Origin 2024

Hopgood is the next Parker. He'll play this year.

 

93% tackle efficiency last year.

 

Yeah but always a few get cut down by Game 3. I personally wouldnt have Gilbert or Arrow in the side. Mo has to be there, the dude makes 12-13m a carry.

 

I cant remember a time when we've had this much forward depth. Only a couple wouldve played in the dynasty teams but there's so many to pick from who are good to very good. Most have Origin experience too.

Tino, Collins, Cotter, Carrigan, Flegler, Fotuaika, Gilbert, Nanai, Capewell, Fifita, Arrow, Kaufusi, Horsburgh, Welch, Hopgood and a few others ive probably missed.

 

With the first two games being played in Sydney and Melbourne, we are definitely up against it. And given the players NSW have to pick from, they really should win this series. But i suppose thats been true for the last 5 years.

Mitchell should be very seriously considered to replace Tedesco if the latter plays like he did last year.

 

Gilbert has the exact mentality you want in an Origin forward but he's a middle, not an edge player. Fifita, Nanai, Kaufusi and Capewell all offer line breaking ability that Gilbert does not.

And yeah I'd pick Fotuaika over Flegler but I could see an argument for having the two of them on the bench with Cotter and starting Collins.

 

Yeah he does but I dont know why. Rather him pick actual edge players to play there.

 

Nanai is a huge threat off the bench.

 

In the past I wouldnt pick a Nanai but the law-makers and refs have crippled defence so much that a player like him just isnt such a big concern. What he brings in attack more than compensates the poor defence. Game is very different from 10 or even 5 years ago.

And it's for the worse imo. I enjoy watching the game less and less as they move away from what made it great.