Game I Queensland Origin Team

[broncsgoat]

Thankyou, looks about right I reckon. Hopefully we'll exploit his terrible tackling technique.

I had to laugh at the article saying that the blues were going to send a lot of traffic at milf due to his 3 missed tackles per game.

Maybe they should worry about Maloney's 6 missed tackles a bit more.

Also, JT averaged 4.5 per game this year as well.

 

[KnToad]

Also, JT averaged 4.5 per game this year as well.

Maybe his shoulder has been a problem for longer than anybody outside the cows knew...?

 

[broncsgoat]

Maybe his shoulder has been a problem for longer than anybody outside the cows knew...?

I actually looked at this recently as I have a mate who is a cows supporter and he constantly gives me shit about milfs defence (3 years ago i said milf would end up better than JT and he took offence to it or something lol). It's a bit of an obscure stat that i probably made up myself but I found it interesting.

Over the 3 years since milf has been playing to 5/8 for the broncos he has made 754 tackles and missed 150, so 754:150 or 5.03:1. JT over that same period has made 781 and missed 170 so 781:170 or 1:4.6. These numbers are sourced from NRL.com

So milf actually makes more tackles per missed tackle than JT. I'm not saying he's a strong defender or anything, and JT does put in a lot of last ditch efforts that cant be undervalued, but I don't conform to the belief that we are that much worse of defensively than if JT were playing.


As a sidenote I know that stats rarely tell the whole story, but on a numbers only basis I thought it was worth highlighting.

 

[BroncsFan]

Was it? Sorry my bad.

I just remember skinny turbo ran through a gap earlier in the game but fat turbo didn't pass. Skinny turbo had a crack at fat turbo then they did it a couple of minutes later and it worked a treat.

Yeah only reason I remember it was Blair was because that exact sequence was covered in one of the analysis shows haha

 

[Harry Sack]

I just hope he doesn't take a month to get up and play the ball while he's whining to the ref like he does in club games sometimes. Origin is too fast for that shite...

Once again, I don't think the players around him will allow it. Hopefully anyway

 

[Porthoz]

I think Milf's defense is underrated, and his flaws are exacerbated by the guys he is flanked by at the Broncos.

I don't think Thurston's defense is any better, and I'm convinced that if Milford plays to his strength, we'll miss Thurston less than anticipated, because we'll have Smith and Cronk orchestrating the Qld symphony, hopefully with Milford's solo virtuosity standing out.

 

[Mr Fourex]

I have been wondering why Gillett has been missing a lot of tackles. So you reckon it's because Nikorima and having to protect him?

Nahh..... IMO Gilett has always been prone to missing tackles.

 

[Porthoz]

A lot of Gillett's missed tackles are in the opposition's half, often on players returning the ball after a kick chase, or trying to take a runner out early. He rarely misses anything in our half though...

 

[Browny]

Just win ffs

 

[Super Freak]

Walters has confirmed Milford will be starting.

 

[Unbreakable]

Walters has confirmed Milford will be starting.

?

 

[Super Freak]

I believe that's Tomato sauce, the reduced salt kind.

You're welcome.

 

[Big Pete]

?

 

[Unbreakable]

I believe that's Tomato sauce, the reduced salt kind.

You're welcome.

But really, source?

 

[Super Freak]

Courier Mail.

 

[Unbreakable]

Are you able to post the article for us? On my phone and courier mail website is aids

 

[Super Freak]

Are you able to post the article for us? On my phone and courier mail website is aids

I could. But whether I will is a different matter.

Maybe if you say please..

 

[Super Freak]

But seriously, here it is. Milford will not be benched.

ANTHONY Milford has staved off Michael Morgan for the starting five-eighth spot with coach Kevin Walters backing his debutant to handle a NSW onslaught in Origin I.

Speculation suggested Walters would produce a classic eleventh-hour Origin selection switch by elevating Morgan into the starting side to protect Milford from the ferocious early exchanges.

At 176cm, Milford will be the shortest player on the field in Origin I and there were suggestions utility Morgan would be pitchforked into battle to absorb some early defensive punishment.

But The Courier-Mail can reveal Milford will partner Cooper Cronk from the opening minutes, with Walters last night backing his rookie pivot to halt NSW’s big boppers led by Andrew Fifita.

“There’s no way I’m benching Anthony. He is starting,” Walters said.

“I don’t play mind games. I wouldn’t have Anthony in the team if I didn’t think he could handle the first 20 minutes.

“Anthony is 90kg, Allan Langer (Maroons halfback great) was 68kg when he played his first Origin game, so I have no doubts whatsoever that Milf can handle what is thrown at him by NSW.

“I wouldn’t throw him to the wolves if I didn’t think he can handle this level.”

Milford completed his second training run at Sanctuary Cove in an opposed session with the Queensland under-20s side coached by former Broncos skipper Justin Hodges.

Morgan has a better understanding of Queensland’s tactical systems than Milford.

He has played five games for the Maroons, all off the bench, and is now in his third Origin campaign after being blooded in 2015.

Walters weighed up the merits of promoting Morgan at five-eighth, but says the Cowboys ace brings a better balance to the Maroons in a Mr Fixit role off interchange.

“Morgs is a little unfortunate,” Walters said.

“I would have no hesitation in starting him, but for the balance of the team, Morgs is better suited in the role that he has been doing and we’ll give Milf the first crack (at five-eighth) for game one.

“Last year Michael got a head knock in Game One so he had minimal influence on the game. In Game Two he had a knee injury and in Game Three he didn’t play, so this is Michael’s opportunity this year in that utility role.

“This year, I need Morgo to not be good, but be great. There’s a difference.”

Milford’s form this year has fluctuated. His moments of brilliance have been tempered by some worrying defensive efforts, but Walters is adamant he will relish the Origin stage.

“The bigger the game, the better Anthony plays,” he said.

“For 79 minutes of the (2015) NRL grand final, he was the best payer on the field. Because the Cowboys ended up winning, he didn’t get the accolades he deserved.

“When you see that in a player, that gives me faith he can fire in Origin.

“He’s only 22, so he’s got some special qualities for me to believe he can play State of Origin at such a young age.”

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...d/news-story/75ec18f404305f53a6fd80056f0900cc