PRE-GAME 2026 State of Origin

[BroncsFan]

It's a massive call to drop To'o from the blues side.

I can only really recall Jojo out jumping him the one time and that was in broken play when To'o was isolated.

Bostock has been good since coming back from injury though... they'll now have targets on both sides of the field for the high kicks, but surely they lose something in yardage without having To'o there.

 

[Foordy]

Billy Slater has said that he doesn't think 2026 will be his last series as coach, but will not be signing a new contract with the QRL

Slater said when asked if the decider could be his last game in charge of Queensland.

“I don’t think so, but I don’t know,”

“I won’t be signing another contract. This is not a contract job for me.

“I really enjoy helping this group of men go and inspire our people of Queensland.

“When that changes, my position will change. Or if someone in the QRL decides there’s someone better for the job, I’m all for that as well.

“Whilst I’m here, I really enjoy helping these guys prepare for a game of footy and to go out there and help them inspire the people of Queensland.

“That’s what this team has given me when I was a kid. It gave me inspiration. Now we get the opportunity to go and give the rest of Queensland that inspiration.”

 

[JayPee]

To'o has only let in 1 try all series and that was the one where he got isolated on a 2 pass shift kick where he had to go in. Now you chuck in Bostock in who hasnt played wing all year with Best who is fine but a new combo. And Moses was a disaster defensively.

QLD just has a new combo to attack. To'o is massive for that team getting out of their own end. Makes little sense.

 

[BroncsFan]

Billy Slater has said that he doesn't think 2026 will be his last series as coach, but will not be signing a new contract with the QRL

Slater said when asked if the decider could be his last game in charge of Queensland.

“I don’t think so, but I don’t know,”

“I won’t be signing another contract. This is not a contract job for me.

“I really enjoy helping this group of men go and inspire our people of Queensland.

“When that changes, my position will change. Or if someone in the QRL decides there’s someone better for the job, I’m all for that as well.

“Whilst I’m here, I really enjoy helping these guys prepare for a game of footy and to go out there and help them inspire the people of Queensland.

“That’s what this team has given me when I was a kid. It gave me inspiration. Now we get the opportunity to go and give the rest of Queensland that inspiration.”

Media will probably try to twist his reluctance to answer but that's basically along the lines of the mantra he's been saying to his players since day 1... "no one owns the jersey".

No doubt QRL want Billy as coach for as long as they can keep him... Billy just doesnt want to deal with that during a series.

Media will twist it along the lines of "Is Billy lining up to coach storm post Bellamy... more on this breaking story at 6pm"

 

[Super Freak]

Ritchie reckons the Brisbane hoodoo is a myth, let's look at it.

2011 - Lost
2015 - Lost
2017 - Lost
2020 - Lost
2022 - Lost
2024 - Won

Now let's look at the stats pre-2005.

1983 - Lost
1987 - Lost
1991 - Lost
1994 - Won
1999 - Draw
2001* - Lost
2005 - Won

*Deciding game played at ANZ Stadium in Brisbane.

3 wins from 13. 9 lost, 1 drawn. Sure looks like a hoodoo...

Winning a non-deciding game in Brisbane is different to winning a decider in Brisbane.

Quality journalism, Ritchie....

 

[Sproj]

Ritchie reckons the Brisbane hoodoo is a myth, let's look at it.

2011 - Lost
2015 - Lost
2017 - Lost
2020 - Lost
2022 - Lost
2024 - Won

Now let's look at the stats pre-2005.

1983 - Lost
1987 - Lost
1991 - Lost
1994 - Won
1999 - Draw
2001* - Lost
2005 - Won

*Deciding game played at ANZ Stadium in Brisbane.

3 wins from 13. 9 lost, 1 drawn. Sure looks like a hoodoo...

Winning a non-deciding game in Brisbane is different to winning a decider in Brisbane.

Quality journalism, Ritchie....

View attachment 40503

Why are we giving this moron air time on our forum? If I want spuds, I'll cook them.

 

[tommy]

I love this guy’s insights. Is one of his eyeballs higher up on the skull than the other?

 

[BroncsFan]

Ritchie reckons the Brisbane hoodoo is a myth, let's look at it.

2011 - Lost
2015 - Lost
2017 - Lost
2020 - Lost
2022 - Lost
2024 - Won

Now let's look at the stats pre-2005.

1983 - Lost
1987 - Lost
1991 - Lost
1994 - Won
1999 - Draw
2001* - Lost
2005 - Won

*Deciding game played at ANZ Stadium in Brisbane.

3 wins from 13. 9 lost, 1 drawn. Sure looks like a hoodoo...

Winning a non-deciding game in Brisbane is different to winning a decider in Brisbane.

Quality journalism, Ritchie....

View attachment 40503

Think I heard on the radio that Ritchie is good mates with Laurie... so he's basically the Crawley finger puppet to Uncle Wayne's finger.

Imagine siding yourself with Laurie ****ing Daley... Ritchie cant even find decent mates in the place that he works

 

[Bull Shark]

The origin news cycle has become pretty boring over the last decade or so but this year I’ve found it genuinely irritating, because 98% of it I reckon has been forensically scrutinising NSW - who’s in, who’s out, who should be in, who should be out, what’s Laurie Daley doing etc etc ad ****ing nauseam 🫩

Next Wednesday night cannot come and go quick enough

 

[BroncsFan]

The origin news cycle has become pretty boring over the last decade or so but this year I’ve found it genuinely irritating, because 98% of it I reckon has been forensically scrutinising NSW - who’s in, who’s out, who should be in, who should be out, what’s Laurie Daley doing etc etc ad ****ing nauseam 🫩

Next Wednesday night cannot come and go quick enough

But 98% has also been Cleary is a living god and should be named to immortal status the second he wins the series.

I think it's more likely that it's been 98% NSW and 2% "when NSW is off screen other characters should be asking where's NSW?"