State of Origin Game III - NSW vs QLD

[Dexter]

He's had 12 games and has had exactly zero great games, mostly OK games and quite a few non-existent or terrible games. He's had enough chances in and out of position now, this excuse of him playing out of position has run out... If you're a spine player or a "game breaker" and you havent been a top 5 player on the field for even half a game after 12 fucking games wtf are you doing there. We need to take a risk and play a fourth forward on the bench, our pack is too far behind nsw

Pretty sure he pulled off an incredible flick pass in game 2 2017 to win it all. If that's not breaking a game open, in that case the series, I don't know what is. Also when has he played in position??

 

[Dexter]

This is still the biggest myth in the NRL IMO. Having a 4th forward isn't suddenly going to make your pack better. It's really just your 18th man, obviously someone not as good as the other 8 forwards, or otherwise he'd have been there from the start, stealing minutes from your better forwards. And they'll still only end up playing like 10 at the most. Unless 2 forwards get injured or something, it's really not going to help in any way. Well, maybe if the coach fucked up, and the extra forward is someone whoshould have been there from the start.

I agree completely. Perfect world IMO we have Ponga on the bench and inject him during the last 10 to 15 in the first half and the last 20 or so in the second half

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

This is still the biggest myth in the NRL IMO. Having a 4th forward isn't suddenly going to make your pack better. It's really just your 18th man, obviously someone not as good as the other 8 forwards, or otherwise he'd have been there from the start, stealing minutes from your better forwards. And they'll still only end up playing like 10 at the most. Unless 2 forwards get injured or something, it's really not going to help in any way. Well, maybe if the coach fucked up, and the extra forward is someone whoshould have been there from the start.

It gives options for different situations when you aren't winning the middle and don't have quality on the bench. Unless you have a true game breaker or you lack players who can play multiple positions in your team (eg munster, mbye, hunt, fifita) a back reserve is pointless except for injury. The middle is where the game is won, especially origin. A bench hooker with speed I'd prefer to a back.

We played Morgan in the middle, and fifita played in the middle for about 35 mins. We couldn't have got more than we did out of glasby and we had no impact. Imagine we had a player like flegler coming on instead of Morgan and he was told to rip in for 20 minutes. You can't seriously tell me that wouldn't have helped with the arm wrestle we began to lose once our "prop" rotation changed.

 

[LittleDavey]

Welp, that was hard to watch. I was relaxed at the start, thinking we had no hope. At half time I was stoked - we were in it with a good chance to win.

But we lost that as much as NSW won it. Stupid errors and penalties, and **** me are we weak on the edges... Still, I said I'd be happy if we got within 6 or 8...so I'm comfortable enough I suppose.

Oh, and props to whoever told the refs to stick their whistles in their pocket after half time, too. And this game wants to be taken seriously...what other professional game has such a massive change in interpretation even between games, let alone between HALVES IN THE SAME GAME? It's amateur hour, honestly.

 

[Dexter]

Welp, that was hard to watch. I was relaxed at the start, thinking we had no hope. At half time I was stoked - we were in it with a good chance to win.

But we lost that as much as NSW won it. Stupid errors and penalties, and **** me are we weak on the edges... Still, I said I'd be happy if we got within 6 or 8...so I'm comfortable enough I suppose.

Oh, and props to whoever told the refs to stick their whistles in their pocket after half time, too. And this game wants to be taken seriously...what other professional game has such a massive change in interpretation even between games, let alone between HALVES IN THE SAME GAME? It's amateur hour, honestly.

Clearly they have someone watching the coverage with the volume on. As soon as criticism comes from the panel of fuckwits they react. .

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Pretty sure he pulled off an incredible flick pass in game 2 2017 to win it all. If that's not breaking a game open, in that case the series, I don't know what is. Also when has he played in position??

In 12 origin appearances he has produced 1 bloody flick pass... Ffs this almost proved how shit he's been. Imagine milford took 12 games to produce 1 try assist? FIVE YEARS. How many chances does he get? So he's been shit because he hasn't got a chance at half? Let's give it to him then aye! If you haven't noticed, he will never get that chance and nor should he, so if he's shit as a bench sub, he's shit as a centre, he's nowhere near our best fullback or half, so where does he fit? 12 appearances and he's produced about 40 minutes of OK football with 1, maybe 2 highlights from a "game breaker"... Imagine the uproar if milford did the same, he was OK his last game then went off injured and he got blasted in the media and by fans

 

[Alec]

It gives options for different situations when you aren't winning the middle and don't have quality on the bench. Unless you have a true game breaker or you lack players who can play multiple positions in your team (eg munster, mbye, hunt, fifita) a back reserve is pointless except for injury. The middle is where the game is won, especially origin. A bench hooker with speed I'd prefer to a back.

We played Morgan in the middle, and fifita played in the middle for about 35 mins. We couldn't have got more than we did out of glasby and we had no impact. Imagine we had a player like flegler coming on instead of Morgan and he was told to rip in for 20 minutes. You can't seriously tell me that wouldn't have helped with the arm wrestle we began to lose once our "prop" rotation changed.

Fifita only played 19 minutes (according to NRL.com). Welch played 21. If we wanted another good forward, we could (and should) have picked one over Glasby. These guys are already only playing 20 minutes, it's not like they are getting exhausted or anything.

 

[Super Freak]

QLD need to find another prop because Papalii is being wasted in the front row.

He could be used better. Put him on the edge to terrorize Maloney all night long.

 

[Alec]

QLD need to find another prop because Papalii is being wasted in the front row.

Do you think he's up to playing 2nd row anymore? I feel like he made a statement...by just getting fat and not wanting to tone down.

 

[Big Pete]

Michael Morgan is a class player who gives a fantastic account of himself, but his versatility is over-stated. He's developed into a quality halfback and that's his position moving forward. I still think he could possibly be a better player than Cherry-Evans in that regard. Cherry-Evans has got him right now, but if Morgan finds some consistensy in his performances, I think he'll just edge Cherry-Evans out for his knack for delivering clutch plays.

I will say though that I'm more confident in Cherry-Evans performing under Hasler than I am with Morgan under Green and think Chez will get at least another series to prove his worth. He was very good tonight, but that last kick to Ferguson was a real insight into his mentality. With a chance to win the game, Cherry-Evans took the passive option and got rolled.

My head is still in this series, but I think Munster would be the ideal utility player. He's a tough player with fantastic foot-work who genuinely can cover 1, 3, 6 and presumably 13 in a pinch. If you get him on with a view to have Ponga and Hunt pushing up around the ball. Right now, I believe he belongs in the starting 13, but if others stepped up, he'd do the role justice. AJ Brimson is another player who has something about him, but you just get the sense if he was at Melbourne he'd be able to give a better account of himself.

As far as Morgan's performance, personally I can't remember him doing a whole lot. It seemed like Kev wanting to ram home the Maroons momentum and put a quick try on which they failed to do. All I recall him doing was playing for a penalty off Chez' kick, throwing a shit of a pass to Welch who did extremely well to pick it up and flick it on for that Chambers break and that kick out on the full before McGuire flattened him. I think the Maroons like him because he's a captain and he has delivered on the biggest of stages, but I think the selectors are doing him an injustice by picking him in this role.

 

[Unbreakable]

Well who are they?

Hymel Hunt is a guy who's improved a lot this year and hasn't been mentioned.. ever..

Hunt - 115.0 avg running metres - 7 tries - 6 line-breaks - 29 tackle busts - 88% tackle efficiency - Good combination with Ponga

Chambers - 81.0 avg running metres - 4 tries - 3 line-breaks - 17 tackle busts - 78% tackle efficiency - No combinations

Marion Seve is another guy who could do a job, whilst not being brilliant, he's pretty reliable.

 

[Super Freak]

Do you think he's up to playing 2nd row anymore? I feel like he made a statement...by just getting fat and not wanting to tone down.

Probably not for the whole 80 but QLD don't really need an 80 minute player. Papalii and Fifita sharing the role could do some real damage.

QLD weren't far off tonight and to be honest they weren't far off last year either. I just don't think they are being used the right way. I don't think QLD's strengths are being utilized all that well and I don't think QLD are doing enough to exploit NSW's biggest weaknesses. One of them being Maloney.

 

[Unbreakable]

Hymel Hunt is a guy who's improved a lot this year and hasn't been mentioned.. ever..

Hunt - 115.0 avg running metres - 7 tries - 6 line-breaks - 29 tackle busts - 88% tackle efficiency - Good combination with Ponga

Chambers - 81.0 avg running metres - 4 tries - 3 line-breaks - 17 tackle busts - 78% tackle efficiency - No combinations

Marion Seve is another guy who could do a job, whilst not being brilliant, he's pretty reliable.

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Corey Oates (Valentine Holmes)
3. Hymel Hunt
4. Marion Seve
5. Dane Gagai
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
8. Josh McGuire
9. Jake Friend
10. Josh Papalii
11. Ethan Lowe
12. Matt Gillett
13. Jai Arrow

14. AJ Brimson
15. David Fifita
16. Joe Ofahengaue
17. Christian Welch

I think this team could give the series a shake next year, assuming that young guys continue to improve (Ponga, Oates, Hunt, Seve, Munster, Arrow, Brimson, Fifita, Ofahengaue, Welch all under 25)

 

[Super Freak]

Cameron Munster hasn't produced a try assist since Game 3, 2017.

That's just unacceptable.

 

[Unbreakable]

Cameron Munster hasn't produced a try assist since Game 3, 2017.

That's just unacceptable.

Pretty hard to get try assists when you've never got anyone in support. Couldn't count on 2 hands how many times over the last 3 series he's made a line-break or half break only to look around at 10 blue jumpers.

 

[Alec]

Pretty hard to get try assists when you've never got anyone in support. Couldn't count on 2 hands how many times over the last 3 series he's made a line-break or half break only to look around at 10 blue jumpers.

Yeah, it was really disappointing. We already have this at the Broncs, I was hoping it would be different for QLD. Hopefully Ponga takes the Tedesco challenge as a way to develop himself. He's a gun ball player, but if he can work on his stamina and involvement rate as a support player too, he and Munster could absolutely kill it together.

 

[Wolfie]

We have a few centers who are solid but not outstanding. I think any of Opacic, Seve, O'Neill or Hunt could break into this side next next year if they play well for the rest of this year and do the same next year. I'd rather see natural centers playing center.

 

[winslow_wong]

Morning after and I’m still wondering why papaali and offa were benched for so long...