Your QLD team

[theshed]

No because Johnston would have scored like 3 tries if Jennings possessed the ability to pass the ball but he can't and therefore everyone looks bad. And by everyone I mean the "old Queenslanders" and not the people who didn't deserve their spot to begin with cough Lewis, Bird, Myles and

You're entitled to an opinion but blaming Jennings for Thurston passing to the dirt all game or constantly fumbling it is a bit much. Jennings didn't make cam smith pass above Cronks head on 5th tackles putting him under immense pressure. Jennings definitely didnt make Inglis disappear

 

[Ari Gold]

Even if you think DCE is playing well, there's nothing about his strengths that scream utility value.

Assuming no injury, against tired forwards, I'd back an average form Segeyaro to impact the game over a red hot DCE.

 

[Morkel]

Even if you think DCE is playing well, there's nothing about his strengths that scream utility value.

Assuming no injury, against tired forwards, I'd back an average form Segeyaro to impact the game over a red hot DCE.

The point of it all though is giving DCE experience should he be the next Qld half. Sacrifice a small amount of impact now by giving him limited minutes, meaning he'll be far better accustomed to it if & when he gets in to the run-on side.

To that end though, how much experience do they need to give him, seeing as he's still a couple of years away from that jersey should Cronk & Thurston stay fit? There's an argument to say that Hunt is showing enough signs to be given the same treatment, maybe if the third game is a dead rubber they can pick him on the bench?

 

[Ari Gold]

Well DCE has that experience now anyway. I mean, he got decent mins last year with Cronk out. Its not the worst strategy ever but I don't think it flies in the case of DCE.

 

[Tony D]

Ari Gold

"Even if you think DCE is playing well, there's nothing about his strengths that scream utility value. Assuming no injury, against tired forwards, I'd back an average form Segeyaro to impact the game over a red hot DCE."

You're entitled to you opinion but, like a few others before you on this blog, you can't be serious.!

11 Tests, 5 Origins, 18th man for the Australian team last weekend, a rumoured $4 million contract with the Titans (and a possible matching offer from Manly) and you still would not have DCE in the Origin Team!!

I like Segeyaro and like what he brings to his team but he is a HOOKER, not a utility and I would not be surprised if one day he is selected as the starting hooker in an Origin.

Back to your point. I certainly cannot recall the last time Qld went into an Origin game with two specialist hookers? Maybe you can enlighten us?

Anyway, I'm over arguing about this as we are never going to agree on this topic.

I am confident the Qld selectors will make the appropriate selections (8 wins from 9 series) for the utility position.

Oh, I would not be surprised if this year (but certainly in the next few years) the selectors introduce Michael Morgan from the Cowboys into Origin in the utility role. His form has been excellent.

 

[Ari Gold]

Ari Gold
11 Tests, 5 Origins, 18th man for the Australian team last weekend, a rumoured $4 million contract with the Titans (and a possible matching offer from Manly) and you still would not have DCE in the Origin Team!!

Correct. This is a game we have to play, it's not just a honorary team, so IMO we pick the best team of 17 players, not a team of the best 17 players, the latter of which DCE would easily make. Hunt too for that matter.

As for Segeyaro only being a hooker, the same applies to DCE, he's only a half. Neither is a proper utility but Segeyaro is bigger bodied and defends better. And despite the success of Cronk as a utility, you generally see coaches employ 2 hookers not 2 halfbacks because it generally works better.

 

[Morkel]

Correct. This is a game we have to play, it's not just a honorary team, so IMO we pick the best team of 17 players, not a team of the best 17 players, the latter of which DCE would easily make. Hunt too for that matter.

As for Segeyaro only being a hooker, the same applies to DCE, he's only a half. Neither is a proper utility but Segeyaro is bigger bodied and defends better. And despite the success of Cronk as a utility, you generally see coaches employ 2 hookers not 2 halfbacks because it generally works better.

Segs is listed at 169cm and 84kgs. DCE is 180cm and 88kgs. So they're both about the same in terms of height vs weight (for your "bigger bodied" theory but in reality DCE is bigger (but still not ideal).

Hunt is 178cm but 89kegs, and I would bank on Hunt being a stronger defender.

 

[Ari Gold]

Oh wow. Didn't expect DCE to be bigger. Doesn't look it anyway. Point is Segeyaro is used to defending in the pack though and seems way more suited to an origin utility role than DCE.

 

[Porthoz]

In all honesty, I can only see Segs being of value if he replaces Smith at hooker, and that is very unlikely, at least for now.

Of the current crop of players, Hunt would be my choice for the utility role. He is the most versatile, can decide a game through individual brilliance and is probably the best defender of the lot.

But if it is DCE, I can certainly live with it...

 

[broncos4life]

Hunt or segs should be the utility, no one else IMHO and I think hunt offers more tbh.

Since when does past achievements and the amount a desperate shambles of a club will pay you have anything to do with deserving an origin spot?

 

[Renegade]

Slater
Boyd/Holmes
Hodges
Inglis
Chambers
Thurston
Cronk
Scott
Smith
Myles
Thaiday
Gillett
Parker

McGuire
Napa
DCE
Papali

Haven't done my team yet but there we go, why not.

Criticise away, I'll do my best to answer your bemused queries lol

 

[Morkel]

Slater
Boyd/Holmes
Hodges
Inglis
Chambers
Thurston
Cronk
Scott
Smith
Myles
Thaiday
Gillett
Parker

McGuire
Napa
DCE
Papali

Haven't done my team yet but there we go, why not.

Criticise away, I'll do my best to answer your bemused queries lol

As much as I'd love a Broncos back row, I suspect Mal will go with someone else. Not sure if Guerra would be fit. Maybe even put Myles back there and start Lillyman (or McGuire but doubt it). Papalii has been ordinary. The 1-7 I agree on though.

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

14. Hunt
15. Gillett
16. Napa
17. Lillyman

It'll never happen.

 

[Renegade]

Papalii has been poor in the front row, since they moved him back to 2nd row he's been slowly getting back to his form of a few years ago.

besides, you need some people that are gonna hurt when tackling, we need some intimidation, napa and papali should help with that.

DCE over Hunt for mine purely because I don't think there's a lot of difference between the two for an interchange utility and DCE hasn't ever let us down as a utility. It's his spot until he gets injured/Cronk retires, in which case Hunt gets the role.

 

[Unbreakable]

Not sure if Guerra would be fit.

He's.. playing this weekend..

 

[Tony D]

Hunt or segs should be the utility, no one else IMHO and I think hunt offers more tbh.

Since when does past achievements and the amount a desperate shambles of a club will pay you have anything to do with deserving an origin spot?

I assume that this spurious remark is directed at me. Yawn.

'past achievements' 11 tests 5 Origins. Recent Man of the Match. 18th man for Australia. But you're not so sure he can play?.

'desperate shambles of a club?" You're not clear which club? Manly or Titans? Lets assume Manly for a moment.

Manly..4 Grand Final appearances in the last 8 years for 2 wins. Remind me when Broncos last won one. Oh yeah in 2006..9 years ago and no appearances since .

Titans maybe? Lots of drama but only coming 7th. A shambles obviously.

Segeyaro is very good hooker but not a utility. Hunt and DCE both have a few more strings to their bow with better kicking games, the ability to play halfback, 5/8, hooker/dummyhalf and even in the backrow at a pinch.

"Since when does ..... the amount a ........a club will pay you have anything to do with deserving an origin spot"

That statement is an insult to the integrity of the QLD selectors. As I said earlier, you have your opinion. I have mine. Enough said.

 

[Mortician]

Since when does past achievements .... have anything to do with deserving an origin spot?

I'm inclined to agree that Hunt has more to offer in the bench spot but with the above surely you are taking the piss?

 

[broncos4life]

I'm inclined to agree that Hunt has more to offer in the bench spot but with the above surely you are taking the piss?

I said deserved, not received.

 

[Morkel]

He's.. playing this weekend..

Wasn't sure. He's been left out from a lot of teams and didn't want to name him or get the "you know he's out, right" smartass comments. It's Corner who's out then, right? Even so, Guerra only looked good because the defence was sweating on Inglis, so I still wouldn't pick him.