New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons – Wednesday night – Melbourne Cricket Ground
Blues
- Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Will Hopoate (Parramatta Eels)
- Michael Jennings (Sydney Roosters)
- Josh Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Brett Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)
- Trent Hodkinson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
- Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
- James Tamou (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Beau Scott (Newcastle Knights)
- Ryan Hoffman (New Zealand Warriors)
- Paul Gallen (c) Cronulla Sharks
- Trent Merrin (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters)
- David Klemmer (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bulldog)
Maroons
- Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
- Darius Boyd (Brisbane Broncos)
- Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos)
- Will Chambers (Melbourne Storm)
- Jonathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Titans)
- Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Cameron Smith (c) (Melbourne Storm)
- Nate Myles (Gold Coast Titans)
- Aidan Guerra (Sydney Roosters)
- Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)
- Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos)
- Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
- Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
- Jacob Lillyman (New Zealand Warriors)
Note: team line-ups are subject to change. Rosters will be updated as amendments filter through.
The Blues are already making excuses and the series has only just begun. It seems Queensland are the filthiest team in the history of world sport and, because most of the world adores them, they can get away with it. As evidence the Blues cite the following:
- the enormous head of Nate Myles - which occasionally makes contact with opponents while tackling in a contact sport
- former jockey Billy Slater who, legally and with limited force, dared to tackle a NSW player on the ground
Whether either of these examples are as bad as Justin Poore lifting up and dropping the head of an unconscious opponent onto the ground is hard to say, but we can safely assume that New South Wales are 'under siege from an inhospitable and unfair world'. It's them against everyone. So with all that in mind we can expect to see Nate Myles getting worked over like Playdo, Billy Slater getting chicken-winged like a chicken, and Daly Cherry-Evans bullied unmercilessly like he's a Playdo chicken. At some point things will flare, and NSW will be one-in all-in for the melee/brawl because it's them against everyone. Shortly thereafter NSW will give us their best impersonation of 6 year olds on the school oval (ie. they started it...a few weeks ago...and a couple of years before then...and so on). Personally there's nothing I like better than watching Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah whining at the referees. It's great television and it's great for rugby league and its hopes of increasing its finger-hold in an emerging sporting market. In the event that QLD do wrap up the series we can be certain the NSW captain will speak with glowing praise of his opponents...as he always does.
Sooooo....as you may have noticed I'm not embracing game two with as much enthusiasm as I usually do. I hope for two things - I hope to see some football and I hope to see a contest. Unfortunately, the only way this will be a contest is if the game involves as little football as possible. I might get one wish, but it's unlikely I'll get two.
The Blues have stuck with Trent Hodkinson, probably because the coach said that he would. Just last week his club coach benched him when the match was on the line. His replacement stepped up and helped secure the win. If Hodkinson has confidence issues that wouldn't have helped.
Despite all my reservations about the NSW halves at this level and their capacity to score points, I'm tipping a Blues victory on Wednesday night. The weather in Melbourne is looking touch and go and I fear this will be another gritty, dour struggle. For NSW to win they'll need to win ugly, and I think that's what we'll get. Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah won't get many more chances at this level, and they'll drag their team over the line if it's the last thing they do (and it could be).
And those of you that like a good conspiracy theory can bank on this series going to a decider at Lang Park. You know it makes sense, and the bookies are offering you $2.35 about a result that has already been pre-determined. With official interest rates at 2% that's a pretty decent return. Gamble responsibly.
Verdict : NSW 15 - QLD 14
First try scorer: Brett Morris
Man of the Match: James Tamou
Comments
Submitted by bondy on
nsw has more grubs in there team than clean players how can you pull that card sounds like sour grapes already
Submitted by The Thinker on
Sheeesh Bondy....I think I'm on your side. You might want to read it again.
Or I might have to write it again.
Submitted by mark ashford on
There's nothing wrong with your journalistic skills Thinker. The blues are signalling they will return to their grubby best and using game 1 as an excuse.
Gallen will lead the way with backed up by coward Beau Scott who only picks on the little guys.
With Cronk out Qld will struggle look for a big game from Inglis and Hodges with DCE silencing those Qlders who dared to boo him.
I'm thinking a Maroon victory by 6 points ( I've poo-pooed all those silly conspiracy things and there's not a Qlder on earth who would throw an origin game)
Maroons 14 Blues 8
Submitted by Declan_S on
Mark I'm not sure what you're getting at, I don't think you watch the same sport as me if you think Beau Scott is a coward?
Albeit, I do believe the Maroons will win this one.
Submitted by a on
Here are my scores
QLD 21 tires Corey Parker 2 Will Chambers goals Johnathan Thurston 4/4 NSW 14 tires Will Hopoate Robbie Farah goals Trent Hodkinson 3/3
Man of the match Corey Parker
Submitted by mark ashford on
Hi Declan
Yeah coward was a bit harsh. I just hate the way he's always hitting the little kickers late. I don't believe all that bs about couldn't pull out etc. His treatment of JT a couple of weeks ago was appalling.
I know you're a Knights fan and commend your support of your players.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Yeah, here's something dude that only me and The Joker will appreciate, Melbourne City was once almost called "Batmania". "Batmania" ! LOLS ! And this city was almost capital ! " Yes the representative of Batmania Mr P E Quinn will yield his time to parliament floor ... " " Thank you Mr Freeze ... " Oh god ! I know I go on about stupid sounding Australian place names but that's the best one yet ! But Johnny Ray ? Didn't New Zealand once send a cow to prison for 3 days for eating grass outside Parliament House in Wellington ? Yes, but unless "Daisy" is one of names of Batman's mortal arch enemies that's beside the point ! New South Wales by six. Man of match Aaron Woods. ;-D
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Maybe type slower Thinker
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Sorry. I've just been informed that actual name of cow was "Honey Moo Moo" ! Good luck with your tips everybody ! Go NSW ! Laters ;-D
Submitted by a on
QLD will win
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Scott is a bit of a grub. Gallen's a grub. Bird was definitely a grub. Reynolds is a grub. Pearce can be a grub if he wants to be.
QLD's true grubs, you'd have to include Slater, Cronk, Smith, Miles, Hodges, Thaiday.
Looks like QLD in Golden point 6 grubs to 5.
Submitted by a on
All of NSW players are grubs QLD have absolutely 0 grubs in their team
Submitted by Declan_S on
Beau Scott merely exploits the (lack of) rules regarding when you get hit a player. Just as Cameron Smith exploits the (lack of) rules regarding what you can and can't do in a ruck.
Submitted by Declan_S on
*when you can, not *get*
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Declan, I think that is the Macquarie dictionary definition of NRL grub. Getting away with stuff that is mostly always not in the true spirit of the game, or of fair play. Cheap shots, dirty plays. Call it what you will. It's all the same thing.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
And this thread is why I HATE HATE HATE origin. Everyone is out for an edge, I will put $1.0001 to $1 that Thursday or what ever his name is belt one of the Blues halves late and everyone up here will crow about how he knocked the stuffing out of him while burn Beau in effigy for the EXACT SAME offence. We know that Renyolds is scum, but I detest the way Cameron Smith has lead the way in "talking" to the ref in the defensive 20m to give his boys a second more to get the line set. Call it gamemanship but nothing makes me turn off the Football faster than turning the game into a lawyer ridden playing just inside the rules at all times.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
A little ironic that of all the Immortals, it was no. 6 who turned gamesmanship into an artform, and tested the limits of the rules more than anyone. Skill, tactical mastery, leadership, strength, will to win. Why couldn't he judt drop the rest of the crap?
Sad in a way that some of the greatest players choose to taint themselves with the dirty brush. If only they thought about how they would like people to remember them in decades to come. I think they'd cut out their rubbish and play.
Submitted by a on
But origin is good
Submitted by The Thinker on
Origin is good....well said 'a'. Even a grubby dour Origin is rather gripping.
Some slightly pointless but interesting (to me) statistics for you all. Given we're sharing one of our flagship contests with Melbourne this week I was having a look at the geographic footprint for this website. Here are the top 20 cities in order (re: website visitors for season 2015).
No outstanding surprises here:
1. Sydney
2. Brisbane
3. Melbourne
4. Auckland
5. Gold Coast
6. Perth
7. Canberra
8. Adelaide
9. Newcastle
10. Sunshine Coast
11. Christchurch
12. Toowoomba
13. Cairns
14. Wollongong
15. Central Coast
16. London
17. Wellington
18. Townsville
19. Mackay
20. Wagga Wagga
And on the cusp of the top 20....Paris
Vive la France
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Thanks for that Thinker, and to think that I got Toowoomba in to 12th. Its great to see places like Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, and Adelaide inside the top 10 with out a "local" team. Makes a pretty good case for either relocation or expansion out side the south east corner of QLD or the Central coast of NSW. Might see the Adelaide Rams make a come back ;P
Submitted by a on
You should track down where we all live at Thinker
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Christchurch only making 11th spot is a disgrace.....
Submitted by a on
Why is there no Townsville here
Submitted by Declan_S on
Mr Potato, please let me know where I said Scott isn't a grub?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I don't put words in other people's mouths. My opinions are my own.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
..and is certainly interestin that I'm not from a city in the top 20
Submitted by a on
Beau Scott is a grub but Matthew Scott isn't
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Back to the game, I don't think NSW has picked the best side that they can. I have never been a fan of incumbency, and believe that when you get to the NRL level of your playing career that you should be able to be picked for a rep team and acquit yourself with style. So while I want NSW to win games 2 and 3, I see the series slipping away and it is now a question of weather or not we can get a win. NSW to win by 10. Just to annoy the punters on sportsbet you are being force fed the 8 points or less money back special.
Submitted by a on
NSW never pick the best side they can
Submitted by The Thinker on
It's likely we'll get an announcement today from NRL headquarters with regard to future State of Origin fixtures.
I'm thinking one game in each series will be played at a neutral venue - Perth and Auckland are likely additions.
I like it.
Submitted by christine on
a well done your almost there
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Auckland? Wow!! Didn't they play an Origin game is the US one year? My memory is fading....
Submitted by a on
How about a Origin it Towmnsville
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Right, It was Las Vegas. Any plan to take the second origin game per series to a expansion city is a wonderful idea. Maybe even hit PNG up one year. Only issue I have with Perth and Auckland is the time difference, it would make the pizza industry hurt, they are our cash cow games every season.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Baggy
You raise a valid point with the time zones. Eventually Origin will shift to stand-alone weekends...eventually.
Channel Nine won't like it but it will happen - Origin may get sold to a rival broadcaster soon anyway (as a separate entity to the NRL season). Channel Seven want it badly. Fox recently buying a stake in the Ten Network tells me they will have a crack at it as well.
A late afternoon kick-off in Perth would be perfect. A primetime television audience on the eastern seaboard and a better time for people to go to the game in Perth.
Auckland.....trickier.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Not to make you sound horribly hypocritical but weren't you in favour of making an all-Qld Grand Final for the pleasure of Queensland patrons only?
Can't wait for tomorrow night.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Not sure if you're talking to me there Coach, but the answer is 'no I'm not'.
I suggested a few weeks ago it was starting to look like an all-QLD grand final, but I wasn't suggesting we move the game north and shut down the borders.
Submitted by RexV on
Hey everyone, good banter happening here as one would expect, well I for one hope its a good game, but I'm expecting a fair bit of fire, ye ha, about bloody time, bring back the biff.
QLD 16 - NSW 8
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Ok. Game up. Could have fessed up in 24hours time, but what the hey. Anyway, for a few months now I've done my best to be controversial and confrontational. Endless points of order to make about the game which aren't current convention and individually, I've done my best to ruffle the feathers even boil the blood of as many as I could. I think I've had lots of success.
What do I think I've achieved, or am achieving? Passion. People talking about the game on whatever topic from the heart, and re-establishing a bit of tribalism between clubs.
Know that the negative stuff about corruption etc is all in the hope that if this demon does exist, that it can be gotten rid of. If it shows up nothing, then thats good too. Talking about whether it exists is the start. Whilst ever the NRL is in denial, then nothing will change. Test for drug cheats, but not cheats in general?
So anyway, now you know next time I stir the pot, you shouldn't get too riled - even though that's my aim.
PS Queenslanders, I hate your friggin guts. That's most of you on this page. You too King. I know I bristled when MG bristled, and if he wasn't ready to take a swing, I was. Go NSW. Kick canetoad ass.
Submitted by The Thinker on
And apparently the NRL have opened up a dialogue with Google regarding the next broadcast deal - potentially NRL games could be shown live on YouTube.
Submitted by a on
It might be a Broncos vs Cowboys grand final
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
I so hope it's Cowboys V Broncos Grand Final now Warriors V Sharks grand final I predicted looks about as dead as Jon Snow ! People we just aren't going win anything as long as our fullback Sam Tomkins is out injured ! That and talking about Origin rescheduling I don't see why it's so hard when we all know what solution is. In rugby league you have halftime break and so should the game ! That halfway through the season we should have two/three week bye scheduled that also acts as a transfer window. Inside that two/three week bye you have all three games of State Of Origin being played. You could also include Pacific Championship where New Zealand plays combine Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea side. Call them, I don't know "Zion's". New Zealand V Zion's. Sounds good. There got it. Simple. Done. Now I've fixed that problem dude does anybody want to hear my solution to finding peace in Middle East ? I'll give you a little hint. It's has lots to do with Sinai Peninsula and nothing to do with Israel ... ;-D
Submitted by a on
I say it will be a Brincos vs Cowboys grand final
Submitted by tigerholic on
All I can say folks, NSW will win tonight, imagine the TV ratings for the last game if it is all level.
NSW have picked a solid team, with Gallen and Morris back, should be very interesting. I'll be watching it at work, Go The Might Blues.
Living in QLD is bloody terrible when State of Origin comes around each year when you are a blues fan. My NSW flag will stay up till the end!
Enjoy the game
Submitted by a on
NSW have the worst team in years
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
JR thats a pretty damn good idea. The NBA and other american sports have a all-star break, Super 15 rugby is schedualed to allow the test season. Also if you can't do a deal for your career in 3 weeks, what are you up to? If you enforce the silence rule on the new trades, and the agents are allowed to discuss, silentley, leading up to round 12. Also makes the bye system fair and easy to manage.
I'm also a fan of passion, but not this rabid stupidity that is done by QLD papers. I know people who I will knowingly avoid around this time because they lose all ability to converse past, "Go QLD". Lets get this passion focused on the clubs during the season.
Submitted by a on
QLD will take the serise back tonight
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
No they won't ... ;-)
Submitted by a on
Remember NSW only won last year cause of the refs
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
No they didn't ... ;-)
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