OFFICIAL 2025 State of Origin - Game I Discussion

It would be interesting to see who QLD pick in an experimental side after game two is also a belting. I think DCE will play all three regardless, he’s captain and this is it for him. I suspect Hunt is also done, even if fit.

I could see Howarth coming in for game 2. He gives the backs some size. Savage would give some speed and kick return metres but Arthars might be ahead of him based on the round 1 squad.

Is Te Kura eligible? I could see him getting picked if so, Qld are so desperate for size, I could really see it if he is eligible.
 
Sproj said:
It would be interesting to see who QLD pick in an experimental side after game two is also a belting. I think DCE will play all three regardless, he’s captain and this is it for him. I suspect Hunt is also done, even if fit.

I could see Howarth coming in for game 2. He gives the backs some size. Savage would give some speed and kick return metres but Arthars might be ahead of him based on the round 1 squad.

Is Te Kura eligible? I could see him getting picked if so, Qld are so desperate for size, I could really see it if he is eligible.
Click to expand...
Please don't pick BTK.. he's not even playing first grade... he'd get completely destroyed by that NSW pack.

Savage I think is just a lesser Val... he has as many issues with his hands and under the high ball as Val, but doesnt come with the same amount of yardage.

Howarth I think wouldve been there this game if he wasn't injured. Has been named in the storm extended squad so might be back playing this week.

You could put him at left centre against Crichton, with Hammer on the wing against Lomax?? (that would mean Val is dropped... who is our goal kicker and a pretty good one at that).

I think Harry and Dearden's game means Bhunt is back in the mix.. we need a back up hooker and also that lock Qld like to play. Bhunt plays hooker better than Dearden so might put him ahead... but I dont think you pick Bhunt in a dead rubber if Qld get annihilated in Perth.

I'd be pretty interested in Ionghi on one of the wings... he loves the workrate and looks a strong enough runner.

Issue is you'd be having a lot of younger guys coming in and playing a dead rubber in NSW with them on a huge high. If the names above are getting added then you've got Toia, Howarth and Ionghi playing in your outside backs with Coates the other winger.

Tough ask for a bunch of guys with like less than 100 NRL games across them to come up against Crichton, Latrell, To'o and Lomax
 
Ezra Mam would want to be careful the next two weekends or he might find himself in the 6 jersy with Deardon at 7 and munster at 14.

There was always going to come a time where QLD were going to have a transition period while NSW were in their prime. We just have to hope we can jag a series somewhere to avoid a NSW dynasty. QLD traditionally like to pick and stick but in this instance I think picking the same squad will have an identical outcome next game

I think if cotter is in the side he starts in the middle as a tackle bot and Fermor starts in edge and plays bigger minutes. Big red and Jai Arrow coming off the bench in the middle would provide some aggression and size.

I'm just not sure what else QLD can do. Apart from his big boot, I'm not sure Walsh is of any assistance to QLD. I think you consider Savage for some extra yardage meters and speed. Maybe Ethan Bulemore could be a point of difference off the bench?

On another note, is Jaxon Purdue QLD eligible?
 
Sproj said:
It would be interesting to see who QLD pick in an experimental side after game two is also a belting. I think DCE will play all three regardless, he’s captain and this is it for him. I suspect Hunt is also done, even if fit.

I could see Howarth coming in for game 2. He gives the backs some size. Savage would give some speed and kick return metres but Arthars might be ahead of him based on the round 1 squad.

Is Te Kura eligible? I could see him getting picked if so, Qld are so desperate for size, I could really see it if he is eligible.
Click to expand...

Sproj said:
It would be interesting to see who QLD pick in an experimental side after game two is also a belting. I think DCE will play all three regardless, he’s captain and this is it for him. I suspect Hunt is also done, even if fit.

I could see Howarth coming in for game 2. He gives the backs some size. Savage would give some speed and kick return metres but Arthars might be ahead of him based on the round 1 squad.

Is Te Kura eligible? I could see him getting picked if so, Qld are so desperate for size, I could really see it if he is eligible.
Click to expand...
Billy got chuck in that red hair dude from raiders. We need more punch in the forward line. Also ill be dropping val and the hammer unless you put him at fullback , if walsh not right . as ponga was quite maybe he can be replaced by Arthurs,
 
Mightybroncs2k17 said:
Ezra Mam would want to be careful the next two weekends or he might find himself in the 6 jersy with Deardon at 7 and munster at 14.

There was always going to come a time where QLD were going to have a transition period while NSW were in their prime. We just have to hope we can jag a series somewhere to avoid a NSW dynasty. QLD traditionally like to pick and stick but in this instance I think picking the same squad will have an identical outcome next game

I think if cotter is in the side he starts in the middle as a tackle bot and Fermor starts in edge and plays bigger minutes. Big red and Jai Arrow coming off the bench in the middle would provide some aggression and size.

I'm just not sure what else QLD can do. Apart from his big boot, I'm not sure Walsh is of any assistance to QLD. I think you consider Savage for some extra yardage meters and speed. Maybe Ethan Bulemore could be a point of difference off the bench?

On another note, is Jaxon Purdue QLD eligible?
Click to expand...
Jaxon Purdue is Qld eligible. From what I have seen from him so far he is a very good player, probs a few years away from origin selection but looks promising
 
Mightybroncs2k17 said:
Ezra Mam would want to be careful the next two weekends or he might find himself in the 6 jersy with Deardon at 7 and munster at 14.

There was always going to come a time where QLD were going to have a transition period while NSW were in their prime. We just have to hope we can jag a series somewhere to avoid a NSW dynasty. QLD traditionally like to pick and stick but in this instance I think picking the same squad will have an identical outcome next game

I think if cotter is in the side he starts in the middle as a tackle bot and Fermor starts in edge and plays bigger minutes. Big red and Jai Arrow coming off the bench in the middle would provide some aggression and size.

I'm just not sure what else QLD can do. Apart from his big boot, I'm not sure Walsh is of any assistance to QLD. I think you consider Savage for some extra yardage meters and speed. Maybe Ethan Bulemore could be a point of difference off the bench?

On another note, is Jaxon Purdue QLD eligible?
Click to expand...
Mams not getting picked on the back of two decent games. He was shit house last year
 
phoenix said:
Billy got chuck in that red hair dude from raiders. We need more punch in the forward line. Also ill be dropping val and the hammer unless you put him at fullback , if walsh not right . as ponga was quite maybe he can be replaced by Arthurs,
Click to expand...
What's with the Hammer hate on here?
He's had 1 average game with no field position and no decent ball coming this way.
Other than last night he's been a standout from his debut.
 
Sproj said:
Is Te Kura eligible? I could see him getting picked if so, Qld are so desperate for size, I could really see it if he is eligible.
Click to expand...

Picked out of reserve grade Artie Beetson style !
Yeah ,,, NAH .
 
BroncsFan said:
I think Harry and Dearden's game means Bhunt is back in the mix..
Click to expand...

Harry who hadn`t played in a month got targeted .
Got gassed then started doing dumb stuff .

You don`t think it might be more of the same if not worse with Bhunt ?
 
Big Del said:
Harry who hadn`t played in a month got targeted .
Got gassed then started doing dumb stuff .

You don`t think it might be more of the same if not worse with Bhunt ?
Click to expand...
I didn't say I would pick him, I simply refuted the comment I was quoting that he was done in origin... I also said that I wouldn't pick him in a dead rubber in Sydney.
 
Origin Review:
Discipline was shocking, attack clunky and looked spineless. Metreage was appalling. Not enough blokes getting fired up. IT’S ****ING ORIGIN.

Ratings:
Kalyn Ponga - 5/10
Xavier Coates - 8/10
Rob Toia - 7.5/10
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow - 4.5/10
Valentine Holmes - 2/10
Cameron Munster - 4/10
Daly Cherry-Evans - 3/10
Mo Fotuaika - 4/10
Harry Grant - 1/10
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui - 8/10
Reuben Cotter - 4.5/10
Jeremiah Nanai - 8/10
Pat Carrigan - 7/10
Tom Dearden - 7/10
Lindsay Collins - 6/10
Beau Fermor - 5/10
Trent Loeiro - 6.5/10

Kalyn Ponga:
Look I’m not dropping Kalyn for anyone other than Walsh and Walsh is not in a position to play with form and injury so he stays in for mine. Average performance, wasn’t dangerous out the back of shape and kick returns was average as ****. I’m probably putting Kalyn into more of a first receiver role and try and break a game open that way. We were far to sideways to unlock him in fairness.

Xavier Coates:
Very good performance. Most dangerous, best metreage player out of the back field, really good under the high ball. Would love for him to be able to make pcm’s like an oatesy but it’s just not him. Definitely will be there next game and well deserved.

Rob Toia:
Well done. Really good game for a debutant. Nothing crazy special but he did his job and he did it well. I think he is comfortably Qld’s best centre already.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow:
Some shit carries, wasn’t dangerous at all, couple average errors. Honestly I am not in a hurry to give him his spot. Think Howarth and Toia is a better centre pairing and tactically makes more sense. Very average game but not expecting him to be dropped.

Valentine Holmes:
Surely we are done with him now?

Cameron Munster:
Didn’t unlock the players outside him, didn’t run it well, didn’t kick very well, missed a truck load of tackles. Very average game, in danger of losing his spot with Dearden very much not being a very good halfback but potentially being our most dangerous half.

Daly Cherry-Evans:
Looked like a halfback-less team. Shithouse. Genuinely shithouse for a bloke who is trying to prove people he wasn’t being a selfish **** by continuing on. Yet again Billy won’t have the nut sack to do it but he needs to be dropped for Fogarty.

Mo Fotuaika:
Meh performance. Not a lover of Mo’s at origin. Has had an alright performance here and there. Same with his runs sometimes alright sometimes very average. Just bog average. Didn’t handle Payne at all.

Harry Grant:
Dog shit. Haven’t been impressed that many times in origin by Harry. Starting to get a bit concerned. Like almost any hooker that’s strong suit is there dummy half runs, he needs to come off the bench if they want impact.

Tino:
Played with heart and played decently but some questionable moments still. Tad overrated a performance.

Cotter:
Not an edge back rower and I question his role in the team more and more every game. Not a great game from him.

Nanai:
Not everything came off for him but he had a ****ing go and for that I give him a round of applause. Passion like that is what origin is built on. Some ***** need to start taking notes.

Carrigan:
Played decently. As mentioned previously his minutes were to much and he starts getting sluggish and it affects a lot through the middle both in distribution and defensively.

Dearden:
Nothing really turned into wine when he came on but the game certainly turned. Looked positive and looked likely. If Billy doesn’t make changes then he needs to go.

Collins:
He was alright. I think there was a stint he was on where we started gaining some ascendancy. Some good runs in there I felt. Probably needed more than 30 minutes of football in the 2 months leading up to it though.

Fermor:
What was the point of picking him? Did sweet **** all with the sweet **** all opportunity he was given. I think he is overrated to begin with so he is out for me but didn’t really have the chance to do anything.

Loeiro:
I thought he got through a lot of work. Played better than some will give him credit for. Had some very average carries and some really good ones. Just think blokes like Horsburgh, Plath and Arrow bring something more but he isn’t the first personel change I’m making either.

Who has to go?
Valentine Holmes
Beau Fermor

Could go either way:
Ponga
Hamiso
Munster
Cherry
Fotuaika
Cotter
Collins
Loeiro

Safe:
Coates
Toia
Tino
Grant
Nanai
Carrigan


Watch list:
Walsh
Taulagi
Savage
Howarth
Fogarty
Horsburgh
Su’A
Arrow
Plath
Mann
Mahoney

Predicted Game 2 Lineup:
1. Ponga
2. Coates
3. Toia
4. Tabuai-Fidow
5. Taulagi
6. Munster
7. Cherry-Evans
8. Collins
9. Grant
10. Fa’asuamaleaui
11. Su’A
12. Nanai
13. Carrigan
14. Dearden
15. Cotter
16. Horsburgh
17. Arrow
18. Mann
 
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