ANZ Stadium, Wednesday 1 June 2016 Kick Off 8:00pm Referees: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins Sideline Officials: Nick Beashel, Jeff Younis Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Luke Patten, Ashley Klein 1. Matt Moylan 2. Blake Ferguson 3. Michel Jennings 4. Josh Morris 5. Josh Mansour 6. James Maloney 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah 10. Paul Gallen (c) 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Josh Jackson 13. Greg Bird 14. Dylan Walker 15. James Tamou 16. David Klemmer 17. Andrew Fifita Coach: Laurie Daley 1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. Greg Inglis 4. Justin O'Neill 5. Dane Gagai 6. Johnathan Thurston 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Matt Scott 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. Nate Myles 11. Sam Thaiday 12. Matt Gillett 13. Corey Parker 14. Michael Morgan 15. Josh McGuire 16. Aidan Guerra 17. Josh Papalii Coach: Kevin Walters
The game experience is so big across the 17. Nearly double with NSW 126 to QLD's 249. And that's with Billy on the sideline. Quite remarkable. 7 QLDers with 20+ matches to NSW's 1.
It's the weather for sure. It'll probably be the lowest crowd in Sydney since the 2010 opener (game 3 was a dead rubber), which is the last time it rained in a Sydney Origin. The average Blues fan probably isn't to know that their chances increase significantly in wet weather.
So apparently NSW left their notes/gameplan on the whiteboard after training at ANZ yesterday. QLD arrive and see it. Now even if it is genuine and not a decoy, there's nothing in it that QLD didn't already know - Target Cronk, shut down Thurston and put pressure on Oates, O'Neill. Also their first and second half tactics (which may be of some import) - but honestly, it's a pretty absurd thing to do. lol perhaps they should employ a professional whiteboard cleaner.
There's no way I'd be bombing Oates and Inglis's wing with their size. O'Neill and Gagai are the weaker pairing.
We really need to monster Moylan tonight. In the same way NSW have targeted Slater in the past. Moylan, though the better player than Dugan, is smaller and lighter, and does not have nearly as powerful a running game either in general play or in kick returns. Dugan and Hayne, over the past couple of years, really laid the platform and got early tackles on the front foot through size and power. I think Moylan will be passing a lot to Ferguson and Mansour but every chance we get Inglis, O'Neill and co. need to drive him back and dominate on the ground.
Sky looks fine. Has barely rained today. NSW 1-12. No faith in our point scoring ability but QLD have picked a weak pack and our game plan is obvious, dominate field position. Over to you Matty Moylan!
Yep Gallen to lock (though they said Tamou) and Bird to the bench. I can't believe Bird isn't a starter (that's massive) but yeah the way he named it was impossible to play. So EWS and SP were right. Essentially benching Bird so you can get Walker and Fifita game time. Moronic. Jackson over Bird fmd.
Yeah but if it's a choice of one playing 70-80 and the other 60, you'd rather Bird surely. Either way Jackson in the team is fucked
