NEWS Bennett insists McCullough ready for Maroons call-up

[Socnorb]

Hunt averaged 28 tackles a game at hooker for 88% efficiency. His defence improved in the middle, despite making more tackles.

He was better defensively than what some people remember. He'll handle the defensive side of it just fine, and he'll handle the fitness side of it, just like he did for the Broncos, because he is a very fit bugger. He will also be playing in a much better defensive team than what he was at the back end of 2017.

Keep in mind, we also have a utility on the bench that can jump in at hooker.

Have Hunt start at hooker with Granville coming off the bench.

Why do you want to go all "NSW" and start playing people out of position.

 

[pagey]

Smith - 10 games, 0 tries, 1 try assist, 2 line-break assists, 1 forced drop-out, 38.3 tackles per game @ 93% efficiency
McInnes - 10 games, 2 tries, 3 try assists, 3 line-break assists, 3 forced drop-outs, 36.8 tackles per game @ 93% efficiency
Cook - 10 games, 2 tries, 2 try assists, 1 line-break assist, 0 forced drop-outs, 42.0 tackles per game @ 91% efficiency

Didn't include running metres, but Cook is comfortably the best of the bunch in that aspect at 110 metres per game, the next closest out of the 6 Hookers listed is McInnes at 61 metres per game.

Macca and cook would be a good combo for aus.

 

[WASSHHH]

Bellamy did say Boyd would be a good choice as captain - so you can pretty much forget everything else he said on the matter as he’s obviously out of his tree.

Jokes aside, try and follow the upcoming ramblings...

For mine, the choice of QLD 9 comes down to 2 things - defence and attack (groundbreaking, I know). For the simple fact that no one will be able to manage a game like Smith did from 9, we shouldn’t even waste our time by trying to burden any of the cantidates with that.

McCullough is head and shoulders above every other possible choice when it comes to defence, only Friend even begins to come close. Defence is also so damn important in Origin so it really is an easy win for Macca.

So attack it is.

Hunt would be the most dangerous attacking hooker and whilst he is a solid defender (albeit not in the middle third), he’d be lucky to play a half of Origin at 9 because they’ll run big blokes at him relentlessly, which will tire him out and nullify his attack to no end. So he’s out.

Next is Granville - but he’s in such ordinary form like most of the Cowboys, we surely couldn’t take that risk.

Next has to be McCullough. Everyone knows he’s no livewire from dummy half and he looks like he’s running in quicksand most of the time. But if he has a clear and simple job to do, he’ll get it done without a doubt.

For those reasons, I believe he is the only logical choice.

Captain? Well that’s a whole different story.
To answer that, I think it hinges on the 7 and 14, because Munster is a shoe-in at 6.

Before Smith’s retirement, I would have thought Munster at 6, Milf at 7 (he’s practically playing it (and 6!) for us right now and I am still not convinced Hunt is a game manager regardless of how well the Dragons are going, as blind Freddy can see Widdop has a lot to do with it), Smith at 9 and Morgan at 14. As that won’t be happening and assuming Macca is at 9, we need a captain and that certainly won’t be Munster, Milf or a bench player.

For that reason, and as Morgan truly excelled under pressure last year with the Cowboys 7 jumper and captaincy like no one could ever have predicted - including himself I believe, I’d be doing the same for Origin and putting Hunt or Milf at 14. As I’ve already said, I’d prefer they were around the other way (that said, I still don’t think halves of Munster and Hunt could manage a chook raffle let alone an Origin game, so now we don’t have Smith I’d prefer Munster and Milf), as Morgan can play everywhere except prop, whereas Hunt / Milf are far less versatile. But because I can’t see anyone else capable of stepping up to the captaincy, I don’t know how else to balance the team and captaincy.

If none of that panned out (which is highly likely) the only other possibility I see is Inglis, but I’m not so sure. I just get a sneaking suspicion it’ll be too much of a burden for him.

Anyway, whatever way they do go, for the love of god, please don’t let it be Boyd.

Don’t normally do team lists and certainly don’t quote myself. But in the interests of supporting my team selections, here goes:

1. Slater
2. Gagai
3. Inglis
4. Chambers
5. Oates (but it’ll most likely be Boyd)
6. Munster
7. Morgan (c)
8. Scott
9. McCullough
10. Wallace
11. Cooper
12. Papalii (he was enormous the weekend just gone, really starting to hit form again)
13. McGuire (if fit)
14. Milf / Hunt (but for reasons listed previously, Milf)
15. Hess
16. Napa
17. Arrow

 

[Maroon4life]

Macca appears to be the best hooker we have, that’s more of a sleight on QLD than praise for Macca, likeable bloke and a good clubman but isn’t going to excel in that arena.

Macca’s best attribute is his defence, Smith was doing that when he came through in ‘03 but has since evolved and developed himself as the games best hooker. Macca has plateaued now for years.

 

[johnny plath]

Don’t normally do team lists and certainly don’t quote myself. But in the interests of supporting my team selections, here goes:

1. Slater
2. Gagai
3. Inglis
4. Chambers
5. Oates (but it’ll most likely be Boyd)
6. Munster
7. Morgan (c)
8. Scott
9. McCullough
10. Wallace
11. Cooper
12. Papalii (he was enormous the weekend just gone, really starting to hit form again)
13. McGuire (if fit)
14. Milf / Hunt (but for reasons listed previously, Milf)
15. Hess
16. Napa
17. Arrow

Given all 4 of Qlds hooker options are rookies in origin, maybe Qld will have to rethink their bench this year and run a genuine impact hooker rather than a utility, whether its granville or segyaro. Friend and Macca might just come down to the old chestnut of combos, and if Hunt is half, then macca will be hooker. A previous poster mentioned it, but where the **** are all the young Qld hookers. Its a bit like being a leg spinner after shane warne.

 

[pagey]

Don’t normally do team lists and certainly don’t quote myself. But in the interests of supporting my team selections, here goes:

1. Slater
2. Gagai
3. Inglis
4. Chambers
5. Oates (but it’ll most likely be Boyd)
6. Munster
7. Morgan (c)
8. Scott
9. McCullough
10. Wallace
11. Cooper
12. Papalii (he was enormous the weekend just gone, really starting to hit form again)
13. McGuire (if fit)
14. Milf / Hunt (but for reasons listed previously, Milf)
15. Hess
16. Napa
17. Arrow

Kafausi in ahead of arrow and hunt to 7 other than that looks good.

 

[mitch222]

Macca would get that gassed in origin it wouldn't be pretty.

You think Granville, Friend or Hunt wouldnt knock up well before Macca? Granville is extremely embarrasing when he knocks up at NRL level and its normally at the back end of the first half! As for Friend, hasnt looked like playing 80 minutes this year at all

 

[_wwong]

You think Granville, Friend or Hunt wouldnt knock up well before Macca? Granville is extremely embarrasing when he knocks up at NRL level and its normally at the back end of the first half! As for Friend, hasnt looked like playing 80 minutes this year at all

Never said the others are any better. Just simply saying Macca would be fucked after 80 mins of origin. That's not necessarily having a dig at him as I know he'd give his all.

 

[mitch222]

Never said the others are any better. Just simply saying Macca would be fucked after 80 mins of origin. That's not necessarily having a dig at him as I know he'd give his all.

Thus the reason to run a proper utility

 

[Cult]

Even if that was the case, McCullough is smart enough to pace himself. He's got good defenders around him so he won't need to make all of those tackles. And even if he does, he's rarely wrecked at NRL level anyway. Also his running game has been great this year. Makes 15 metres every time. Can kick more and will be involved with Smith who will teach him how to be a cheat. And cheaters always prosper in the NRL

 

[Super Freak]

Why do you want to go all "NSW" and start playing people out of position.

What do you think we've been doing for the past 12 years?

 

[animal eater]

Even if that was the case, McCullough is smart enough to pace himself. He's got good defenders around him so he won't need to make all of those tackles. And even if he does, he's rarely wrecked at NRL level anyway. Also his running game has been great this year. Makes 15 metres every time. Can kick more and will be involved with Smith who will teach him how to be a cheat. And cheaters always prosper in the NRL

That's gold @Cult3

 

[Battler]

Why not just pick Hunt on the interchange as insurance? I reckon dce deserves a shot, he’s the only proper half back (as in can organise, kick well, lead, and has the bonus of gking) and deserves a go without smith breathing down his neck and playing second fiddle to JT. Morgan is playing like shit.

 

[pagey]

Why not just pick Hunt on the interchange as insurance? I reckon dce deserves a shot, he’s the only proper half back (as in can organise, kick well, lead, and has the bonus of gking) and deserves a go without smith breathing down his neck and playing second fiddle to JT. Morgan is playing like shit.

Definitely worth a shot

 

[Sproj]

In answer to the Macca v Hunt debate, they are they only two logical options...so why not have both?

9. Macca

14. Hunt

This is what it should be, will be and has to be.

Now the only other question of real importance is who plays 7. Munster is a certainty for 6 and I think Morgan will get first shot at the 7 because if he doesn't, I'm just not sure where he fits in the side and he probably has earned the right to be there somewhere.

That said, I know Milf gets a lot of unfair rubbish at present but he is without a doubt the guy who should be playing 7. His game management has come along in leaps and bounds and a Munster-Milf one-two punch would be amazing.

 

[Cult]

If Morgan plays halfback we lose. He needs Te Maire Martin to look good

 

[Foordy]

In answer to the Macca v Hunt debate, they are they only two logical options...so why not have both?

9. Macca

14. Hunt

This is what it should be, will be and has to be.

Now the only other question of real importance is who plays 7. Munster is a certainty for 6 and I think Morgan will get first shot at the 7 because if he doesn't, I'm just not sure where he fits in the side and he probably has earned the right to be there somewhere.

That said, I know Milf gets a lot of unfair rubbish at present but he is without a doubt the guy who should be playing 7. His game management has come along in leaps and bounds and a Munster-Milf one-two punch would be amazing.

Des Morris has pretty much confirmed that it will be Munster and Hunt in the halves for game one

 

[Sproj]

Des Morris has pretty much confirmed that it will be Munster and Hunt in the halves for game one

That was before Smith's retirement though wasn't it?