State of Origin II - NSW v Queensland - Pre-Match Discussion

[Mister Wright]

Boyd was great at the back for the Knights today in a losing team. He is definitely the option if both Slater & Inglis are out.

 

[OXY-351]

And they only really have Hayne.

I disagree. QLD got beaten in the forwards in Game 1, especially the offloads and second phase play. Hayne was only able to do what he did on the back of that.

They can shut down Hayne in Game 2, but if the NSW forwards still have it over QLD, someone else (Reynolds etc) will just fill the void.

QLD needs to shut down Hayne as he is NSW go to man, but I think it would be a mistake to think that's all QLD need to do to win. Hayne is obviously the star, but NSW is more than a one man team this year.

 

[Big Pete]

Good point.

I also think there was an element of fortune to some of those offloads. Some of them were absolute speculators and they just worked out on the occasion.

Queensland are definitely going to have to lift their intensity in that department.

 

[OXY-351]

Good point.

I also think there was an element of fortune to some of those offloads. Some of them were absolute speculators and they just worked out on the occasion.

Agree completely. I think some of them were close to being off the ground too. I think it showed NSW had an intent to do it though, and I kept on waiting for QLD to have an answer to it, but it just kept on happening, and they never did.

I sort of felt QLD went in with a game plan that has worked for them over the past 8 series (lets pass it to Inglis, who'll pass it to Boyd), and then never knew how to recover when the game was on the line.

 

[Broncoman]

Both sides can improve on their performance from the 1st game. Some on here posted that NSW played at their peak but I disagree with that for a number of reasons while the Maroons didn't play to far of their best and if they executed a little bit better the result could've been different.

Areas where NSW can improve

1: Only 1 forward made over 100 meters; Paul Gallen with 176 from 22 hitups
2: Some of the kicking on the last can be worked on and I expect a more Arial attack in Sydney
3: Daniel Tupou had a solid debut but we didn't see the best of him and I expect a lot of bombs to his wing
4: Bench can make more impact
5: Michael Jennings can get more space and he is deadly when he gets room to move

NSW team I expect to be named

1: Jarryd Hayne
2: Josh Dugan
3: William Hopoate
4: Michael Jennings
5: Daniel Tupou
6: Josh Reynolds
7: Trent Hodkinson
8: Aaron Woods
9: Robbie Farah
10: James Tamou
11: Greg Bird
12: Ryan Hoffman
13: Paul Gallen

14: Anthony Watmough
15: Trent Merrin
16: Luke Lewis
17: Tony Williams

Team I would name

1: Jarryd Hayne
2: Josh Mansour
3: William Hopoate
4: Michael Jennings
5: Daniel Tupou
6: Josh Reynolds
7: Trent Hodkinson
8: Aaron Woods
9: Robbie Farah
10: James Tamou
11: Greg Bird
12: Ryan Hoffman
13: Paul Gallen

14: Anthony Watmough
15: Trent Merrin
16: Luke Lewis
17: Tony Williams

Same team as the one I expect but I would rather have a specialist winger than someone who only plays there part time

 

[Sproj]

I really want that team to be named as well!!

nsw can improve of course but nowhere near what Qld can. The problem is we have injuries in key positions so it makes how much improvement we can make off paper an intriguing mystery.

 

[Big Pete]

Agree completely. I think some of them were close to being off the ground too. I think it showed NSW had an intent to do it though, and I kept on waiting for QLD to have an answer to it, but it just kept on happening, and they never did.

I sort of felt QLD went in with a game plan that has worked for them over the past 8 series (lets pass it to Inglis, who'll pass it to Boyd), and then never knew how to recover when the game was on the line.

Definitely and I believe fortune favoured the brave.

It's a great win and if they play like that again, they should beat the Maroons in NSW quite comfortably but I'm interested to see how they go when the shoe is on the other foot and Queensland hopefully don't have to make a mid-game shuffle.

In saying that, I don't think Queensland have gone into a potential decider this vulnerable in sometime. Would love to see a spirited win but it's going to be tough.

 

[Broncoman]

I really want that team to be named as well!!

nsw can improve of course but nowhere near what Qld can. The problem is we have injuries in key positions so it makes how much improvement we can make off paper an intriguing mystery.

It might even by the other way with Dugan and Hopoate with Hoppa playing on the wing and Dugan in the centres. They are favourites to be picked because of the experience they've got and Daley doesn't want to blood to many rookies.

 

[KingWebcke]

surely Dugan wouldn't be picked at centre. it seems like absolute madness ... and I encourage madness in the NSW selection room but ...
I'm pretty sure Daley would have had a centre in mind (like Hoppa or Walker) almost immediately after Game 1 and everything until now is just media fluff.

 

[Broncoman]

Was reading an article on the roar and in the comments this guy (who writes about Rugby League for a living) said he got a text saying that Hopoate is on the Blues wing.

 

[Morkel]

So Chambers stunk it up at centre today...

 

[broncos4life]

Never been a fan of Chambers. I'd take almost anybody over him.

Me too. Chambers is bog average

 

[Broncoman]

Does the QLD team get announced tomorrow? Waiting for Origin teams to be announced is so nerve wracking.

 

[Alec]

Chambers is not very good, more at 11.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Tonga has been good all year and has never let us down he is way ahead of Chambers IMO.

 

[Buzz Killington]

If GI and Billy are both out O would go with...
1. Milford
2. Boyd
3. Tonga
4. Hodges
5. Tate

 

[Mister Wright]

For the first time in a long time it's exciting to see who the Maroons pick for this game. Usually it's a copy & paste job. I expect Slater &. Inglis to be named, but will be interesting to see who they have in mind to cover centre & wing.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Chambers is not that great but playing for the Storm will get him a Maroons jersey. Our options are limited at left centre though.