New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons – Wednesday night – ANZ Stadium
New South Wales
- Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Brett Morris (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Michael Jennings (Sydney Roosters)
- Josh Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- James McManus (Newcastle Knights)
- James Maloney (Sydney Roosters)
- Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)
- Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
- Robbie Farah (c) (Wests Tigers)
- James Tamou (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne Storm)
- Luke Lewis (Cronulla Sharks)
- Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans)
- Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
- Trent Merrin (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Anthony Watmough (Manly Sea Eagles)
- Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters)
Queensland
- Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
- Darius Boyd (Newcastle Knights)
- Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos)
- Brent Tate (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Jonathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
- Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Cameron Smith (c) (Melbourne Storm)
- Nate Myles (Gold Coast Titans)
- Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)
- Chris McQueen (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos)
- Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles)
- Ben Teo (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
- Josh Papali (Canberra Raiders)
Note: team line-ups are subject to change. Rosters will be updated as amendments filter through.
New South Wales were a real chance to win this series...they really were. They came up with a game plan for game one, played accordingly and were pretty convincing winners. Queensland responded as champions often do - faced with a rising challenger they came out of the blocks in game two and never looked like losing. This time both teams are facing the same challenge - they need to win this game to win this series. In recent years only one team has successfully risen to that challenge - it's the team coached by Mal Meninga and his maroon entourage. It's the team that has had Cameron Smith, Jonathan Thurston and Billy Slater in key positions. And it's the team with two of the greatest centres of all-time in Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges. This current Queensland team still has all those things going for it.
Laurie Daley hasn't been here before, and Luke Lewis is the only person in the New South Wales seventeen that has won a series. For NSW to win Luke Lewis has to pull out a game for the ages - I'd be backing him for Man of the Match honours if you like NSW on Wednesday night. The most potent attacking strike weapon for New South Wales in recent years (Jarryd Hayne) has been ruled out with injury, and theire has to be a huge question mark hanging over the head of their captain (Gallen) and the NSW player with more Man of the Match performances at Origin level than any other (Bird). Greg Bird only started walking today (Thursday). Gallen can't possibly be at 100 percent given the matches he has missed in recent weeks. If either or both can't take the field it puts a huge spanner in the forward rotation for NSW. Even if they do make it, can they play the minutes required at the level required on such a limited preparation? I say 'no'!
Queensland have had no such troubles and when Queensland has a trouble-free preparation it usually spells trouble for the Blues. Queensland are a team dripping with experience and talent - (at least) nine of their starting thirteen are in the starting thirteen for the Kangaroos. Home ground advantage keeps NSW in the contest. Rightly or wrongly the home side tends to get the rub of the green when it comes to the referees. In any case, Queensland are the team to beat and I have them clearly on top.
Verdict : QLD 28 to defeat NSW 16
First try scorer: Cooper Cronk
Man of the Match: Cameron Smith
Result : QLD 12 defeated NSW 10
Comments
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Yeah ... Queensland will win this game ! I thought NSW would win this series, I seriously did but after performance they put in last game you can't go pass Queensland because this is one tip you can't argue with Thinker about ! Queensland 24 NSW 14. Man Of Match : Darius Boyd. Go Blues ! ;-D
Submitted by dada siva on
this time story is different, NSW is going to win
specially in our grounds-sorrry thinker -ponniah
Submitted by The Thinker on
Murmurings that NSW captain Paul Gallen has been ruled out of Origin III. Replacement will be Aaron Woods.
Will update team listings once official.
All the best
Submitted by mark ashford on
Yes Gal is out and probably most of the trouble gone with him. In a drawn series (so far) Qld to win by 6 points.Maroons look out for Fifita and Dugan, they both look like they have something to prove. Lets hope it's a good clean game.
Submitted by Guru Craig on
The Guru will add his two cents over the weekend, i dont think its much of a mystery who ill be tipping though lol...
Submitted by a on
6th James Maloney scores conversion unsuccessful NSW 4 QLD 0
23rd Brett Morris scores conversion unsuccessful NSW 8 QLD 0
38th Darius Boyd scores conversion unsuccessful NSW 8 QLD 4
Half Time NSW 8 QLD 4
44th Josh Papali scores conversion successful QLD 10 NSW 8
49th Josh Morris scores conversion successful NSW 14 QLD 10
54th Cooper Cronk scores conversion successful QLD 16 NSW 14
63th Brett Morris has got a double conversion successful NSW 20 QLD 16
73th Josh Dugan has just about sealed the match conversion successful NSW 26 QLD 16
79th Brent Tate have given QLD one last chance conversion successful NSW 26 QLD 22
Full Time NSW has won the series by beating QLD 26-22
Man of the match James Tamou
Submitted by Guru Craig on
Better late than never they say...I've been a busy Guru this week, even fell asleep in the cinema yesterday watching Despicable Blues 2 with the family but as you can see, the old mind has been dreaming of Origin.
QLD - Its the eve of game three and all is quiet. With the series on the line you'd expect a bit more noise from the Blue camp but Gallen's withdrawal has hurt them, he may be a Grub but he is also the heart and soul of their team, the vertically challenged Generals loss is massive. Farah has the C now and he'll give his best as will the rest of them, but i fear for NSW supporters that your about to witness an annihilation, you might want to pull a 'Guru' and fall asleep because this is the sequel to game 2.
This QLD side is arguably the greatest of all time and boy did they fire-up in Brisbane, QLD fans get a copy of that game and add this one to the library next to it. We're witnessing future immortals play and they WILL be making history tomorrow night.
QLD 20 - NSW 4 1st Try Hodges MOTM Parker
Submitted by Rob on
well, I am from NSW and although my heart wants NSW to win, my mind says otherwise. Nothing has gone right for NSW in the lead up to game 3. And I think they will be lucky to fall behind by just 6 as most bookies suggest.
Cleaned up on the Manly game last monday and will be looking to do the same tonight.
QLD- 8.5!
Submitted by Rob on
MOM: Darius Boyd
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Darius Boyd? I'm scratching my head....
Submitted by Rob on
Okay maybe Darius Boyd is a bad idea and i only placed $5 on it because it pays $81.00 anyway lol. I just dreamt of it and who knows? Besides if it happens i'd look like a genious. Hahaha
Submitted by Johnny Boney on
I got two options,
Either Queensland 26- New South Wales 12
4th minute Darious Boyd scores conversion successful Qld 6- NSW 0
10th minute Justin Hodges scors conversion successful to give them a big early lead Qld 12-NSW 0
14th minute Johnathon Thurston scores converts his own try to blow NSW away Qld 18-NSW 0
18th minute Cameron Smith scores conversion successful to probably give NSW a smash by the end of the game Qld 24-NSW 0
25th minute Johnathon Thurston converts a penalty goal to slip the game away from NSW Qld 26-NSW 0
Half-Time Qld 26-NSW 0
44th minute Josh Morris scores conversion successful to give NSW a chance Qld 26-NSW 6
68th minute Josh Dugan scores conversion successful to keep NSW hopes alive
Full Time Qld 26-NSW 12
Queensland win the series MOTM-Justin Hodges
NSW 40-Qld 18
13th minute Josh Dugan scores conversion successful NSW 6-Qld 0
19th minute Brett Morris scores conversion missed NSW 10-Qld 0
25th minute Josh Morris scores conversion successful NSW 16-Qld 0
31th minute Boyd Cordner scores on debut conversion successful NSW 22-Qld 0
35th minute Anthony Watmough scores conversion successful NSW 28-Qld 0
39th minute Josh Dugan scores his second try conversion successful NSW 34-Qld 0
NSW to blow Qld away at Half time NSW 34-Qld 0
48th minute Brett Morris scores his second try NSW to get the game out of doubt NSW 40-Qld 0
55th minute Greg Inglis scores a consulation try NSW 40-Qld 6
59th minute Billy Slater scores but too little too late NSW 40-Qld 12
78th minute Daly Cherry-Evans scores conversion successful NSW 40-Qld 18
Robbie Farah to make 72 tackles in the match
Full Time NSW 40-Qld 18 Blues win the series for the first time in 8 years MOTM Robbie Farah
So those are my predictions for Origin 3 also the decider, remember go the Dragons and the Blues hopefully you could make our state proud.
Seeyaaaaaaaaaa next time fellas. Good luck with origin and Round 19 this week!!!!!
Submitted by Richard on
Thanks Thinker and guru Craig ...I had a bit of money on this game based on your insight...well done to the Maroons...thoroughly deserved..
Submitted by The Thinker on
Bad luck there Rob. Went with the wrong winger.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Great tough grinding game as Origin should be.
No fights, no punches, no cheap shots, Oh that's right no Gallen....just a coincidence? What about Birdie's dive? I thought someone must have shot him.