling from losing Holmes, Thurston, Inglis, Smith, Cronk and Slater in the last couple of years as well. We dont have the players to replace losing that amount of quality, and most sides would struggle to replace them as well. I fear we are in for a few more years of misery until a few of the young blokes start playing NRL regularly.

Saying that, i'd start shaking things up for the future now. for game 3 i'd go with

1 Ponga
2 Oates
3 Chambers ( last chance to redeem himself )
4 Morgan ( Same as Chambers )
5 Gagai
6 Munster
7 DCE
8 Papalii
9 Mahoney/ Turpin ( injuries are hampering us in this position )
10 Joffa
11 Gillett
12 Kafusi
13 Moose

14 Hunt
15 Welch
16 Molo
17 Fifita

The only possible change i could think of is swap around Morgan and Munster, and let Munster just roam around a bit like Tommy T did for them.

That would be a massive change of events for molo. Hope he gets a crack.
 
That would be a massive change of events for molo. Hope he gets a crack.

Molo has been brilliant coming off the bench for the cows. I think Wallace could be finished at origin level despite him performing fairly well for the titans.
 
Ask Mitchell Pearce.

DCE is our Mitchell Pearce and Hunt could probably be our Maloney.

i.e a frustrating error and penalty magnet but at least he will create some points.
 
Molo has been brilliant coming off the bench for the cows. I think Wallace could be finished at origin level despite him performing fairly well for the titans.

I always thought in his limited opportunities with the broncos, that he always ran really hard and was ideal for an impact role. Shame he went through troubled times while here.
 
Just to rub salt into the wound, McGuire faces a one week suspension after Brad Fittler brought up his 'late hit' in his press conference.


Vision of it in the link.

Honestly, there was nothing in that tackle and it's become apparent that Freddy is bit of a whinger. Whined about the Wally Lewis medalist, whined about Hunt throwing Cordner's shoe and now this.
 
Push Munster to left center
Milf in his spot, Morgan to 14.

Munster is a gun center convince me otherwise.

In what world does Milford deserve the 6 jumper?
If your swapping them around I would put Morgan at 6, Munster at 3 and pick a speedy back up hooker
 
The whole forward pack were god awful
I like Fifita and I think he will be a star for us in the future but he isn’t at origin level yet. He isn’t playing 80 at club land at the moment
We missed arrow and joffa awfully bad last night and Napa was literally forgotten on the bench
Also piss Mbye off. He offers nothing and has been bog ordinary the whole year for the tigers. I think it’s time for the Macca/Hunt combo again. Macca takes the sting out of them for the first 25 and then hunt can roll after
 
If Queensland are going to go down the route of playing Hunt off the bench, then Reed Mahoney should be considered over McCullough. Reed provides much better line-speed, is quicker out of dummy half and has a real tenacious streak to him.
 
The whole forward pack were god awful
I like Fifita and I think he will be a star for us in the future but he isn’t at origin level yet. He isn’t playing 80 at club land at the moment
We missed arrow and joffa awfully bad last night and Napa was literally forgotten on the bench
Also piss Mbye off. He offers nothing and has been bog ordinary the whole year for the tigers. I think it’s time for the Macca/Hunt combo again. Macca takes the sting out of them for the first 25 and then hunt can roll after

I have a feeling Napa's wrist was probably worse than everyone thought.
 
I have a feeling Napa's wrist was probably worse than everyone thought.

Kevie said in the presser that he could have played him, but he wanted to chase points instead.
 
If Queensland are going to go down the route of playing Hunt off the bench, then Reed Mahoney should be considered over McCullough. Reed provides much better line-speed, is quicker out of dummy half and has a real tenacious streak to him.

I wanted him for Game 1, Mahoney is leagues ahead of any other 9 not named Jake Friend in Queensland at the moment, really like his game.

This would be my team for Game 3, at this stage. Napa, Mbye, Wallace & Glasby all dropped. Arrow presumably still injured.

1. Ponga
2. Oates
3. Morgan
4. Chambers
5. Gagai
6. Munster
7. Cherry-Evans
8. Ofahengaue
9. Mahoney
10. Papalii
11. Kaufusi
12. Gillett
13. McGuire

14. Hunt
15. Fifita
16. Bukuya
17. Welch

Not exactly awe inspiring changes, but I feel they're necessary. NSW absolutely terrorised us through the middle with their mobile, skilful forwards, we need to combat that as best we can. Bukuya is probably the odd choice here, but I've always liked his game, he's a Manu Ma'u lite if you'd like to look at it that way, think he'd thrive in the Origin arena.

(Not sure if Bukuya is eligible after playing for Fiji last weekend, if he's not, I'd look at recalling Coen Hess, despite his shortcomings, he's essentially the only skilful forward with a bit of mobility we've got apart from Fifita)
 

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