2023 State of Origin Discussion

[Wolfie]

You'd have Coates over Hammer or Cobbo? I think Gilbert has also probably earnt a spot, he's been immense for the Phins this year.

I fear Gagai is going to be a liability this year as well particularly up against Latrell and Turbo but I don't know who else you put there really.

If we could find a center i'd pick Gagai on the wing over any of our other right wingers. Blokes a beast in Origin there. Bit of an outside of the box idea as we are low on quality centers, but play Gagai and Holmes right side, Hammer and Oates left side. Hammer has handled Origin in the centers before.

 

[BooKhaki]

You'd have Coates over Hammer or Cobbo? I think Gilbert has also probably earnt a spot, he's been immense for the Phins this year.

I fear Gagai is going to be a liability this year as well particularly up against Latrell and Turbo but I don't know who else you put there really.

Yeah I would, Hammer hasn't been playing wing, and Coates has performed enough times at origin. Again, I'd have no real issue with Coates being replaced by Hammer/Cobbo/Sami.

Gilbert has been good, and he was in my original 17, but unfortunately you can only pick 17.

 

[Morkel]

Ponga has proved he's the Queensland fullback until proven otherwise.

I have loved Queensland's way of blooding young (earmarked long term) spine players. 14th man, forced to play in the middle for enough time to see if they can hack it. I'm not sure if they will be able to do that now that Smith is not in the team (and we need a 2-hooker rotation) but it applies the blowtorch in the perfect way.

Cronk handled it quietly and efficiently, however he was apparently a hooker in his younger days, so time in the middle wasn't exactly foreign to him. I had no idea how Ponga would go, as far as I know he'd never played anywhere in the middle. and his skills, which are speed, elusiveness, and ball-playing, are mostly irrelevant when filling in as a "run hard and tackle hard" middle (with no need for ball-playing). But he blew me away with his no-nonsense grit work. He never looked out of place for even a moment, he made his tackles and he ran like a fucking demon in to the meat of the defence and didn't bat an eyelid. He earned my respect then and there, I don't care how he goes for the Knights but he's a life Maroon for that, and he personified the concept that talent means nothing in Origin, it's your mental fortitude.

Reece Walsh, if even considered for Origin, needs that same test. After the Canberra game I'm not sold that he is ready, as when the blowtorch was applied, he fell short. Could be handle an initiation in the middle?

 

[BooKhaki]

Ponga has proved he's the Queensland fullback until proven otherwise.

I have loved Queensland's way of blooding young (earmarked long term) spine players. 14th man, forced to play in the middle for enough time to see if they can hack it. I'm not sure if they will be able to do that now that Smith is not in the team (and we need a 2-hooker rotation) but it applies the blowtorch in the perfect way.

Cronk handled it quietly and efficiently, however he was apparently a hooker in his younger days, so time in the middle wasn't exactly foreign to him. I had no idea how Ponga would go, as far as I know he'd never played anywhere in the middle. and his skills, which are speed, elusiveness, and ball-playing, are mostly irrelevant when filling in as a "run hard and tackle hard" middle (with no need for ball-playing). But he blew me away with his no-nonsense grit work. He never looked out of place for even a moment, he made his tackles and he ran like a fucking demon in to the meat of the defence and didn't bat an eyelid. He earned my respect then and there, I don't care how he goes for the Knights but he's a life Maroon for that, and he personified the concept that talent means nothing in Origin, it's your mental fortitude.

Reece Walsh, if even considered for Origin, needs that same test. After the Canberra game I'm not sold that he is ready, as when the blowtorch was applied, he fell short. Could be handle an initiation in the middle?

QLD probably could with Cotter in the side. But with the Hunt/Grant combo it's too effective and makes playing a half on the bench pointless. When DCE or Hunt retires they could look at trying that with Walsh.

 

[BroncsFan]

QLD probably could with Cotter in the side. But with the Hunt/Grant combo it's too effective and makes playing a half on the bench pointless. When DCE or Hunt retires they could look at trying that with Walsh.

Walsh just has to do what he can until his selection cant be denied.

If his only spot is fullback then he has to prove he can play it to the highest level.

Ponga is the kind of player that could easily fill in at centre or wing if Walsh's form demands that he be picked.

I think the only thing letting Walsh down at the moment is defence (mostly physicality) and then you'd also want to see Walsh stepping up in the big moments.

He's already the key to our success and you could say that he won us the titans game by turning it on for 15mins... but you'd want to see him do it against a top tier team as well

 

[Cult]

1 Reece Walsh
2 Corey Oates
3 Kalyn Ponga
4 Valentine Holmes
5 Dane Gagai

This should be our back line if Ponga has to be selected.

 

[Browny]

The risk with Ponga is he can get rubbed out early with a little bit of grubbery

 

[Sproj]

Ponga has been outstanding for Qld, he will be fullback if he is fit as he should be, this discussion is entirely pointless.

There were years were Barba was sublime but he just couldn't unseat Slater and rightly so. Walsh will rightly have to bide his time.

 

[Mustafur]

Ponga has been outstanding for Qld, he will be fullback if he is fit as he should be, this discussion is entirely pointless.

There were years were Barba was sublime but he just couldn't unseat Slater and rightly so. Walsh will rightly have to bide his time.

Yeah, but Ponga isn't Slater he did have an excellent last game in Origin last year but he isn't coming off half a decade of straight wins, Ponga isn't even playing fullback anymore which makes it a different comparison.

 

[Cult]

Ponga has been outstanding for Qld, he will be fullback if he is fit as he should be, this discussion is entirely pointless.

There were years were Barba was sublime but he just couldn't unseat Slater and rightly so. Walsh will rightly have to bide his time.

Ponga might not even play another game before then. I think that's what people are worried about.

Why are you as a mod claiming any conversation being had is pointless? I think you've done that a few times today.

 

[Sproj]

Ponga might not even play another game before then. I think that's what people are worried about.

Why are you as a mod claiming any conversation being had is pointless? I think you've done that a few times today.

Ponga is playing this week.

 

[Cult]

Ponga is playing this week.

My bad, I didn't realize. He might not be by Origin time though.

 

[Sproj]

My bad, I didn't realize. He might not be by Origin time though.

Sure, in which case we can re-assess then but until then, the reality is all his games at 1 thus far but especially his epic performance in the decider last year makes this conversation rightly null and void. Neither Walsh or Hammer are the 1 unless Ponga goes down.

 

[tommy]

I would be fitting Walsh in there somewhere. He’s simply playing too good to leave out so far this season.

 

[Cult]

Sure, in which case we can re-assess then but until then, the reality is all his games at 1 thus far but especially his epic performance in the decider last year makes this conversation rightly null and void. Neither Walsh or Hammer are the 1 unless Ponga goes down.

I dunno man, I’ve seen enough people return from bad concussions to know it can affect them. It’s been brought up numerous times for your boy Cobbo lately too. I just don’t see him coming back the same player. For QLD’s sake I hope he does as I don’t want Walsh picked anyway.

 

[Wolfie]

Ponga might not even play another game before then. I think that's what people are worried about.

Why are you as a mod claiming any conversation being had is pointless? I think you've done that a few times today.

I think as long as Ponga has some footy under his belt the shirt is his. If he doesnt, its either Walsh or Hammer based on current form. There is very little between them in terms of form imo. Walsh is a lot flashier that Hammer, but there isnt much between them currently in terms of performance.

 

[Xzei]

wouldnt be shocked for walsh to be 18th man if ponga gets the 1

 

[Super Freak]

If Ponga is fit, there’s no way Walsh is taking his #1 jersey.z