New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons – Wednesday night – ANZ Stadium
New South Wales Blues
- Matt Moylan (Penrith Panthers)
- Blake Ferguson (Sydney Roosters)
- Michael Jennings (Parramatta Eels)
- Josh Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Josh Mansour (Penrith Panthers)
- James Maloney (Cronulla Sharks)
- Adam Reynolds (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
- Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
- Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks)
- Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters)
- Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans)
- Dylan Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- James Tamou (North Queensland Cowboys)
- David Klemmer (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
Coach - Laurie Daley
Queensland Maroons
- Darius Boyd (Brisbane Broncos)
- Corey Oates (Brisbane Broncos)
- Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Justin O'Neill (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
- Jonathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
- Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
- Nate Myles (Manly Sea Eagles)
- Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
- Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)
- Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos)
- Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
- Aidan Guerra (Sydney Roosters)
- Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
Coach - Kevin Walters
* note: team line-ups are subject to considerable change, but will be updated as news filters through.
The ANZAC Test was not so long ago, and the starting thirteen for Australia included ten Queenslanders. The three players that weren't Queenslanders were:
- a winger not eligible to play for NSW (Radradra);
- a centre who has pulled out injured (Dugan); and
- a prop forward (Gallen - whose record as Origin captain speaks for itself).
The biggest change for Queensland, and potentially the biggest issue, relates to changes off the field. Queensland have a first-time coach this year, and he wasn't exactly the most wanted person for the role. Critics of Mal Meninga as a coach will, at the very least, accept this - the man has a presence. Whether Kevin Walters can lift his troops remains to be seen.
I was hoping to know sooner if Cooper Cronk were playing or not. Strange this may sound to some, but I think Queensland are a better chance of winning without him. Thurston and Morgan are quite the combination for the Cowboys, and that Cronk/Thurston combination at Origin level hasn't always clicked. If Cronk withdraws, there is some risk Thurston can't make it through the game either. How Queensland manage that scenario is anyone's guess. Thurston will be targeted, but Beau Scott isn't there this time. Watch for Gallen, Klemmer, Bird and Farah to put their hands up for the role of hurt merchant. They'll be hitting his hips all night.
The weather, wet it may be, keeps the game closer but I'm not convinced it changes the result. I accept that Maloney and Reynolds have very good kicking games in general play, but we haven't seen that from either of them at this level. Quite frankly, I'll take those experienced old heads in maroon to handle a wet, slower game of football anyway.
Whether Robbie Farah has 80 minutes of football in him at this level on a wet track is another question mark for me, and Aaron Woods has only recently returned from injury. Plenty spoke of his tremendous performance for the Tigers against the Knights...but that's against the Knights.
The referees are generally reluctant to get the whistle out of their pockets in game one of an Origin series. If that happens again, and it probably will, the play-the-ball area will be in super slo-mo all night. I'll bank on the guile of Cameron Smith and his very experienced troops to prevail under such circumstances.
This is likely to be the final Origin series for NSW captain Paul Gallen. Watching him trudge off the field with his head bowed is an image that will bring me considerable delight.
Verdict – Queensland 14 : New South Wales 10
First try scorer - Blake Ferguson
Man of the Match - Cameron Smith (or Michael Morgan if Cronk withdraws)
Comments
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
King Grub of the UFC. Here's to hoping that this is a good clean game, and apart from bitching at each other that the wrong team won, there is nothing to question.
Submitted by mark ashford on
OK Thinker nothing personal.
But you don't have to be nice about Gallen cos sure as hell he won't be.
Yes Rocket watch for Gallen, Bird, Fiffita and Farrar to put it on.
Only hope that the Panther boys play hard but nice as they usually do.
Coach heard that Segeyaro has been released for 2017 and you're struggling to hold Moylan under the cap.
Looks like one club is being honest (cap) if it's all true.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I'm back, but sick kid duties may interrupt. My diagnosis is that she is vomiting at the thought of a Maroon's win and if what she has is spreading, the prognosis could be lots of vomit all round. Fingers crossed not.
I am hoping for a good game
#not marred by players from both sides falling down to falsely earn a penalty leading to big turning points in the game,
#not marred by ruck penalties because of holding down for 3/4 of a second too long,
#not marred because there was a player who dropped the ball but suddenly got a penalty for stripping, or offside or something else made to retain possession for that team
#not marred by the Bunker trying to conjure up a decision only based vaguely on the rulebook.
Am I asking too much. Probably yes. Fact is we just don't have officials good enough to avoid the above.
If that's the case and he game is a debacle, I hope there's some way of telling that the better team wins.
Good luck to all the Queenslanders out there. Play well. I will shake hands before the game as well as after the game, and promise to rip and tear in between. Looking forward to hopefully seeing a couple of Panthers help NSW to victory. Will see. No doubt I may get sporting responses, but not because any Northerners cared to say anything similar themselves to start with.
Ps To all the nark/s who applaud Thinker for his balanced views, know the truth that on this site anyway, it's really the NSW voices who balance out the views.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Will be all good if Tamou is only doing the Thurston shop around before coming back to the Cowboys table.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Coach sorry to hear your kids are crook, hope they recover and you get to see the game but remember family is above all.
Thinker is a maroon ( I believe he was born at Redcliff QLD)but a roosters supporter at club level.
I'm sure there are many NSW supporters here as there are QLDers.
Just seems yourself, me, Rocket, Baggy, "a" and Tigerholic post the most.
Maybe we hog the site and scare the others off.
OH and just to remind you Newbie is a QLD supporter.
Submitted by Dragonsfan4ever on
Well Rocket. Yes we have a good side but even though I said we have a good side. I tend to think that we have a bit of inexperience in our side. Yes, we definitely will be better than our last side but will we win, I hope so.
Submitted by Dragonsfan4ever on
Sorry I meant last start*
Submitted by mark ashford on
Coach I meant to comment on your game points.
Agree with the lot.
Lets hope we have a great game and the best team wins
Which of course will be QLD
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I gotta say, I'm not unhappy that I'm not posting on the same side of the fence as those Manly supporters. Very awkward.
I think that's it. That's why Qld seem to unite better come Origin season. They're all each other's 2nd and 3rd teams.
NSW on the other hand most Sydney teams are sworn enemies of about 42 combinations, and all hate Canberra. Then have to come together as teammates and fans alike. It's a little bit unnatural when you think about it.
Submitted by a on
Paul Gallen is a grub he will never win a premreship
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Hasn't stopped many before him buddy
Submitted by tigerholic on
Giddy Folks
Tonights game will be a good one, will be even better when NSW get over the Morons, sorry that was meant to be Maroons.
Anyway, good luck to you all no matter what team you follow, NSW need to be travelling to Suncorp one up not one down.
Here is a little ditty just for tonight
There was a fellow named Rocket
Who carried a joke book in his pocket
It must have been made of glass
As he often talked out of his ass
Origin is a great time of the year
This years Blues squad have nothing to fear
Already suffered from losing 9 in a row
2016 will be the year to bestow
A salute must go out to our man Thinker
Unlike the NRL he never has to tinker
To "a", Rocket, Mark, Baggy, Coach and of course Christine
If you don't know already, the air in NSW is always pristine.
So enjoy the game tonight
Lets hope the boys come to fight
NSW to win by at least 8
From where I sit, that would be great.
Have a great night
Submitted by Coach Potato on
The first of June and two new seasons arrive in unison.
One with a fire that requires starting, the other that doesn't.
Last time Origin that was played on June 1 was 1982. A BLUES night it was. Here's hoping for some de ja' BLUE.
1-6-1 6
I wonder if numerologists predict it will be 16-16 at the end?
Either way, feels different this time. Feels like we are a big chance. New Winter - check, New Origin Season - check, New Team - check, New South Wales - check (Mate!)
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Tiger that must have taken a while but I gotta say that is so lame. Sharpen up those lines you.
Submitted by The Thinker on
There's plenty of people here...but not everyone wants to say something. That's fine with me.
We get about 35000 visitors a week usually - almost every week 35% of them are in greater Sydney and 33% are in greater Brisbane.
When it comes to state borders, our audience is split almost evenly.
For those remotely interested, our top five international cities are:
Auckland
Christchurch
London
Paris
Port Moresby
And the strangest places where we are viewed with more regularity than I would ever expect:
Shchyolkovo - a city outside Moscow.
Svendbord - a town on Funen Island in Denmark.
Perhaps the Sea Eagles can relocate if they get kicked out of Brookvale.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I second that motion.
.. wait a minute..that reminds me...pre game toilet break.
Ahhh. Motion passed.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Ahhh yes. Cooper CROCK
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Forward pass for sure. Sorry Maroons. Refs call.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Stop the game cause we took it up too hard. Spare me days
Submitted by mark ashford on
Liked it Tiger.
What about the strip Coach where was the call on that?
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
That ref's gone. First try not referred upstairs. He's days are numbered
Submitted by Coach Potato on
How come ref's contracts keep getting renewed at their own discretion?
Not another job in the world where you keep getting paid to underperform.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Surely O'Neill was concussed. They stopped the $%& ing game for him.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Not much being made of Cronk's ankle.
No matter.
Just gotta keep thinking Karma and Cheaters. Karma and Cheaters.
Submitted by The Thinker on
A little underwhelming the first half....Often is though.
Boyd chiming in to create the extra man overlap for the Gagai try was pretty to watch though.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Pretty even contest so far as most SOO games are.
First try "not referred upstairs" why not Baggy he's a NSW born ref.
Came off a forward pass but we all know that doesn't matter in NSW.
Where was Moylan Coach when Gagai scored in the corner?
Sorry I agreed not to get personal.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
He's the fullback. How many defend on the wing??
Submitted by a on
NSW try was from a forward pass
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Thanks for that - hot of the press, 'a'.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Qld's first penalty goal was on the back of Gallen tackling Scott around the waist.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Morgan Steeeammmrolleddd!!!
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Good call on that no-try. I was having a laugh that the first time there is a try the Ref bucks the trend of 3.8 referrals per game.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Darius there are plenty who are willing to give you something to lie down about
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
He needs to do something to justify his inclusion. He hasn't done much
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
So, ten minutes to go and the T.V. is off, my interest hasn't come back. Watching Greg, try to drag a player back after the tackle was completed just annoyed me once to often.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Get back to your Fortress Walker and have them throw away the key
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Get back to your Fortress Walker and have them throw away the key
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Yeah call it full time while the last play is still going.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Really????????? That's not right.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Geez Gallen must be ruing tackling Scott around the waist.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
If this was a game QLD lost every man and his red dog (movie title) would be up in arms, the Premier might even consider calling the state to arms.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Hit them high and then claim they were falling into it.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Take Bird's head off with a few minutes to go, no problem.
Tackle Scott around the waist. High tackle. Penalty. 2 points.
Submitted by mark ashford on
What are you complaining about Coach. A tough dour contest between two teams who are pretty much equal in ability.
Great defense from both teams and none if any dirty play.
Isn't that what we all wanted.
Someone had to win and it was QLD.
YEEEES YOU MIGHTY MAROONS
Bring on game 2!!!!
Submitted by mark ashford on
Birds head deserves to be taken off
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Knock on. Scrum feed on Qld's line. Bunker somehow says no. Any need to explain yourself Bunker. Such an insult to NRL fans intelligence from both sides. Treated like dumbos.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Well done QLd, nothing to say other than that.
Submitted by tigerholic on
How could the bunker go against the Refs call in that try, no one could say clearly that it was or was not a try, should that not be then called a
fuck-n try?????????????
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
What I want to know is why leading with the knee into the back wasn't called. I agree with the call, as the ball never made the line, but Billy was beaten until he gave up leading with feet/knees.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Gee Coach aren't you a graceful looser. Who are you going to blame?
The refs? The bunker? The Linesmen? or perhaps the ballboys why not the Coach? perhaps pick on the people who made the ball!
Anything except your players.
Oh no it was the smokescreen about Cronk or your saying it was about JT's fitness. Perhaps peptide paul has run out of drugs.
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