^^^^ Yes it would be a big game to debut in, particularly for a number 7, but the role he'd have to play isn't that major. Smith organises, Thurston and Slater create, Inglis crushes skulls. He's basically just got to kick and shovel it along, piece of piss.
I reckon DCE will be good. Surely they'd throw a dummy half on the bench if there's a bit of a concern over Cam Smith. Would love to see it go to Nathan Friend, cunt deserves an origin jumper.
Papalii didn't do enough in attack. But FMD picking a second rower as your only bench prop and playing him when your only out and out go forward prop is on the bench is fucking ridiculous. But being a Qld/Canberra thing I fucking hope you drop him and retain McQueen. Even with Thaiday back I think you need to drop 2 backrowers for 2 props.
Myles, Smith, Scott, Thaiday, Gillett/Teo, Parker______Friend/Ballin, Papalii/Gillett/Teo, two props out of Lillyman, Shillington, Hannant, McGuire etc etc
I thought this also, haven't watched a lot of rugby league and pretty much only watch Origin but didn't his elbow hit the ground when Thurston took him down at first? And Thurston was still holding on to him the whole time so on what grounds could they say that the tackle was broken?
On the elbow part, the elbow can touch the ground as long as the ball doesn't touch the ground. Other than that he let go IMO
Tupou was pretty ordinary too I reckon. He's escaped a fair bit of criticism on here just because we won I reckon. That miss from Hodkinson was very close to costing us the game as well.
Other than that one mistake he made which he covered by taking the kick the next set, I don't think he was that bad. Definitely not worthy of being dropped. I think his biggest mistake was that too many of his runs were out of dummy half. He is too slow to beat the markers and is way more effective hitting the ball up one or two wide from the pay the ball.
He was ok from his own end making metres. Whenever he contested the ball unless unmarked he ujust shit the bed though.