QLD Team

[Spud]

Fairly strong QLD team (at least stronger than NSW on paper) but Stagg and Parker can count themselves unlucky. Teo has been in good form, but surprised he has been picked as he has really only played consistent footy for about 6 weeks.

 

[Kris]

I hope they don't pick Te'o at all this year, he will be very handy during the origin period.

Agree. Queensland don't need him. Brisbane does.

And his price will go up too.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Lockyer is going to have a field day this series! He will go out on top..

 

[Professor47]

Hey people -

you reckon DT will chuck a C. Webb (2001) and do something nuts on his debut?

How good would that be?!

 

[Mister Wright]

Hey people -

you reckon DT will chuck a C. Webb (2001) and do something nuts on his debut?

How good would that be?!

With 3 minutes to go and the scores locked at 18-all, he'll make a break down the right hand side, draw Hayne, chip over his head and dive in under the posts for the win in true prop/2nd row style.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Smith is out of Origin 1. It is expected Ballin will take his place at hooker.

 

[Charmamba]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 93,00.html

Hooker Cameron Smith has pulled the pin on his brave bid to play for Queensland in Wednesday night's State of Origin against New South Wales in Sydney.

It's understood Smith, who has been receiving intensive physio for a dislocated elbow suffered playing for Australia against the Kiwis earlier this month, underwent a private fitness test at the team's Sunshine Coast base.

Team physio Scott Thornton broke the news that Smith was out before the Maroons took part in an opposed training run against the Sunshine Coast team at the Hyatt Regency resort.

It is expected Manly hooker Matt Ballin will now make his Origin debut as hooker in Smith's place.

 

[Black Philip]

QLD will lose game 1.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Big call to write them off straight away Ballin is a quality player. I guess we will see how good Smith is when the Maroons play without him on Wednesday.

 

[ethos]

Big call to write them off straight away Ballin is a quality player. I guess we will see how good Smith is when the Maroons play without him on Wednesday.

Yeah, it's been a long time since he hasn't been there. He's played every Origin since he was first selected in 2003.

The positive is that Ballin's been training there all week and has had plenty of time to get used to it.

 

[Browny]

and we still have Lockyer, Thurston, Cronk, Inglis, Slater, Civo, Thaiday.......

we arent a one man team

 

[Kimlo]

I can't believe anyone would write us off just because Smith is out....
All of our players in key positions are better, if we are a good team we can easily beat NSW without Smith.

 

[Flutterby]

Word I'm hearing out of Camp Maroon is Thurston's shoulder probably can't take 80 mins of Origin. But it's just what I heard.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Why let him play at all then???

 

[Browny]

Its putting a bit of weight on Cronks shoulders to be cover for both Ballin and JT.

Should swap JT for Prince or Cronk

 

[jarro65]

We'll still win.

We're QLD

 

[m1c]

Thurston played 80 minutes last week... his shoulders would have head 10 days to improve on that as well. I'd say he'll be fine...

 

[ddd]

this may be positive for us, any potential complacency just left with smith-ee, worring about JT - but if he's injured cronk to half and te'o comes in to the bench and everyone will put in 110% and that's all i ever want of us