2017 State of Origin

Or a perfectly fair scapegoat.

 

Im just gonna say I told you so to those who doubted Slater's return. He may not get picked but he is easily in the frame to.

Personally I would stay with Boyd. You lose the dangerous running game but he's safer and his passing game has excelled so much.

 

Yeah I'd overlook Slater, despite saying I'd pick him because of our lack of options. lol Inglis is out so we're even shorter yet I've changed my position.

1.Boyd
2.Oates
3.Chambers
4.Gagai
5.Holmes

is what I'd pick. Gagai is a risk defensively but jeez I rate him. He's been superb in an awful Newcastle side. And he was great for QLD last year.

 

I can sort of understand Walters picking Myles on the bench. We have few other options, he's had some good games for Manly as an interchange and he's experienced. Starting him though is ridiculous and that's what will happen. He's just not up to it. He's become the Brett White of QLD.

The QLD pack really is a puzzle atm. And though I've been concerned about our middle third in previous years, never as much as this. We need Napa, McGuire and Papalii to play really strongly.

 

Yeah but who are you starting? Napa, I assume, and who else?

 

Canterbury blocking their players from City/Country.

 

Reckon Hayne is highly likely based on what Daley said last night. Reckon he'll be on the wing.

 

If he keeps up this sort of form, yeah he'd be hard to leave out. I'd definitely take him over Sims or Myles. But I'm not real keen on partnering him with another rookie, if in fact you're talking about starting him with Napa and having McGuire at lock. There's 5 Origin games between the three of them. That could become a concern if we get on the back foot, early.

I think McGuire has to start up front. Papalii at lock, if it means he gets to start. And though we all hate Thaiday, I think his record of targeting Maloney/NSW's left half is highly undervalued on here. He has a well-established history of playing off Cronk's hip and punishing Maloney. I think it's a wasted opportunity to not continue exploiting that - Thaiday and Hess tag-teaming Maloney.

Yeah I don't disagree with that assessment. He definitely hasn't been at his best so far this year.

 

Cordner I'd say.

 

I can understand you preferring Papalii but saying it's not even close is a bit silly imo.

 

Well if he wasn't already a shoe-in, Pearce is now after that field goal. Save for injury, he will be the NSW halfback. Try reading this article without vomiting from the ingratiating tone in the author's words. It's almost as if he wishes he were the dog on that fateful night last year.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...m/news-story/0405373d532c57eec429e2ea00b04337

"Redemption has been sweet for the likeable Pearce."

lol @ the likeable Pearce - How the fuck is the cunt likeable? Half his rep career is due to nepotism, he roots dogs, and he sledges champions like Thurston and Smith for being too old despite never winning a series himself, or even producing one pivotal performance in his 15 game career. Anyways, it'll be him and Maloney again so well done to NSW for coming full circle to where they were 4 years ago when Daley took over. Only, what, the 5th new halves combination in 4 years? lol.

So I'm gussing the certainties for NSW are:

1.
2.Ferguson
3.Dugan
4.Jennings
5.
6.Maloney
7.Pearce
8.
9.Farah
10.Woods
11.Cordner
12.Jackson
13.

Frizell and Klemmer will definitely be there, just depends where. I'd say Merrin will be there too in place of his Panthers teammate, Tamou. And either Fifita or Boyd will round out the bench. No idea who the utility will be. Probably Bird. My guess is Moylan will be dropped completely and either Tedesco or Hayne will be fullback. I'd say the former will be at fullback and the latter on the wing. Reckon Josh Morris's rep career is over as he only played in Game 1 and that was because Dugan, who was originally selected, withdrew. Daley clearly loves Duges.

Form over the next month will determine the above. Can't believe Origin is only 4 and a half weeks away.