PRE-GAME Round 11 - Cowboys vs Broncos

[mitch222]

Full strength if both make the trip. Oatesy missed training because of a funeral this morning to

 

[Sproj]

A WHOPPING 210 kilograms of Queensland wing potential go head to head on Friday night, with the winner of Corey Oates’ battle with Kyle Feldt to earn a Maroons jersey.

Queensland’s Game One team is announced in just seven days and Maroons coach Kevin Walters and selector Darren Lockyer will be in Townsville on Friday night to watch the Cowboys battle the Broncos.

Twelve likely Queensland players will be on show as well as three potential Blues.

Fringe Origin players who need to perform include Cowboys Justin O’Neill, Gavin Cooper and Feldt for Queensland and Lachlan Coote for the Blues.

Broncos players who must perform to earn a jersey are James Roberts (Blues) and Oates (Queensland).

The major battle is Feldt against Oates, the pair reprising their memorable grand final war in which Feldt got the last laugh with his try after the full-time siren.

Queensland’s selection chairman Des Morris agreed Friday’s game would have impact on the selection table.

“It will be a telling contest,” he said.

“We know whereabouts we are with selections but it is now up to players to confirm or deny our thoughts.

“There will be a lot of players in this game who will be in the Origin side.

“It will be a great game. We are having a selection meeting later this week and another one the following week ...

“The key areas are obviously centre and wing. Nothing is set in stone but the selectors are all on the same wavelength.

The Australian team that was picked will be a guide too.”

That means Darius Boyd is a certainty to wear the No.1 for Queensland with Greg Inglis to move to left centre.

Oates’ form has held strong through all 10 rounds of Brisbane’s surge to the top, scoring nine tries this season, just behind teammate Anthony Milford’s 10.

Oates averages 130m and has also made 12 line breaks while his 105kg frame is built to help Queensland’s forwards get out of trouble in their own half.

Feldt has scored just seven tries with four linebreaks this season. However, Feldt has a rare skill in his kick-off ability with his bombs the hardest to catch in the NRL.

Oates said he was looking forward to the battle with Feldt.

“He’s a pretty good winger. He’s a good fella too,” Oates said. “He is a big boy himself so it will be a good match-up.”

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

 

[Super Freak]

ANDREW McCullough and Alex Glenn have given themselves every chance of making a return to the field after completing their required training session at Red Hill this morning.

The pair could make early comebacks if they can get through training on Thursday after both recovered well from this morning’s session.

Glenn has been missing since the round-nine match against the Sharks with a calf tear, while McCullough is trying to beat a torn hamstring suffered against the Rabbitohs on April 22.

But this morning’s effort from the pair pleased Broncos’ performance staff as hopes grow they could face the Cowboys in Townsville on Friday.

“They both got through training this morning and have not reported any problems,” said Broncos’ High Performance Manager Jeremy Hickmans this afternoon.

“They completed slightly-reduced loads in the session but we were very happy with them.

“As long as they don’t have any further complications and get through training on Thursday then they should be right to go.”

Coach Wayne Bennett will make a call on whether to name the two to play when the team is announced at 5pm this afternoon.

In other injury news, Lachlan Maranta is still battling a knee problem.

Maranta’s presence would be a timely boost next week when the Broncos face the Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium without Origin players.

“Lachlan may be another week – we are being just a bit more cautious with him,” said Hickmans.

On the Intrust Super Cup front, both Aaron Whitchurch (knee) and Joe Boyce (shoulder) beat injuries to play last week.

http://www.broncos.com.au/news/2016/05/17/injury_update_mccull.html

 

[Unbreakable]

Full strength

BRONCOS NRL TEAM

1. Darius Boyd
2. Corey Oates
3. Jack Reed
4. James Roberts
5. Jordan Kahu
6. Anthony Milford
7. Ben Hunt
8. Josh McGuire
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Adam Blair
11. Alex Glenn
12. Matt Gillett
13. Corey Parker ©

Interchange:

14. Jarrod Wallace
15. Sam Thaiday
16. Joe Ofahengaue
17. Kodi Nikorima

Coach: Wayne Bennett

 

[Unbreakable]

NRL - Round 11
Friday, 20th of May, 2016

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1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston (c) 8. Matt Scott (c) 9. Jake Granville​ 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Rory Kostjasyn 15. Patrick Kaufusi 16. Scott Bolton 17. Ben Hannant	1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. Jack Reed 4. James Roberts 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Ben Hunt 8. Josh McGuire 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Corey Parker (c) 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Sam Thaiday 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Kodi Nikorima
Coach: Paul Green	Coach: Wayne Bennett
Referees: TBA Sideline Officials: TBA Video Referees: TBA	Location: 1300SMILES Stadium Kick-Off: 7:50pm Broadcast: Channel 9 & Fox Sports 1

​

 

[tommy]

Ok now I'm pissed off. JT and PG have called on the refs to keep a close eye on Adam Blair because he's dirty. On ch10 news just then. I hope Blair smashes Thurston on Friday.

 

[Super Freak]

COWBOYS coach Paul Green has appealed to the referees to keep a close eye on star playmaker Johnathan Thurston, claiming his skipper will be the target of Bronco Adam Blair on Friday night.

Green today expressed his concern for Thurston’s safety ahead of the highly-anticipated clash between last year’s grand finalists.

He said he knows that Thurston is always a massive target when playing the Broncos, particularly for their enforcer Blair.

Blair, who has come under fire for his tactics in recent weeks, will make his comeback for the Broncos this week after missing their last two matches through suspension.

While Green did not delve too far into his thoughts on the star forward, he did say he wants the officials to keep an eye on him and the way he comes at Thurston, especially after kicks.

“Adam Blair in particular sails very close to the wind,” he said.

“I know Wayne (Bennett) is always telling him to put plenty of pressure on JT. The refs have to be ready for that ... It’s not different to any other week.

“He’s just coming back from suspension and there’s a lot being spoken about him. I trust the refs will be ready for it.”

The two sides will play for the second time this season in front of a packed out stadium in Townsville on Friday.

The last time they met, in Round 4, the Broncos won by a field goal in golden point.

Green said it was good to see the rivalry building between the two Queensland teams.

“It’s a pretty big occasion,” he said.

“It’s been sold out for a couple of weeks. We’re starting to build up a pretty healthy rivalry with the Broncos. It’s pretty exciting.”

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

 

[Big Pete]

Normally I'd rip in, but Origin is around the corner.

Forget it Blair, it's Cowboys town.

14. Rory Kostjasyn

I thought he injured his neck?

 

[Broncos Maestro]

Regarding the refs watching Blair, I would also ask them to watch Tamou. Wouldn't put it past the grubby NSW players

 

[Kimlo]

**** the Cowboys sook a lot, is there a team that whinges more than them?

 

[tommy]

**** the Cowboys sook a lot, is there a team that whinges more than them?

NSW

 

[Socnorb]

The Blair watch project.

 

[GCBRONCO]

**** the Cowboys sook a lot, is there a team that whinges more than them?

Only way they could sook more is if Gordy got a job there.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

That's real fucking dirty trying to influence the refs pre-game from Paul Green. I think the Cows subpar performance last weekend has spooked him

 

[Old Mate]

That's real fucking dirty trying to influence the refs pre-game from Paul Green. I think the Cows subpar performance last weekend has spooked him

That's what I feel, hate players being singled out like this.

 

[Cult]

That's real fucking dirty trying to influence the refs pre-game from Paul Green. I think the Cows subpar performance last weekend has spooked him

You mean like last years Grand Final when they said the refs need to put their whistle away and let them play and they laid on us all night?

 

[CaptainHook]

Paul Green and JT have done their dash with me.

I used to have a lot of time for JT. He's a wonderful player, a QLD champion and a genuine legend of the game... He's also a fucking sook and can **** right off from now on. Dead set over him. You are NOT a protected species! If you take the line on or go for a kick then opposition forwards have every right to put a fucking hit on you! Legitimately of course... Just like your boys JT when Milford has to kick or run. Fucking deal with it - it's Rugby League!

Green trying to influence the refs is an old trick. Stuart tried to do the same in Origin with Locky's swan song and that worked well.

May the best team win on Friday... and not the team that cries like five year old girls to the refs every week when they cop a dodgy call.

 

[Drover Joe]

I have no doubts that JT will be immortalised at some stage and should be classed as one of the greats to play the game. I think his stats and awards won reflect that. But I don't agree with him being the greatest player of all time due to his sooking. Talent wise he may be classed as good as Lockyer, but Lockyer never whinged or took digs at referees or officials after a loss. He copped late hit after late hit and was constantly targeted but never made it an excuse. To me, that is why Thurston will never be the GOAT.