Queensland 2014 Line-Ups

[Alec]

Boyd has been one of the luckiest players in the NRL, but he has never really let QLD down. He's been safe, reliable, and a good finisher. And I generally dislike him.

 

[Ari Gold]

Lack of viable options means you don't drop Boyd. He has an excellent understanding with Inglis and the reality is we just don't have the options we should. Were Folau still in our game and Yow Yeh never injured I could definitely see Boyd missing out, but as things stand he needs to play.

I'm actually more worried about Slater. He looks lame this year. He's dropping more bombs than I remember (even uncontested ones) and while the effort to be around the ruck is still there he just seems to have a lost two yards of pace.

Hopefully Edrick Lee and Tautau Moga can get in full seasons next year and hit their straps, because guys like Copley, Vidot, Chambers and O'Neill currently underwhelm at Origin level.

 

[broncos4life]

Lack of viable options means you don't drop Boyd. He has an excellent understanding with Inglis and the reality is we just don't have the options we should. Were Folau still in our game and Yow Yeh never injured I could definitely see Boyd missing out, but as things stand he needs to play.

I'm actually more worried about Slater. He looks lame this year. He's dropping more bombs than I remember (even uncontested ones) and while the effort to be around the ruck is still there he just seems to have a lost two yards of pace.

Hopefully Edrick Lee and Tautau Moga can get in full seasons next year and hit their straps, because guys like Copley, Vidot, Chambers and O'Neill currently underwhelm at Origin level.

Your placing moga ahead of Copley? Very harsh

 

[Broncoman]

I find Boyd to be a suck up and getting a free ride because of his relationship with Bennett but he will be picked for Queensland regardless of form.

Main reason why I posted here is because of Vidot/McGuire Origin aspirations and their Samoan eligibility I think there should be a dual eligibility that enables these guys to represent their culture in case they miss out on Origin and Australia spots to make these minnow nations stronger and more competitive. These guys would be honoured to represent their heritage and they can learn rep skills in these games and take it to higher level like Hayne did when he played for Fiji in 2008.

 

[Ari Gold]

Your placing moga ahead of Copley? Very harsh

In terms of talent I am. At their current level Copley is streets ahead. Copley gets an A+ for effort and has become a very strong player for us at NRL level, but he's not a game breaker. As an Origin prospect he underwhelms me, in a way that Moga doesn't. The key word here is prospect though. Hopefully Folau comes back and it won't be a problem.

 

[Alec]

I agree with Ari, I think Edrick Lee and Moga both have higher potential than Copley, but unfortunately they haven't been very lucky with injuries in the past couple of years.

I think Copley has more potential than Chambers or O'Neill though.

 

[Big Pete]

Moga is an interesting case. Did he ever really show anything in first grade to suggest he was Origin ready? All I remember is a few highlight reels moments and Joey going on and on about his thighs like he was judging a bodybuilding contest. Since then he's suffered three major injuries so unfortunately it really makes it difficult to judge him as a candidate.

In saying that, Moga doesn't have any bearing on the negative perception of Copley. I'm right with Ari, so far, Copley has shown some tremendous improvement to take himself from a punchline to a honorable first grade player. However, he's still got plenty to learn if he wants to play Origin football. Technically his defence and handling still requires work. However, of concern for me is that he seems to lack that competitive edge you need at this level. I think Copley really needs to study some Tate or Close videos. Heck, defence aside, it's one area that I feel Reed still has an advantage over him. If Dale can play with some more intent, I reckon he'd be a viable Origin player, instead of just a guy who can do a job, like say a Dane Nielsen.

 

[Ari Gold]

Moga is an interesting case. Did he ever really show anything in first grade to suggest he was Origin ready?

He never did anything to suggest he was imminently ready for Origin at the time he was playing or in the next year or two, but to me he looked like he had all the tools and potential to be a key player of the future.

 

[Cult]

I'm actually more worried about Slater. He looks lame this year. He's dropping more bombs than I remember (even uncontested ones) and while the effort to be around the ruck is still there he just seems to have a lost two yards of pace.

Maybe Slater heard Gould talking Minichiello up and tried to emulate his performances over the years.

 

[broncsgoat]

Boyd hasnt been in good club form for a few years but always manages to score in origin imo. Not hard to score playing outside Inglis but I see the merit in picking boyd as he has averaged two tries a series over a pretty sizeable sample size (in origin terms).

 

[GotheBroncs]

This is the team that will get picked in my opinion:

1. Slater
2. Boyd
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Tate
6. Thurston
7. Cronk
8. Scott
9. Smith
10. Myles
11. Gillet
12. Thaiday
13. Parker

14. McQueen
15. Cherry-Evans
16. Te'o
17. Papalli

18. Milford

This is the team that I would put on the field (but im not a coach...lol):

1. Inglis
2. Boyd
3. Tate
4. Hodges
5. Vidot
6. Thurston
7. Cherry-Evans
8. Scott
9. Smith
10. Myles
11. Thaiday
12. Papalli
13. Parker

14. Lawrence
15. Hannant
16. Te'o
17. Cronk

18. Milford
19. McCullough

 

[badyon]

Slater had 181m, 2 tries, 3 line breaks on the weekend, against on of the best defensive teams in the comp.

You can argue Inglis is a better choice at a fullback, but not that Slater is out of form.

Any team with *both* McQueen and Gillett in it is tempting fate. You can't keep carrying that many overrated players at origin level and get away with it.

 

[Broncs1459]

I would never go as far as calling Gillett over-rated, but I agree that McQueen isn't needed if Matty is there.

Do you trust Gillett to defend next to Thurston? Because his defence is a worry.

 

[Porthoz]

Do you trust Gillett to defend next to Thurston? Because his defence is a worry.

Absolutely. He did it splendidly last season in Origin. Every player lifts in Origin, and Gillett has all the attributes to be a success at the highest stage.

He does need to concentrate more at club level, where he can sometimes fade out, like he did last week, or want to do too much, which sometimes results in brain snaps in attack, or rushing out the line and being easily stepped out in defense.

 

[Alec]

Gillett defended in the middle last year, he'd get absolutely destroyed on the edges.

 

[Broncs1459]

Absolutely. He did it splendidly last season in Origin. Every player lifts in Origin, and Gillett has all the attributes to be a success at the highest stage.

He does need to concentrate more at club level, where he can sometimes fade out, like he did last week, or want to do too much, which sometimes results in brain snaps in attack, or rushing out the line and being easily stepped out in defense.

I might be wrong but didn't Gillet play in the middle last year? I can't remember him defending on the left fringe at all.

EDIT: Alec beat me to it.

 

[Porthoz]

He played on the left as well, albeit not as much as in the middle. He also defends better on the left than the right fringe, where he can certainly be a bit of a liability.

Regardless, he held his own in Origin for sure, the rest is pure speculation.

 

[mitch222]

Heres what I would like to see

1. Billy Slater
2. Darius Boyd
3. Greg Inglis
4. Justin Hodges
5. Brent Tate
6. Jonathon Thurston
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Matt Scott
9. Cameron Smith (c)
10. Nate Myles
11. Sam Thaiday
12. Matt Gillett
13. Corey Parker

14. Daly Cherry-Evans
15. Ben Teo
16. Josh McGuire
17. Dave Taylor/Josh Papalli (need a another big guy)