New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons – Wednesday night – ANZ Stadium
New South Wales Blues
- James Tedesco (Wests Tigers)
- Blake Ferguson (Sydney Roosters)
- Michael Jennings (Parramatta Eels)
- Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Josh Mansour (Penrith Panthers)
- James Maloney (Cronulla Sharks)
- Matt Moylan (Penrith Panthers)
- Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
- Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
- Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks)
- Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)
- Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Jack Bird (Cronulla Sharks)
- 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)
- Jacob Lillyman (New Zealand Warriors)
- Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
- Aidan Guerra (Sydney Roosters)
- Gavin Cooper (North Queensland Cowboys)
Coach - Kevin Walters
* note: team line-ups are subject to considerable change, but will be updated as news filters through.
A dead rubber this may be, but in many respects it's not a bad way for a team to blood some new talent. The Blues get to play at home, and while there is pressure on them to win it's not like the pressure they face when the series is on the line. Now a few of these New South Welshmen are definitely (Gallen) or probably (Farah and Jennings) donning the blue for the last time on Wednesday. Away from that trio this is a very young NSW side. Even some of their older players (Maloney 30; Tamou 28; Dugan 27; Ferguson 27) still have plenty of Origin football in them if their form warrants it. When 10 of the 17 Queenslanders are on the wrong side of 30 (and Darius Boyd turns 30 in a week), one wonders if those younger legs will have a little more kick in them.
There's no denying that this Queensland side are a team of champions, and the current Kangaroos side is loaded with banana benders for a reason, but at some point time has to catch up with them. We get closer to that moment with each series and, eventually, when this extraordinary era comes to an end, we will look back at this Queensland side and realise how darn good they were.
Can Queensland win again? Of course they can, and I'm sure they'd prefer to lift the trophy on Wednesday night after a victory. But this young and promising NSW side, with a halves pairing that aren't even a halves pairing, can give us a glimpse of the future. As the light fades on an extraordinary period in Queensland Origin history, a brighter future dawns for New South Wales.
Paul Gallen retires from Origin football as one of the least successful players in the history of the series, and easily the least successful captain. But he leaves the battleground as a winner in his final conflict. His players will lift for him on Wednesday night. He can take solace from that.
Verdict – NSW 26 : QLD 18
First try scorer - Matt Moylan
Man of the Match - Robbie Farah
Comments
Submitted by mark ashford on
Thinker Thinker thinker...how can you tip against your Maroons.
I agree the Blues have picked a better team this time but is it enough.
QLD will want to send Corey out on a threesome and I think they will.
QLD passion will prevail and the grub Gallen will walk off the park with his head down.
If the Blues win then who cares it's a dead rubber and another lost series.
With our young guns coming through this QLD dominance could go on forever.
QUEENSLANDER...GO YOU MIGHY MAROONS
Submitted by mark ashford on
Sorry about the MIGHY the T on my keyboard is giving me a hard time
Submitted by tigerholic on
Come on Mark, you have to be realistic mate, the BLUES will not lose again on home soil, do you think the keyboard that Fortress uses has a lot of dodgy keys?
GO THE MIGHTY NSW BLUES, if Gallen is a grub then that makes Cameron Smith a super grub with no backbone.
Cheers
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Hey Thinker...have you got any stats on how many correct Origin games you've picked since you started this site? From what I recall you have a pretty good record.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Steel Panther,
I've done 11 origin previews on this site, for 9 winners. The two games I got wrong were Game 1 in 2014 (NSW won by 4 and I picked QLD by 4) and Game 2 in 2014 (NSW won by 2 and I picked QLD by 1).
Not too shabby.
That was a fascinating series in 2014. From memory, NSW scored just four tries in four hours of football...and that was enough to claim the trophy. For the trivia buffs....QLD scored seven, but five of those were in the dead rubber.
Submitted by christine on
Fortress Eagle Thanks for your thoughts you posted to me last round I only just sore it & yes I know what your referring to with expressing your thoughts on this site ( no offence there thinker) but some people don't always agree with your opinion mine or anyone's except theirs & if they don't like it they don't need to comment but I've been on this website long enough to know how to deal with them now so again thanks fortress eagle & in regards to origin for me it's QLD
Submitted by Bill on
Who are you and what have you done with the thinker?
Submitted by Dragonsfan4ever on
Hello everyone, my origin pick for game 3 is NSW by 8- The Blues have clearly picked their best side of the series by far. Although, the Maroons pretty much just sick with their legendary side. But, I think that this Blues side can beat the Maroons. The Blues will play with plenty of pride and come out on top here.
Awesome that's done. Good luck with origin 3 hope the mighty Blues win so it doesn't become a whitewash. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Dragonsfan4ever on
And also, the Blues will do it for Gal I forgot to mention.
Submitted by a on
Here is my origin scores
QLD 22 tires Justin O’Neill Corey Oates Matt Gillett Dane Gagai goals Johnathan Thurston 3/4 NSW 20 Tyson Frizell James Tedesco Matt Moylan goals James Maloney 4/5
Man of the Match Corey Parker
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
The blues to win by 14 and a new era of dominance will begin for NSW go the mighty blues.
And of course go the mighty sea eaglesssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Good on you Christine you hang in there your a very strong person ..don't let anyone get you down .sometimes we have to stick up for ourselves against this bully gang pack mentality and you know how we win to speak our minds and to never let those who try and silence our rights to or thoughts and opinions. And your thoughts and opinions are greatly valued by me and many others on this site so keep up the strength and never ever give up,
And us mighty eagles will always rock with you.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Yes fortress poor christine picked on by those nasty bullys lucky your here to support her during these harsh times.
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Thankyou rocket we all need support and I'm happy to be offering my support to Christine.
Good luck to your mob tommorrow you blokes have already won the trophy but that does not mean that qlds is just going to give it to us it will be very tough but I feel pride and gallens farewell will spur the blues to pull away at the end .corey Parkersburg team mates have already assured he retires with the win and I believe the blues will do the Sam for gallen though not a series win but at least a win to send him out a winner that's my opinion enjoy the game,
And keep rocking with the eaglessssssssss.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
It will be a good game ,nothing is too good for gallen fortress
And that is exactly what i hope he gets tomorrow night.
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Sorry rocket I meant Corey Parker one thing on Corey Parker unlike cam smith and Sam thaiday .this bloke is a gentleman a champion player of the highest degree. .When ever I have watched him play he respects not only his club and state but other clubs and players I would along with thurston make him an immortal of the game I know he doesn't play for the mighty eagles ,but if there is one player in the state of Queensland that represents sportsmanship ,skill, great worth ethic and integrity than I've always held Corey Parker with these attributes, good luck to him and good luck to all the boys tommorrow nite,
From the great fortress home of the mighty eaglessssssssssssssss
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Look rocket I know u don't like gallen I must admit sometimes he goes over board. But as you know he is not the only one look at mr thaiday , he has been a great warrior and competitor and while sometimes we may not like some players we still have to respect there standing and give them there dues. Keep rocking rocket good luck tommoz.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Very good Bill. I like that.
Submitted by christine on
Rocket Ryan I 'm not your enemy so leave me out of it ...
Submitted by Tailspin on
Well thinker, I was going to back the blues until I seen that Moylan was playing 7, QLD to rise again as victors, 15 to 8.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Without discriminating against anyone, I think the whole bloody lot of you are going on with a whole bunch of crap.
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
In the words of the great madonna anyone that feels threatened on this site EXPRESS YOURSELF and if some of the people on here don't like it well than TOUGH TITTIES,
Eagles forever,
Submitted by a on
Yes we don't need bullies at all
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Looking forward to Sunday, The BOYS away to the Panthers. Going to be a ripper game and will be a great look at the side now everything has come down and is settled. Be a great game for the Panthers to get up and prove that they will be a force in the finals this year, but see what Terepo did on his first run. Coming at you hard, live and victorious at Pepper Stadium, The next generation Eels.
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Nice work Thinker. I must say I am surprised to see you are backing NSW. I'm nervous that they don't have a player playing at 7 who plays number 7. Surely there must be someone who plays 7 at club level who would be a better risk than someone who doesn't play 7 week in week out? I dunno...just my thoughts.....may the best team win!!
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
And may the best team be QLD i dont think Moylan is the best fullback let alone the best halfback maybe a blue smokescreen
Submitted by The Thinker on
It's a massive risk, but I think Bird has better utility value than Moylan and that's why I've got Moylan in the starting thirteen.
Have a look through that NSW team - this is a quick side. Even Maloney is faster than he looks - we saw that in Origin 2. So NSW have a quick backline and very quick playmakers.
Now they just need Paul 'look at me' Gallen and Robbie 'look at me too' Farah to convince that pack of forwards to get their mojo on and those speedsters get a platform.
And look at the bloody weather in Sydney today...yeeesh!!!!
QLD won't give up....it's not their go. They also have their own 'heroes' to send off tonight. We all know about Corey Parker but, just quietly, this is probably the last game for Nate Myles too. He may not be everyone's favourite but the bloke is about to play his 31st Origin game - that's an outstanding contribution from a forward, and there wouldn't be many that have played more.
But QLD have already won, and Origin games are run and won with those one percenters - those efforts that often go unseen. QLD will put in for most of the one percenters. As I said earlier, it's their go, but at their age and with the series always decided, can they put their hand up for all the one percenters?
Obviously I hope they do - what a game it will be if they do. We'll know how wrong I was tonight.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Boy I wouldn't want to be a NSW selector or coach. Plenty of criticism here and elsewhere.
Give Moylan a break, he's a clever young player and may just surprise a few of us.
I've tipped QLD but not with any confidence.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Interesting Origin facts - the last time NSW won game three of a series was in 2009.
Submitted by Titans Flag 2016 on
Anyone got any thoughts on the Wally Lewis medal tonight? Do you think they'll give it to Coz since his retiring, QLD won the series and his had a pretty good game 1 and 2?.. Has there ever been a back to back Wally Lewis medal winner?
Submitted by The Thinker on
Greetings Titans Flag,
Good question and the answer is no. Here is the list of winners thus far (Cameron Smith has three but has never gone back-to-back). He's a massive chance to win a fourth:
2004 Craig Fitzgibbon
2005 Anthony Minichiello
2006 Darren Lockyer
2007 Cameron Smith
2008 Johnathan Thurston
2009 Greg Inglis
2010 Billy Slater
2011 Cameron Smith
2012 Nate Myles
2013 Cameron Smith
2014 Paul Gallen
2015 Corey Parker
Submitted by mark ashford on
The Wally Lewis medal is it chosen from the winning team (match or series) or chosen form the best player whoever wins?
From the Thinkers stats above it appears from the series winner.
In that case Corey, Josh Maguire or even Dane Gagai would be candidates and don't forget Darrius Boyd.
The only other change NSW should have made is Ennis for Farrah.
I don't like him but his form this year is superb.
Seriously my NSW friends you couldn't drop Gallen on his last SOO game......could you ?......he may just win it for QLD.
Submitted by Titans Flag 2016 on
I'm pretty sure it's voted on best player of the series irrespective of the series result. It used to be best QLD player but changed to best player of the series in 2004.
However, it does appear to go to someone from the side that wins the series and has won a man of the match vote, however last year it went to Corey Parker even though he didn't get a man of the match win for any game.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Thanks TitansFlag for clearing that up.
Your Titans are going ok this year horrendous run with injuries but still managing to win games.
I was living on the Goldie when the Titans came into the comp. Always wished them well but was always a Broncs supporter.
Have always disliked Greg Bird so found it hard to support them.
All that off field crap with the drugs, Birdie peeing on cop cars, salary cap etc made it easy for me not to support the Titans.
GC has a population of over half a mill and they should get more support. Lots of Victorians keeping loyal to their AFL teams doesn't help.
Anyway good to hear from you....keep the posts coming.
Cheers
Submitted by mark ashford on
COACH your silence is deafening.
Get on here and support your blues.
A third of your Panthers are playing....so where are you?
This site is in need of some NSW support so come on you Blues give it to us.
Likewise Rocket, BroncoSwimmer, Steel Panther and all you QLDers get on here for a say.
No one cares it's a dead rubber, it's a SOO game!
Submitted by a on
So both Coote and Feldt are could be out for Cowboys vs Bulldogs
Submitted by mark ashford on
"a" Cows have a bye for round 19, the Dogs are the following week. Plenty of time for your boys to be ready to destroy the dogs.
Despite who is out. The Cowboys will win. Don't worry.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Rumours....and I need to be very clear that they are just rumours, that two Manly players are about to get done for match fixing.
Big names. I really hope it's not true.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I hope it is true actually.
Nothing against Manly, but surely it's a step forward if some faces of corruption are unmasked.
To hope that the mystery of umpteen crook results every year remain unsolved cold cases. Where does that leave us?
The Parramatta saga as unsavoury as it has been, it's been of great benefit. Other clubs are driving their teams like there's a highway patrol car in the rear vision mirror.
Now with player corruption out of he closet, the ultimatum for players in general, to play with integrity has never been stronger.
I know you don't want this blight on the game exposed Thinker, but it's for the better - if you Think about it.
Submitted by mark ashford on
THINKER when are we going to be free of this sort of s--t in our game?
Most players in the NRL get 3, 4, 5 or 10 times what I earned as a worker doing 50 hours a week.
What is wrong with these people?
Submitted by mark ashford on
COACH just read your post and couldn't agree more.
What's wrong with just playing footy and being paid what you're worth.
Can we expose the low lifes who are promoting this crap.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Exposing bad elements in all walks of life is a good thing.
When was the last time someone called someone else a name on this site, for instance?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
People only seem to be going on about how Sharks were without three forwards and one back last week.
I'm really hoping Mansour and Moylan can show tonight that the Panthers minus their NSW were just as badly affected by Origin and will improve no end with them back in the team. Let's face it, forwards who can run it up 10m are a dime a dozen. Panthers had two backs out versus one for Sharks.
Submitted by a on
Well I hope Manly do get busted
Submitted by mark ashford on
Yeah Coach there has been a bit of name calling but I think it's all in fun no need to get upset about it.
I know you love your black cats and SOO can hurt.
What about my Broncs every year they cop it at SOO time.
This year 6 players out and we fall to teams we should have beaten.
After tonight we are back on even ground and round 20 should be a beauty, no more byes and full strength teams.
Don't know about "dime a dozen forwards" a lot of games are won up the middle, setting a platform for speedy backs and wingers.
Anyway Coach I wish your Panthers boys well tonight. I'm sure they will be a part of the Blues for many years to come.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Looked like he dropped it as far as I could see Bunker
Submitted by mark ashford on
What a joke bullshit penalties 9 to 1 and Cooper in the bin for 10.
Gee you NSW people need to win a game don't you.
QLD is killing you, only the paid off refs saving your arse.
Even Gould said "this is very harsh"
A 2 point lead wont be enough you motherlickers
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
What a good start. Exactly the right call, same as the binning of cronk. Still think you could argue the binning and a penalty try against the QLD'ers
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
He braced and lead with the shoulder, needs to be enforced at club level, but that rubbish needs to go.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Boyd dropped that. Just don't have the integrity or the guts Bunker
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