POST GAME 2026 State of Origin

With relentless rule changes in the game in general, not sure if anything has changed around players availability for their respective clubs after an Origin game. Can someone expand on — since most of our guys in QLD side are on bench/extended squad, can MM pick them immediately for our weekend game?
We have the bye
 
I have no issue really with Walsh not being picked when Ponga is in good form. I would just argue when we're carrying Shiba/Mam/Loeiro on the bench, Walsh at FB and Ponga coming on around a tired ruck could have been pretty dangerous and maybe make the team more dangerous overall, instead of picking a selection of out of form players.

Walsh has been injured prior to Origin 2 years in a row now, unlucky, but his chances will come.

For Broncos sake, we need this to be a kick up the ass for Walsh if he thought the shirt was guaranteed just because of how good he was to end last year, and we need Shiba, Mam and Carrigan to find something while working in that environment. Only Pat will see the field you'd imagine, but hopefully being in camp is good for the other 2.
I think Ezra is a chance of making the field as well.

It could come down to Nikora vs Ezra for the last one to get on the field.

Collins and Patty are certainties.

Loiero is very likely to give Plath a break at some point.

Shiba only if there are injuries in the back 5.

That leaves Ezra vs Nikora.

If Nikora doesnt get on then Cotter and Capewell are playing 80, which theyve done in the past... or Loiero/Plath are spending some time on the edge.
 
I think Ezra is a chance of making the field as well.

It could come down to Nikora vs Ezra for the last one to get on the field.

Collins and Patty are certainties.

Loiero is very likely to give Plath a break at some point.

Shiba only if there are injuries in the back 5.

That leaves Ezra vs Nikora.

If Nikora doesnt get on then Cotter and Capewell are playing 80, which theyve done in the past... or Loiero/Plath are spending some time on the edge.
Yeah fair, Ezra could play the role he did for us in finals. Good shout.

Nikora should be nowhere near an Origin field lol.
 
Yeah fair, Ezra could play the role he did for us in finals. Good shout.

Nikora should be nowhere near an Origin field lol.
I still can't get over that he was picked over Finefuiaki. He doesnt do anything better than Fine now. His best asset is his hole running and Fine does that better now.

I don't want to here the experience shit. The gap is too big for that as players to matter and Nikora hasnt played origin either.
 
I hope Klein blows the **** out of the whistle in Origin 1.

I hope destroys Origin by blowin 1000 six-agains. now these calls would have to be one-sided. and honestly for this to make an impact, NSW would probably have to be the wrong side of these calls.

is this too much to ask
 
I hope Klein blows the **** out of the whistle in Origin 1.

I hope destroys Origin by blowin 1000 six-agains. now these calls would have to be one-sided. and honestly for this to make an impact, NSW would probably have to be the wrong side of these calls.

is this too much to ask
He's done it before... in Game 2 2023 where Qld won Game 1... but yeah sure refs never try to manipulate results.....

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That game was over in the first 10 minutes. Definitely didn’t manufacture a closer result in the second half
 
He's done it before... in Game 2 2023 where Qld won Game 1... but yeah sure refs never try to manipulate results.....

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Only have to go back to last year game 2. Another one that determined if a decider would happen or not after NSW won game 1.

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From memory, Journos and Loz absolutely bashed NRL/Klein after this game.
 
Ponga was selected over Walsh for his positioning and work off the ball.
An area that Walsh has copped brickbats for from a lot on here.
Reece IMO has regressed this year.
Sure, his last 8 weeks last year was impossible to maintain but he has gone back to his bad habits of multiple mistakes and frantic impatient play.
It might different in a few years time, but I would take Ponga over Walsh easily at this stage in their careers.

Ponga’s biggest issue has been his injuries. The guy is an incredible player
 
Lets hope he doesnt back up after origin
 

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Walsh literally just won us a premiership.
Walsh is obviously generational too. Higher ceiling than KP, but KP has far more well rounded game at the moment.

You’d be very happy with either; just to be clear. I also think KP suits origin more than Walsh does. Errors are far to costly in origin
 
Walker will be the fifth member of the Queensland U18 side from 2019 to play Origin.

Hamiso
Coates
Walker
Loiero
Walsh

And Piakura and Howarth still could at some stage.
 
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