Queensland Maroons vs New South Wales Blues – Wednesday night – Suncorp Stadium
Queensland Maroons
- Darius Boyd (Brisbane Broncos)
- Corey Oates (Brisbane Broncos)
- Will Chambers (Melbourne Storm)
- Justin O'Neill (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
- Anthony Milford (Brisbane Broncos)
- Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
- Dylan Napa (Sydney Roosters)
- Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
- Nate Myles (Manly Sea Eagles)
- Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
- Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
- Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
- Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)
- Aidan Guerra (Sydney Roosters)
- Jacob Lillyman (New Zealand Warriors)
Coach - Kevin Walters
New South Wales Blues
- James Tedesco (Wests Tigers)
- Blake Ferguson (Sydney Roosters)
- Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Jarryd Hayne (Gold Coast Titans)
- Brett Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- James Maloney (Cronulla Sharks)
- Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)
- Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
- Nathan Peats (Gold Coast Titans)
- Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
- Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Boyd Cordnor (Sydney Roosters)
- Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- David Klemmer (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)
- Jake Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)
- Jack Bird (Cronulla Sharks)
Coach - Laurie Daley
* note: team line-ups are subject to considerable change, but will be updated as news filters through.
Much has been made of the changes affecting the Queensland Origin team. I don't dismiss these changes lightly – when you take away Thurston, Inglis and Scott it's hard to plug the hole their absence leaves behind. The big blue elephant in the room that no-one is talking about is the changes in the NSW side, so let's have a look at this elephant now, Since the last Origin game at Suncorp Stadium in 2016 the Blues have made the following changes:
- A different fullback
- Two different centres (arguably playing out of position)
- One different winger (they've replaced a Morris brother with the other Morris brother – you're forgiven if you didn't notice)
- A different halfback
- A new first-time captain
- Two different prop forwards
- Two brand new faces on the bench
That's a heck of a lot of changes, particularly when the QLD side have made just three. Even the four guys on the bench for QLD have been there before, so for my money the QLD side are actually a more settled squad than the Blues. QLD Captain Cameron Smith, two-parts footballer and two-parts metronome, is an old hand at all of this. Anything thrown at him in the lead-up will be fended off with ease. It's likely that anything thrown at him on the field will be dealt with in much the same way. I'm a card-carrying member of the Boyd Cordnor fan club, and I've been telling the Blues to find a new captain for about seven years, but this is his debut at the toss of the coin. It's a big deal, and he's in enemy territory. I don't want the man to crumble, and I don't think he will, but it's a big deal.
I've been banking on (literally banking on) low scoring totals in the first game of every Origin series since forever. Since 2011 the highest combined total is 28 points and the highest total by any team is 18 points. In the last three years the totals are actually shrinking further. In 2014 the Blues won 12-8, in 2015 the Maroons won 11-10 and in 2016 the Maroons won 6-4. This trend can't go on forever, but it doesn't look like breaking anytime soon. Take note though, that this game is at Suncorp which is a better surface for football at this time of year. That 28 point game I mentioned earlier was at Suncorp back in 2011. The three lowest scoring games were all at ANZ. The venue matters, if you're banking on these things (bankle responsibly).
There's talk that NSW will aim Tyson Frizell (and others) at Anthony Milford and why wouldn't they? That said, he knows it's coming and QLD knows its coming. QLD will have a plan to manage that just as they have with their small playmakers in the past. Milford gets targeted in defence when he plays for the Broncos and they seem to be travelling just fine. The word is that Will Chambers will be defending alongside Milford in the line but we shall see on the night. There's no shortage of Bronco backrowers in this QLD line-up that can help out if need be.
As far as a result goes I'm tipping a low-scoring contest but not quite as low-scoring as recent years, and I'm banking on the composure of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Darius Boyd (whose growth as a player in recent years is truly astounding) to get the home side home. Enjoy the game football fans. Enjoy the game.
Verdict – QLD 13 to defeat NSW 12
First try scorer – Dane Gagai
Man of the Match – Cooper Cronk
Comments
Submitted by Johnny Awesome on
Mr 'a' you were close. Not so much sarcastic just a little bit cheeky to Mr Thinker my friend cheers Mr Awesome
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Hmm not good mind set. Fresh bodies on the field and Smith needs a blow. NSW in a canter tonight
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Give it them, nice try. Just check onside, but any kick caught on the full for a try is awesome.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Like that Billy Slater try years ago, flat, very very flat.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it Ryan. Doesn't that feel good.
Submitted by The Thinker on
NSW playing very well tonight....Just more overwhelming evidence to support my thesis that the Blues have had the wrong captain for a very long time.
:-)
Submitted by a on
QLD will come back
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Na na na nah.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Look not sure hayne should be there, but he is having a blinder.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Show chambers the door for 3 weeks, this is why the shoulder charge needs to go.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Yeah, not sure about that one.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Na na nah nah
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Hmmmm mention biggest winning margin at suncorp, then a soft penalty. Coincidence??????
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Ahhh Nate, couldn't of happened to a nicer grub.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Hey hey hey goodbye. ✋
Submitted by Mary S on
Hi Christine,
I love the fact that you push buttons to get a rise out of your father and visa versa. I used to have that relationship with my father over English soccer or the Test cricket. Don't know if you saw on channel 9 last night, the man who came from NSW, has lived in Qld for 35 years and has painted his house a bright blue as he supports NSW in the SoO.
Currently Qld are getting done like a dinner!!
Cheers to all
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
What happened to the QLD fire Ryan? Weren't you mocking us blues for not talking? Where is the chirp, or is that wagon to heavy to push?
Submitted by a on
QLD will win the next 2 games
Submitted by Fortress on
What a great tough win by the blues,the qld's were gallant in defeat and showed why are champions.
I thought that the blues forwards aimed up tonight,fifita was oitstanding ,as was tedesco and Maloney ,Jake turbo had a great first game for one so young,I thought cooper Cronk was brilliant for the qld's all in all a stunning win for the men I blue.
So one game down folks and we all know the qld's will come at us hard in the 2nd game to try and square it up so mark A,and rocket it aint over till the fat lady sings boys.
Great game,well done the blues on a super performance and we wait now for soo 2 everyone wishing you all my good friends a very good evening!!!!!
Cheers from the fortress!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
No probs Christine - sounds like good household rivalry there.
Cheers with one game down. Keep well
Big Pete.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Nothing like confidence "a", especially in Sydney with a sea of blue to haunt and taunt you.
Cheers mate and enjoy the rest of the week.
Big Pete
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Baggy - Rocket is weighed down too heavy by a ton of Kandos Cement that has be loaded at his front door.
He'll respond later with a bucket full.
Submitted by pabdul on
hey pete how are you what i saw was the best team won and the dirty team lost.
also just an update petersham is great did RISI today and long tongs tomorrow i thought that meant chinese for lunch but its how to use long tongs. talk soon.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Blues went real well Fortress/Pabdul/Johnny A.
They played extra well by putting their lives on the line and getting on with the game from the opening whistle. Getting like days of real Origin was. Confidence bred confidence and Sydney here we come.
NSW have a team here that can play on together. QLD will have a rebuilding program to come, as they stand to lose a few stars in a couple of seasons, or sooner. Alfie put in a couple of good appearances on field, maybe he is back as a super sub. Nah....every year is like that and I don't know why they retired him.
Mark A - The Bundy Bear might be on a bundy session after all this tonight. NSW biggest win in Brisbane. I'll drink to that with you Mark.
However, the game showed up some rising stars. Even McGuire into the fashion business - coat hangers anyone.
Pabdul - you and Paula going to the game. Close to the ranch mate.
Hows the new work abode going?
Good night all - enjoy the rest of your week.
Submitted by a on
Yeah and go QLD they will win the next 2 games
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Chop chop suey and sticks Pabdul.
P/Ham (not soup) RSL does a good roast day there also, mainly for pensioners and boy to they patronise the place.
Keep well NSW Brothers in Arms.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Confidence "a" - I like it mate.
They'll be going alright mate - like a dose of the salts passing through.
NSW in Sydney with Game 1 over is the test - because QLD back at Suncorp will be there's.
Hang in there "a". Its been good footy overall tonight and NSW might have just turned the corner. Credit where its due mate, as you guys know winning and a tear in the eye is expected when you lose.
Submitted by Rocket on
Cockroaches win a game, that can happen, QLD well below par, poor games by Gillett who did not come to play way better than tonight's effort, O'Neill had a shocker, Myles should of played his last game you would think, to see the blue grubs winning so easy is a crime in Queensland, what do Titan fans think, are there two Hayne planes, good to see the old commentary team happy anyway.
Submitted by The Thinker on
I don't want to harp on about this...no wait, yes I do.
NSW are a better team without Gallen and, I have to say, Farah. Two selfish players gone. Gallen is replaced by Cordnor and there's a world of difference out there. No fights in game one (from memory) – just two teams doing their best and the result was a high quality game throughout. The Sharks in the Blues line-up (Fifita, Graham and Maloney) had blinders – they're better footballers without the stench of Gallen hanging over them. They just went out and played football...and they're very good footballers.
Phil Gould has had issues with the leadership at the Blues for years. He knows more about leadership and winning Origin for NSW than just about anyone else....I think he'd be happier now.
QLD can come back in game two....but on what we saw last night it's hard to see it.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Evening Folks
Had the power off all day so have been unable to check in til now. NSW played the house down last night and I really don't think JT could have changed the result, he probably could have levelled the scores at 6-6 all by kicking the conversion but I think old motor mouth Rocket Ryan could have kicked that goal.
Well done to both teams for a great match, look forward to game 2.
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