2012 State Of Origin

We definitely outplayed their pack in Game 2 IMO. Not dominated but we definitely got the better of them. It didn't seem like it because we coughed up three times as much ball and played a lot in our own territory. With an equal error count we would've run all over them. Scott made more metres than Tamou and Grant combined. So did Shillington.

We made 200 more running metres. Even with Parker going off injured after 8 minutes, our forwards still made more metres in total. And that was with Taylor starting and no Thaiday.

 

I do fear Harrison getting shafted next year if Parker has a big game at lock (which I'm predicting him to do). He's been one of our best middle-third runners this year, in the limited time he's had. And was good last year too. Always makes good metres per run.

 

I honestly think the losing side has had the better forward pack in both games. NSW dominated us in Game 1. And we just got the better of them in Game 2.

 

He's usually a very good defender. Everyone has a lapse now and then.

 

Nah. He's just shit. His good efforts in Origin are the aberrations.

 

Wtf?

We've had this discussion repeatedly. I know Harrison isn't playing a conventional lock role. And as I keep telling you, nor is he playing the same as he was in 2008 when named as a second rower. He's doing more defence now. And he routinely takes hit-ups through the middle, as well as on the left fringe.

You're kidding if you don't think Meninga and the QRL are capable of dropping Harrison to play both Myles and Parker despite the fact that they're both middle-third forwards.

 

I don't see how that's feasible. Emm's answer doesn't work IMO.

It would mean having to take one of Tamou or Grant off after 15 minutes, keeping the other one on for 25-30 (which is a huge ask in itself), and then subbing them for each other back and forth for the rest of the match. That would mean using 4 interchanges for just two players. Say Grant goes off after 15 and Tamou stays on for 25. Grant gets only a 10 minute rest, stays on for 10 minutes into the second half (that's already more minutes, in the first half, than what he played in all of Game 2, Tamou comes back on for 20-25 minutes and then Grant comes back for the final 5-10. That puts Tamou at 45-50 and Grant at 35-40.

The simple fact is you can't start three props and have two on the field at all times. It just isn't possible unless two of them play 60+ minutes, or you use a ridiculous amount of interchanges. Gallen obviously will play 60+ but neither Grant nor Tamou are capable of that.

We know what's going to happen. Gallen will be the only prop out there for at least 20 minutes. Creagh and Watmough will play middle-third in that time and Stuart's love for second-rowers will shine when he plays 4 of them, not including Gallen, for a quarter of the match.

Dropping Merrin for Williams was retarded. It's a gift for QLD's middle-third IMO because if Tamou and Grant can't get forward (and they were less than brilliant in Game 2) NSW are going to struggle.

 

I didn't even realise Hayne will be playing right side. He's been moved to accommodate Morris. The last time Hayne played right wing for NSW was when he and Tahu were together in Game 1, 2010. He was found out repeatedly. Mind you, he's been found out repeatedly on the left too but not in this series, mainly due to QLD's ineptness on the right in attack. With his up and in style of defence, you can bet Inglis will be looking to cut-out Nielsen and find Boyd after having drawn in Hayne and/or Morris. And given how Brett has played so far in Origin I don't see how you can justify making accommodations for him. He carries the ball in his right arm anyway, so why not just play him alongside his brother on the right?