POST GAME 2026 State of Origin

Foordy

Foordy

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Teams of Game 1 are named on Monday.
 
Travis Meyn says that our "struggles for possession and a crippling injury toll" may cost Reece Walsh the QLD fullback jumper (Ponga the alternative). Although he says that Walsh would still be selected on the bench
 
Foordy said:
Travis Meyn says that our "struggles for possession and a crippling injury toll" may cost Reece Walsh the QLD fullback jumper (Ponga the alternative). Although he says that Walsh would still be selected on the bench
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I'd go Ponga, but I think Billy will go Reece.

Ponga is easier to fit into a stock cookie cutter offence and still be elite... whereas we've seen that Reece can struggle to fit into a structure if he doesn't have the right half.

So in that sense Ponga is a better chance of complimenting the rest of the spine and still be a gun, whereas Reece can go into his shell if he's not the focal point of the attack... also if he is the focal point of the attack there's a chance he can be erratic and lead to errors from trying too hard.

Beyond that defusing bombs and kicks is the number 1 criteria for a fullback in origin to me... Reece hasn't shown that he's consistent enough at it, but his best ever performance under the high ball was during 2023 origin when Billy had a hold of him... hopefully he can get him back to that.

I think that 2023 origin is what will sway Billy to Reece.

Billy has been able to get the best out of him, and in that series he was fitting into a structure and doing his role.

Whoever doesn't get selected will be on the bench as a minimum... and in that sense Ponga is easier to fit into side from the bench as well.
 
BroncsFan said:
I'd go Ponga, but I think Billy will go Reece.

Ponga is easier to fit into a stock cookie cutter offence and still be elite... whereas we've seen that Reece can struggle to fit into a structure if he doesn't have the right half.

So in that sense Ponga is a better chance of complimenting the rest of the spine and still be a gun, whereas Reece can go into his shell if he's not the focal point of the attack... also if he is the focal point of the attack there's a chance he can be erratic and lead to errors from trying too hard.

Beyond that defusing bombs and kicks is the number 1 criteria for a fullback in origin to me... Reece hasn't shown that he's consistent enough at it, but his best ever performance under the high ball was during 2023 origin when Billy had a hold of him... hopefully he can get him back to that.

I think that 2023 origin is what will sway Billy to Reece.

Billy has been able to get the best out of him, and in that series he was fitting into a structure and doing his role.

Whoever doesn't get selected will be on the bench as a minimum... and in that sense Ponga is easier to fit into side from the bench as well.
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This is how I see it playing out too. Ponga coming on against tired middles and playing a roaming middle lock-type role, adding an extra play maker.
 
I think it's ****ing wild that Tanah Boyd is in with a realistic shot of playing Origin.
Like good on him but holy shit no one ever saw that coming.
He'll probably have an absolute blinder too if picked.
 
Renegade said:
I think it's ****ing wild that Tanah Boyd is in with a realistic shot of playing Origin.
Like good on him but holy shit no one ever saw that coming.
He'll probably have an absolute blinder too if picked.
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Have no idea how Qld not only remain competitive every year, but are leading the all time record.

We've lost one halfback... and is Dearden really a halfback when he's not even the primary kicker... and suddenly Tanah Boyd is a legit chance, who's into his 8th season and has only played 49 games at halfback to date
 
QLD MAROONS TEAM
1. Walsh
2. Taulagi / Hammer
3. Toia
4. Purdue / Chester / Hammer
5. Coates / Holmes
6. Munsta (c)
7. Walker / Boyd / KP?
8. Gilby
9. Grant
10. BIG TINO
11. Cotstar
12. Finefeuiaki / Nanai
13. Patty

14. Mann / Paixy / Capewell / Collins
15. Horsburger
16. Luki? / PLATH
17. Su'A
18. Yes MAM
19. KP
 
From all reports the halfback fight to replace Dearden will be between Clifford, Walker, DCE and Boyd
 
Renegade said:
Mam shouldn't be anywhere near the side even as an extended benchy.
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I think he's a chance, because he could definitely fulfil that qld role of roaming playmaker in the middle.

Ezra’s front on defence is very strong so he'd have no issues defending in the middle.

You've then got a link man that can flick a switch and run if the defence over commits.

To be honest a ball playing lock in the same mold as Dylan Walker is probably Ezra’s best position... although if he has the right half and spine around him then he's shown he is elite as a 6.
 
Foordy said:
From all reports the halfback fight to replace Dearden will be between Clifford, Walker, DCE and Boyd
Click to expand...
I think out of those options I'd be tempted to go Clifford.

He's a bigger body and his tackle efficiency is 90%, so he wont be susceptible in the defensive line.

He's obviously got a massive boot, so he can do the kicking... he's also a backup goal kicker if needed.

From there his job is to just dig into the line and give the ball to Munster, Reece and Ponga... Harry and co can manage the middle and field position... he just needs to defend, be an adequate link man and kick for field position.

In the cows he basically plays a support role anyway, but brings that little bit different by chasing and contesting kicks, but also basically running crash lines as a big body half.

I dont really want Cherry... we dont need another chef and his kicking is a bit so so at origin level.

Sam Walker has no kicking game and is a defensive liability, but brings attack

Tanah is probably my second choice ... although Fogarty is probably my actual second / first choice.

Tanah I'd say has a pretty basic kicking game (it's not super long so he isn't winning the territory game vs Cleary/Moses) and fits into a structure, but what he does do is take complete ownership of running the team, including kicking inside the 20m... that's probably something that Clifford doesnt have to do.

It would just be about if the quality of Tanah's game is good enough to rely on in an origin game under huge pressure.
 
Even with a pairing of Tommy and Munster we didn't have the best long kick options, that would be even worse with a Walker/Munster combo.

Clifford is in pretty good form, whether he is QLD quality is another thing, but he's got a good boot on him.

I think they'll go Walker..

Then just jam as many Broncos on the extended bench as possible and call it a day.
 
Whoever they pick, I'd back them to do a pretty good job, debutants in the halves have a good track record of lifting for their first game.
Walker is interesting as a long term option, I think he's probably next in line long term, but he might need more time in first grade.
 
This might rage quite a few here but, I just don’t care about this year’s Origin man.

I would prefer Billy to not pick any of our guys but even if he did, I would be glad if they have very minimal game time.
Knowing Billy, he would pick every Bronx player he could possibly including Mam on the extended team list just to screw us up. We’ll know how shit Ezra has been.

Just want this Origin period be over at the earliest.
 
Foordy said:
Travis Meyn says that our "struggles for possession and a crippling injury toll" may cost Reece Walsh the QLD fullback jumper (Ponga the alternative). Although he says that Walsh would still be selected on the bench
Click to expand...
How short sighted do you have to be to pick kp off the back of 2 regular season games, one of which was against the worst side in the history of the comp? Do people not remember what Walsh did 6 months ago in the finals?
 
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