Queensland 2014 Line-Ups

[Porthoz]

I was dead against the McQueen selection last year but he was pretty good last year. I think he plays on the left while most of our other back row options play the right side.

That's funny though, most people see him as a right side player, when he is at is best on the left side, or middle.
I definitely agree he is vulnerable laterally in defence on the right side... although in Origin, the team works and slides much better as a whole, leaving less gaping holes to hurt him.

 

[Manifesto]

I don't rate Cooper at all and McQueen was a dubious selection last year but did OK from what I can remember. Its a tad bit early for origin talk and we still won't know the status of Hodges, Boyd and Papilli for a while, but I'll have a crack at naming my team anyway. At the moment my team would be:

1. Slater
2. Boyd
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Tate
6. Thurston
7. Cronk
8. Scott
9. Smith
10. Myles
11. Teo
12. Thaiday
13. Parker
14. DCE
15. Gillett
16. Papilli
17. McGuire / Hanannt

Injury Coverage - Vidot, Chambers, McQueen

Vidot in the side if Boyd unavailable. If Hodges unavailable, move Tate into centres and Vidot on wing. Probably Chambers (maybe Copley) if both Hodges and Boyd unavailable. McQueen or McGuire/Hannant if Papilli is unavailable

 

[Big Pete]

How am I not offering the same, when I just said your opinion is as valid as mine?

*sigh* What did I say about not wanting to turn this into a matter of semantics?

The problem I have is your use of the word fathom. I've explained the rationale behind the selection, so you should be able to understand it, but you simply disagree with it. Looking back I think that's what you meant, otherwise those are some fighting words, mister.

Origin 1 2013 showed how important it is to have a good minder against JT and McQueen did a job. Is he the long term option? Who knows, but right now, he has the job.

Gillett still needs to prove himself. One solid performance where he made a couple of important tackles (eg. on Dugan on half-way) and made a few half-breaks that lead to opportunities isn't enough to cement him a role of JT's minder - especially when his defence is very sketchy.

Need I replay the Moa try from last week?

 

[Alec]

Sad thing is that Papalii is better than Gillett, Te'o, Cooper and McQueen, but he's only played on the right.

 

[Anonymous person]

one thing should be certain though, and that is that hannant should be nowhere near the side. that guys woeful.

 

[Ari Gold]

It's a shame we couldn't win Taumalolo's heart. He'd absolutely gun it.

Regardless of who starts at halfback for us, I want the other to miss out at Milford's expense. It's nice DCE got his Origin taste and all, but I don't overly see how DCE makes a better option than Milford as far as bench impact goes. If we need to attack to win, then Milford is the better game breaker. If we're ahead DCE gives us a bit more of a calming presence but with the other guys we'll have around I don't really think it's as valuable.

 

[Porthoz]

*sigh* What did I say about not wanting to turn this into a matter of semantics?

The problem I have is your use of the word fathom. I've explained the rationale behind the selection, so you should be able to understand it, but you simply disagree with it. Looking back I think that's what you meant, otherwise those are some fighting words, mister.

Origin 1 2013 showed how important it is to have a good minder against JT and McQueen did a job. Is he the long term option? Who knows, but right now, he has the job.

Gillett still needs to prove himself. One solid performance where he made a couple of important tackles (eg. on Dugan on half-way) and made a few half-breaks that lead to opportunities isn't enough to cement him a role of JT's minder - especially when his defence is very sketchy.

Need I replay the Moa try from last week?

It wasn't semantics, and of course my point is that I don't agree with your opinion, but it's yours to have!
And while we're at it, my point also is that being JT's minder should not be the main job description of the left edge backrower. Once that is out of the way, essentially so should McQueen, because he brings nothing to the side.

His defense was not sketchy at all during Origin, and hasn't been sketchy this year either. Bringing up isolated incidents like the Moa one is bit desperate, because there is no player in the NRL I couldn't find similar or worse mistakes from. Gillett's defensive issues have always been:
1- Jumping out of the line and missing his target (this one accounts for the overwhelming majority of his missed tackle count the last couple of seasons), which he didn't do in Origin and seems to have under control this season for the Broncos as well.
2- Lateral movement when sliding on the right side of the defense, which he funny enough doesn't seem to suffer from on the left side.

On the plus side, he can run either powerfully or step through the line, he can offload and for a big guy, has relatively good ball handling skills and even kicking. In defense he tackles hard, rushes the opposition half like very few and is a pretty handy guy to have as a kick chaser too.
He needs to find more consistency and less brain snaps, and hopefully he does, but as it is now, he is a player in the Luke Lewis mould, that every team would like to have.

I don't want to bog down this thread with a Gillett discussion, but I think that as far as second rowers go, when in form, Thaiday, Parker, Papalii, Gillett and Te'o are the ones that should be selected. McQueen isn't even in the same postcode.

Re our front row, Scott, Myles, Hannant (sorry AP, this guy is certainly worthy of the Qld jersey when fit and in form) and Lillyman should be a more than apt rotation, with McGuire, Lawrence and potentially Kennedy waiting in the shadow, we aren't in as much trouble as we thought only a couple of years ago.

 

[Big Pete]

And while we're at it, my point also is that being JT's minder should not be the main job description of the left edge backrower.

That's basically what it boils down to.

I value a bodyguard higher than you do because I see the effect it has on the side when it goes astray. McQueen can also run good lines and can even be a weapon under the high ball so he isn't completely one dimensional.

The incident I highlighted wasn't a one time deal either, it's just the most recent example and clearly you're going to have a better idea than if I cited say R2 2013. There are times where he goes high on a player and it's basically all arms and he gets driven back, it's pretty embarrassing and something he needs to stamp out.

It's a make or break series for him. The fact this is even up for discussion and the best you can point out is that he made a big tackle on Gal really speaks volumes. A player of his type should have made a lot more of an impact than he has...yet here we are.

That's the last I'll say on that issue folks.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

Cooper's combo with Thurston is enough to get him in the team over gillett imo. The guy can run a great line and thurston knows how to use it.

 

[Dexter]

I wonder if Mal will have the nuts to drop Slater? He is clearly not the player he was since his knee injury and Inglis should be fullback where he can get more involved.

The big three are a long way off last years early season form so far, time will tell, but given Qlds want for keeping winning combos they will probably leave things alone instead of making the hard call.

 

[CaptainHook]

I wonder if Mal will have the nuts to drop Slater? He is clearly not the player he was since his knee injury and Inglis should be fullback where he can get more involved.

The big three are a long way off last years early season form so far, time will tell, but given Qlds want for keeping winning combos they will probably leave things alone instead of making the hard call.

Barring injury, I'd like to see Mal name the same team as Game 3 last year. I don't think form comes into it. They are awesome payers regardless of where their club is on the ladder. Queenslanders pride themselves on their loyalty. Give them Game One to prove themselves, then make changes in Game Two if necessary. That way we're rewarding loyalty and also accounting for players pressing for selection with good form. Best of both worlds.

 

[Dexter]

Barring injury, I'd like to see Mal name the same team as Game 3 last year. I don't think form comes into it. They are awesome payers regardless of where their club is on the ladder. Queenslanders pride themselves on their loyalty. Give them Game One to prove themselves, then make changes in Game Two if necessary. That way we're rewarding loyalty and also accounting for players pressing for selection with good form. Best of both worlds.

Yeah I think that is what will happen but it has nothing to do with where the Storm are on the ladder. Slater is not playing that well.
He isn't terrible either but Inglis is clearly superior this year and wasted in the centres.

 

[Harry Sack]

Yeah I think that is what will happen but it has nothing to do with where the Storm are on the ladder. Slater is not playing that well.
He isn't terrible either but Inglis is clearly superior this year and wasted in the centres.

It's the same old argument though. I completely agree with you because Slater is playing like absolute balls atm, but Inglis is unfortunately our best centre as well. Who covers him in the centres if we take him to FB? We'd be weakening one position too much imo.

 

[Dexter]

It's the same old argument though. I completely agree with you because Slater is playing like absolute balls atm, but Inglis is unfortunately our best centre as well. Who covers him in the centres if we take him to FB? We'd be weakening one position too much imo.

If we use our centres the same as last year it won't matter if he is not there, we won't be weakening the centres just strengthening fullback. Hodges, Tate, Chambers, are the most likely combos if they decide to go with Inglis. Vidot could take Tates wing spot he's going well enough.

 

[KingWebcke]

It's the same old argument though. I completely agree with you because Slater is playing like absolute balls atm, but Inglis is unfortunately our best centre as well. Who covers him in the centres if we take him to FB? We'd be weakening one position too much imo.

but your fullback is so much more important than your centre

 

[Harry Sack]

If we use our centres the same as last year it won't matter if he is not there, we won't be weakening the centres just strengthening fullback. Hodges, Tate, Chambers, are the most likely combos if they decide to go with Inglis. Vidot could take Tates wing spot he's going well enough.

but your fullback is so much more important than your centre

Both valid points. It's just a tough one. I've always been against it but that's simply because the gap between Slater and Inglis wasn't that huge and I considered Slater our 2nd best FB....whilst I think he is still our 2nd best FB, the difference in him and GI is getting too hard to ignore.
[MENTION=1978]Dexter[/MENTION]....I always forget about Tate at centre!

1. Inglis
2. Boyd
3. Tate
4. Hodges
5. Vidot

That could certainly work.

 

[CaptainHook]

We can't drop Billy. He's been an absolute champion for Queensland. A real warrior. Do you need an example? Look at Game 3 of 2008. If Billy doesn't play we're not celebrating eight straight, boys and girls. What about Game 1 of 2011? Who scores the match winner, I think it was one, B. Slater from memory.

He deserves a chance to prove himself.

 

[CaptainHook]

Vidot could take Tates wing spot he's going well enough.

Vidot is a Queenslander? That is awesome!