2020 Origin Discussion

[Kooly87]

With Holmes looking like he's going back to the Cowboys, Queensland get a badly needed boost to their Outside Back stocks for 2020.

I'm thinking our Game 1 side might resemble something like this:

1. Ponga
2. Oates/Feldt
3. Morgan
4. Gagai
5. Holmes
6. Munster
7. DCE
8. Arrow
9. Hunt
10. Papalli
11. Kaufusi
12. Fifita
13. McGuire

14. Utility (Milford, Mbye, Norman, Turpin, Brimson)
15. Ofahengaue
16. Welch
17. Lowe

Positions up for grabs:

- Wing: Holmes would slot into one Wing position and Oates is the incumbent on the other but after a very quiet season he'll be under pressure from Kyle Feldt, who also has his kicking to add to the side as a bit of an 'x-factor'. The Sharks also have Ronaldo Mulitalo who debuted last year and he could be a bolter for a spot if he carries his impressive 2019 form into 2020.

- Centre: Gagai gets one spot virtually by default of no other genuine options. Morgan is probably the front runner for the other spot at this stage, but Centre is definitely Queensland's big depth weakness at the moment.

- Edge Backrow: Fully expect Fifita to unseat Matt Gillett, who unless something drastic changes next year, has likely played his last Origin. Kaufusi is under big pressure given he's had a couple of quiet series in a row now. Lowe was outstanding in his Game 3 debut and could easily win the starting spot from Kaufusi giving Queensland a very competent Goal Kicker which they badly needed.

- Utility: Lots of competition for this spot. Milford, Norman and Mbye have done nothing wrong, but also nothing really right either in this role. Outside of the three capped players, there is Turpin who is a specialist Dummy Half but also experienced now in the Halves, along with Brimson who can play in the Halves and Backline and would provide some real spark.

 

[Broncs1459]

If fit, you would need to have Jake Friend starting over Hunt imo

Holmes instead of Oates/Felt with Gagai on other wing

Hymel Hunt or Opacic instead of Gagai in the centres

 

[Kooly87]

If fit, you would need to have Jake Friend starting over Hunt imo

Holmes instead of Oates/Felt with Gagai on other wing

Hymel Hunt or Opacic instead of Gagai in the centres

I prefer Gagai on the Wing, but you can just about guarantee he'll be in the Centres for us come Origin time next year. The depth outside him in that position is just non-existent.

Friend is a massive chance, but so is him getting injured again. Personally I've not considered him because I just think the chance of him being fit is so unlikely given how regularly he's broken down in recent years.

 

[Unbreakable]

Holmes & Gagai have to be on the wing. No offense to Oates, but I've never felt comfortable with him on the wing in big games.

 

[Renegade]

i think this is the reason i'm a bit over origin. an origin thread in october? **** me.

 

[Kooly87]

Holmes & Gagai have to be on the wing. No offense to Oates, but I've never felt comfortable with him on the wing in big games.

I suspect he'll be under huge pressure from Feldt going into next season. He'll need a big opening few Rounds if he wants to hold onto his jersey.

I just cant see us not having to play Gagai in the Centres though. He's not anywhere near as good there but realistically we're just flat out of options.

 

[Unbreakable]

i think this is the reason i'm a bit over origin. an origin thread in october? **** me.

No one is forcing you to read it :P I think it's a reasonable time to start up the discussion, given the impending return of Holmes.

This would be my 17 if we were picking the side today, but as we all know, a million things will happen between now and then -

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Valentine Holmes
3. Hymel Hunt / Kurt Capewell
4. Marion Seve / Tom Opacic
5. Dane Gagai
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
8. Josh McGuire
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Josh Papalii
11. David Fifita
12. Felise Kaufusi
13. Jai Arrow

14. AJ Brimson
15. Ethan Lowe
16. Joe Ofahengaue
17. Corey Horsburgh

 

[ethos]

So slim in the centres ..

Reckon Corey Horsburgh could be a chance in the pack with inevitable injuries. Also not completely averse to Norman (/someone in exceptionally good form) at five-eighth, Munster at the back and Ponga in the middle off the bench.

 

[Kooly87]

No one is forcing you to read it :P I think it's a reasonable time to start up the discussion, given the impending return of Holmes.

This would be my 17 if we were picking the side today, but as we all know, a million things will happen between now and then -

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Valentine Holmes
3. Hymel Hunt / Kurt Capewell
4. Marion Seve / Tom Opacic
5. Dane Gagai
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
8. Josh McGuire
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Josh Papalii
11. David Fifita
12. Felise Kaufusi
13. Jai Arrow

14. AJ Brimson
15. Ethan Lowe
16. Joe Ofahengaue
17. Corey Horsburgh

Haha, wow, talk about some bolters! Some of those guys have been plucked out of nowhere!

Personally the only one of your Centres that I think belongs anywhere near an Origin jersey is Opacic, and even he doesn't necessarily deserve one yet, but with continued good form I could be persuaded to give him a run.

Horsburgh and Flegler should both feature at some point but I doubt 2020 will be their year.

Mahoney is realistically behind Hunt and Friend so he's a real long shot too.

 

[Sproj]

I'd be doing this, given the dearth of centres and just how good Gagai is on the wing:

1. Ponga
2. Holmes
3. Opacic
4. Munster
5. Gagai
6. Milford
7. DCE
8. Papalii
9. Friend/Mahoney (if Friend is likely injured) / Turpin (if he starts as well as he did this year)
10. McGuire
11. Lowe
12. Kaufusi
13. Arrow

14. Hunt
15. Flegler
16. Joffa
17. Fifita

There is just not much depth outside of this side.

 

[Kooly87]

I'd be doing this, given the dearth of centres and just how good Gagai is on the wing:

1. Ponga
2. Holmes
3. Opacic
4. Munster
5. Gagai
6. Milford
7. DCE
8. Papalii
9. Friend/Mahoney (if Friend is likely injured) / Turpin (if he starts as well as he did this year)
10. McGuire
11. Lowe
12. Kaufusi
13. Arrow

14. Hunt
15. Flegler
16. Joffa
17. Fifita

There is just not much depth outside of this side.

I can't see them moving Munster personally. Perhaps to Fullback but I just don't see him playing Centre.

I also can't see Fifita not grabbing a starting jumper, its just a question of which one he grabs out of Lowe and Kaufusi. Personally I hope Lowe gets a start for his goal kicking.

I also think Welch deserves another shot off the Bench so I think Flegler may have to bide his time.

 

[Fernando]

Is Keary still trying to appeal his eligibility? If we have Ponga, Keary, DCE, Friend/Mahoney i’d go from pessimistic to confident.

 

[Kooly87]

Is Keary still trying to appeal his eligibility? If we have Ponga, Keary, DCE, Friend/Mahoney i’d go from pessimistic to confident.

Pretty sure that door is firmly closed.

 

[Battler]

Was Hunt assured rep selection in his dragons contract? It shocks me that he’s seemingly a lock for aus and qld.

 

[Sproj]

Was Hunt assured rep selection in his dragons contract? It shocks me that he’s seemingly a lock for aus and qld.

Why? He’s a decent 6 and 9, and a pretty good utility. He’s just a terrible Halfback.

 

[Nashy]

Why? He’s a decent 6 and 9, and a pretty good utility. He’s just a terrible Halfback.

We have very different ideas of what the word "decent" means. He cracks under pressure. Every. Single. Time.

 

[Sproj]

We have very different ideas of what the word "decent" means. He cracks under pressure. Every. Single. Time.

Oh yeah for sure. But don’t forget, that’s why I said a terrible 7. If he’s not the go to man in pressure situations, which he isn’t with DCE, Munster, Tedesco and Cook there, he is more than serviceable.

 

[Nashy]

Oh yeah for sure. But don’t forget, that’s why I said a terrible 7. If he’s not the go to man in pressure situations, which he isn’t with DCE, Munster, Tedesco and Cook there, he is more than serviceable.

I don't want a serviceable player in Origin. I want the best of the best. I don't think he's it.