2024 State of Origin discussion

[Big Del]

Luai got a man of the match award for one time in like how long and gets origin selection (which is never a great prover of any point - JUrbo is captain for goodness sake) on the back of Cleary, Walker, Moses, Wighton, Reynolds being unavailable - so yep 5th or 6th best half in the state. This does not factor in DCE, Hunt, Dearden, Walker, Mam, Johnson, Munster, etc either.

And I know comprehension is DEFINITELY not your strong point, goodness me sometimes it is laughable in fact, but I don't think I ever said he was the 10th best 6, I said he is a slightly above average half and given the FACTS shown above, I might have in fact overrated him, so...yep you sure showed me didn't you.

LOL !

Blah , blah and blah ...

 

[Sproj]

Blah , blah and blah ...

Fantastic retort as always . LOL !

 

[Sproj]

Squad mentioned earlier confirmed:

1. Reece Walsh (Broncos)
2. Xavier Coates (Storm)
3. Valentine Holmes (Cowboys)
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
5. Murray Taulagi (Cowboys)
6. Tom Dearden (Cowboys)
7. Daly Cherry-Evans, capt. (Sea Eagles)
8. Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
9. Ben Hunt (Dragons)
10. Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
11. Jaydn Su’A (Dragons)
12. Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys)
13. Pat Carrigan (Broncos)
14. Harry Grant (Storm)
15. Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans)
16. J’Maine Hopgood (Eels)
17. Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos)
18. Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins)
19. Brendan Piakura (Broncos)
20. Ezra Mam (Broncos)

Maroons name strong Origin squad for Game One

Queensland coach Billy Slater has named his 20-man squad for Game One of the 2024 Ampol State of Origin series to be played at Accor Stadium.

www.nrl.com

 

[Sproj]

Origin representation by club (extended squad):

North Queensland: 6
Brisbane: 6
Penrith: 5
Easts: 5
St George: 3
Manly: 3
The: 2
Melbourne: 2
Canterbury: 2
Cronulla: 2
Parramatta: 1
Gold Coast: 1
Canberra: 1
Auckland: 1
Balmain: 0
Newcastle: 0
South Sydney: 0

 

[Big Del]

on the back of Cleary, Walker, Moses, Wighton, Reynolds being unavailable

OK Mr Comprehension specialist
Make of that what you will

 

[Foordy]

Origin representation by club (extended squad):

North Queensland: 6
Brisbane: 6
Penrith: 5
Easts: 5
St George: 3
Manly: 3
The: 2
Melbourne: 2
Canterbury: 2
Cronulla: 2
Parramatta: 1
Gold Coast: 1
Canberra: 1
Auckland: 1
Balmain: 0
Newcastle: 0
South Sydney: 0

What does it say about the Cowboys (and Payton), that they have the highest Origin representation, yet are sitting in 11th place.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I really don't rate our selections. I'd love to know why they have overlooked Fifita and also how they can justify Piakura being in the 20 man squad.

 

[Foordy]

I really don't rate our selections. I'd love to know why they have overlooked Fifita and also how they can justify Piakura being in the 20 man squad.

Piakura and Mam are definitely thinking about the future selections based on potential... Not necessarily about the 2024 series.

 

[JayPee]

"David hasn't lived up to those standards he hit last year". Slater

Probably because nobody would have champ. He has been pretty bloody close the last 6 weeks. He got a bit snappy when they pressed him on the fifita thing.

 

[Bucking Beads]

"David hasn't lived up to those standards he hit last year". Slater

Probably because nobody would have champ. He has been pretty bloody close the last 6 weeks. He got a bit snappy when they pressed him on the fifita thing.

He got snappy because it is a bad call on his behalf.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Piakura and Mam are definitely thinking about the future selections based on potential... Not necessarily about the 2024 series.

For the future I get it but leaving Fifita out and putting Piakura in the squad is insane. We need to remember how young Fifita still is.

 

[Fernando]

These are Fifita's stats for 23 vs 24:

 

[Santa]

Too many Cowboys for my liking...

 

[Santa]

Slater’s first question when he fronted the press on Monday was about Fifita and the Melbourne Storm icon dropped a truth bomb on the axed Titan.

“This team doesn’t get selected over the last 24 hours, it’s a collection of habits over the course of the year and what players have done in the past,” Slater said.

“I wouldn’t say comfortable, that’s not what I feel right now.”

Slater went on to say: “Dave created a really high standard for his footy last year. He just hasn’t quite got to that standard this year.”

Slater also eluded to a classy text message he received from Fifita after he personally delivered the news that he’d been overlooked entirely.

“I spoke to Dave last night. He’s taken the disappointing news like a true Queenslander,” Slater said.

“He wished the best for the footy team. He further re-iterated that with a text message afterwards.

“I’ve got no doubt that David will get back to the footy that he did last year and will wear a Maroons jersey in the future again.”

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/queensland-coach-billy-slater-confirms-selection-bombshells/news-story/8c5e6c1909ac45f5127f31f71be48b03

 

[BroncsFan]

I really don't rate our selections. I'd love to know why they have overlooked Fifita and also how they can justify Piakura being in the 20 man squad.

I wouldn't look too much into the extended squad.

Piakura and Mam are future selections to get them around the group and we're also on the bye... Fifita has been around the squad for years now so not all that important to have him around the group if he's not being picked.

Only thing I'm not sure about is that I'm sure they used to invite future players without having to name them in the squad... I'm also not sure how stringent NRL will be if an injury pops up... I dont think the 20 man squad is the same as team list Tuesday so if a second rower goes down I daresay he can bring someone in from outside the squad... it would be stupid of the NRL to impact its showpiece event with semantics and not allow an 11th hour change to have the best teams represented.

I probably would've liked to see Fifita in the 18 jersey over Kaufusi (at worst... I think he's going better than Sua and Nanai)... can only think that Billy has been happy with how Kaufusi is providing middle coverage for phins so far and he has Cobbo on the bench to cover 1-5... so across Cobbo and Kaufusi he's covering 1-5 & 8, 10, 11 & 12.

In the 17 he'll have Cobbo covering 1-5, Bhunt covering 6,7 & 9 (and some 13), Cotter to cover 11 & 12 and Hopgood to cover 13.

It's pretty flexible if injuries occur on the night, and I can see Cobbo being fine if he's injected into the middle as a roving lock / second fullback... he could be very dangerous under Billy.

 

[Sproj]

on the back of Cleary, Walker, Moses, Wighton, Reynolds being unavailable

OK Mr Comprehension specialist
Make of that what you will

Dude , quit while you are behind . You are just embarrassing yourself now . LOL !

 

[BooKhaki]

NSW have had a history of losing games at the selection table. This is possibly the worst bench I've seen us pick, when taking into account what he have available.

Slater saying Fifita hasn't reached the footy he played last year. Even if correct, his standard this year is better than both the back rowers picked.

 

[winslow_wong]

Is Fifita well liked amongst the playing group?