2017 State of Origin

Yeah that's a hard one. He was superb in attack but he had a few derp moments in defence. I really think Holmes is our second best winger (discounting Inglis) but it's hard to drop the incumbent when he's been more than solid.

 

I just don't buy that this will be Thurston's last series. He's already back flipped once and I just don't think he'll sit on the sidelines if he's fit and still clearly the best half in the game. As for Smith I honestly think he could play til he's late 30's and still be our best option.

 

Hardly denial when the bloke keeps changing his mind. First it was 2016. 6 months later he set the 2017 world cup. A month later he's having second thoughts and saying let's go to the WC and I'll decide after that. Why bother announcing anything at all?

This is all entirely inline with reports about his ultra-competitive personality imo.

 

Gallen advocating Jackson as the new captain. Jesus Christ the cunt shouldn't even be in the side given their options.

 

Jackson certainly isn't as overrated as he used to be. The guy can play but he's still not Origin standard. And I don't see where you fit him into the middle. He has to start which either pushes Merrin up front or to the bench, neither of which are desirable.

As a QLDer I'd certainly be happy if they picked Jackson in the middle; it'll reduce the metre advantage NSW have up the guts. Jackson's 90m average at club level is a big drop down from Gallen or Merrin. Of course the Blues can probably afford to carry a player as QLD used to with Dallas Johnson, completely ineffective in attack (not that Jackson is) but an expert technical defender. Jackson isn't that though. He's a good defender but he's not anything special.

I think they'd be foolish not to carry 4 big boppers and have Merrin at lock, given our declining middle.

 

Both Finucane and Trbojevic are better than Jackson imo but the only reason I'd consider not picking Merrin at lock is if you don't think the Blues have four Origin standard props, (or if you think the pack will be too heavy, which I certainly don't). Woods and Klemmer are givens; in fact I'd probably start both of them. A lot depends on how Tamou fares at Penrith and Vaughan at St. George because despite their respective declines or disfavour, I do believe they are the next best in line when playing to potential. Then you've got Boyd, now a Test player, Fifita, Paulo, and a few others.

If four don't emerge then yeah consider moving Merrin but not otherwise.

 

As am I but I don't think Jackson has remotely proven himself an Origin standard edge player. If anything I think it's become more and more obvious that he's a lock. There's no way I'd have Jackson playing more minutes than Frizell and given that Jackson isn't really suited to the interchange, I just don't see how he gets picked.

 

Has to be Frizell imo. Graham or Cartwright for the bench. With his defence there's no way Cartwright should be in the starting line-up having to mark QLD's left side.

Just imagining Cartwright, Pearce and Dugan on that edge...my god.

 

Nah he's quality. It's just his defence. I don't know how much the injuries have played a part but the guy can play.

 

DT - Taylor in box seat to replace Thurston.

Really? How the fuck is he next in line?

 

I don't understand why they only picked 13. Should be trying to get as many promising players as much prep as possible.

It's a good squad, no doubt, but it's not stronger than any QLD has named in the last couple of years partly due to the fact that we pick 20.