Queensland Maroons vs New South Wales Blues – Sunday night (27th June) at 7.50pm – Suncorp Stadium
Maroons
- Valentine Holmes
- Xavier Coates
- Kurt Capewell
- Dane Gagai
- Kyle Feldt
- Cameron Munster
- Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
- Christian Welch
- Andrew McCullough
- Josh Papalii
- Jai Arrow
- Felise Kaufusi
- Tino Faasuamaleaui
- Ben Hunt
- Moeaki Fotuaika
- David Fifita
- Francis Molo
- Coen Hess
- Ronaldo Mulitalo
Coach - Paul Green
Blues
- James Tedesco (c)
- Brian To'o
- Latrell Mitchell
- Tom Trbojevic
- Josh Addo-Carr
- Jarome Luai
- Nathan Cleary
- Daniel Saifiti
- Damien Cook
- Junior Paulo
- Cameron Murray
- Tariq Sims
- Isaah Yeo
- Jack Wighton
- Angus Crichton
- Payne Haas
- Liam Martin
- Api Koroisau
- Campbell Graham
Coach - Brad Fittler
Game preview
Game one didn't exactly go to plan (not my plan at least). I think the game was won and lost when QLD forward Christian Welch left the field early and couldn't return. NSW dominated the middle thereafter, and on a fast surface that imposing NSW backline tore the game apart. Perhaps NSW were going to win anyway, but the absence of Welch clearly contributed to the margin. Welch is back and he's bringing Papalii along for the ride which will make a big difference, but it needs to. The NSW blues have a lot of levers in attack that they can unleash. When you have Cleary, Luai, Murray, Cook and Wighton setting up the attack, three absolute guns in Tedesco, Trbojevic and Mitchell lurking in behind, and two of the best wingmen in the competition in To'o and Addo-Carr...that's a recipe for success. When QLD went through a period of domination I would often use something as a reference point when it came to making assessments, and I can still use it now:
How many of the Queensland starting thirteen would I name in my Australian Kangaroos side?
I'm including three (Munster, Papalii and Fifita), and two of them are on my bench. Sometimes you just don't have the cattle, and right now the best cattle are south of the Tweed River. Two of QLD's best cows (Ponga and Grant) are unavailable. I don't expect a scoreline like game one - the QLD side will be embarrassed by that, but the QLD preparation has been a series of unfortunate events, and unfortunately the Blues look like they'll claim the series and will do so in enemy territory. Kudos to them.
Verdict – NSW 26 to QLD 14
First try scorer – Tom Trbojevic
Player of the match – Nathan Cleary
Comments
Submitted by The Thinker on
Greetings football fans,
Feel free to add your thoughts before, during and after the game in the comments.
All the best
The Thinker
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Hoping the game gets cancelled any reason will do
Submitted by Steel Panther on
That's hilarious Rocket!!
Submitted by mark ashford on
Hey Steel & Rocket
Yes a cancellation for any reason would suit me. Maybe I could spread a rumour about a covid cluster at Suncorp and scare off those dreaded Blues. I'm not looking forward to the next contest and feel the third game will be a dead rubber.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Imagine if they had to move the third game out of Sydney - QLD might host all three.
Helps...a bit
Submitted by tigerholic on
That would be embarrassing for QLD Thinker, losing all 3 home games, bring it on, the Blues are ready.
Tiger
Submitted by The Thinker on
Justis Huni has been ruled out of the Tokyo Olympics after damaging his hands while punching Paul Gallen.
At least it was for a good cause.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Thinker
I did watch the fight highlights and not surprised Justis is ruled out. He hit Gallen with everything he had but to pauls credit he kept coming back. I remember when paul hit that Qlder Nate Miles 3 times in the head to no effect, obviously he has improved since then.
Submitted by mark ashford on
I don't really want to post a prediction for SoO 2 but I'll stick my head out and say;
QLD 22 NSW 20
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
That head will get a kicking mark.
Submitted by The Tide Head on
If QLD come out fighting there should be some sparks during the first set of 5. If not, were in for a scoring bonanza!!!
NSW 100 QLD 6... I had to give them something ;)
FTS: L. Mitchell
BOG: Nathan Cleary
Submitted by Jennifer 2814 on
Hi all,
GO THE MIGHTY BLUES.....
Tipped Tommy Turbo to put the first try last time. This time I'm tipping Brian To'o.
Cheers.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Morning All
I woke early on this fine Sunday around 0330, got up and restarted the fire and made a coffee. Then I enjoyed finishing a book I have had on the go for a while.
SOO doesn't quite feel right being played Sunday night, most of us have work tomorrow and have to be mindful of how much we consume, I am in favour of all 3 games to be a Wednesday night and I know we have work the day after but for some strange reason Sunday doesn't sit well.
Maybe that feeling I have is because Sunday is the day of the Lord and another massacre wouldn't be right.
Have a great day folks, should be a great game and I can't see the Blues losing this one, too much talent.
Cheers-Tiger
Submitted by tigerholic on
Testing-Testing-Testing
Where have all of the Queensland supporters gone, come on guys it was only 26-0:)
Tiger
Submitted by NuL1F3 on
I think this is what it must have felt like being a blues supporters all those years? What a dream team the NSW side have at the moment! Enjoy your 1 in a row cockroaches ;P
Submitted by The Thinker on
@Tigerholic
It's quiet isn't it? :-)
Far too good NSW...they've got a very good side right now
Submitted by mark ashford on
Well done Blues you have the best team for now, kinda reminds me when QLD won 8 series in a row couple of years back. It's your turn to shine enjoy while it lasts.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Hi Mark and Nulf3
You guys have to stop living the past, you did have the monopoly there for quite a few years. As a Blues supporter I can never forget how it felt year after year to lose, listening to the bragging Queenslanders, geez it feels good right now.
As you said Mark, it's the Blues time to shine and by George we are gonna enjoy every winning, 50-6 and 26-0 minute.
My old mate Rocket has headed off on a recruitment trip, he is looking over the talent in the Laidley U13 to see who can play game 3, and that's a girls team:)
Yes folks, it feels like the Blues have earned their time, should be dominant for a few years to come.
To give you Queenslanders a bit of hope, after game 3 it's only 12 months before you can try to make amends for this years embarrassing efforts.
Okay, let's bring on round 16.
Have a great week folks
Tiger
Submitted by mark ashford on
Hey Tiger
Yes I'll take my licks you guys have been so dominate this year there is nothing I can say. Just hope the Maroons can do some rebuilding before 2022. I hope Rocket can find a few players out there in Laidley. I know they are females but couldn't do any worse than our current squad, in fact I believe the current QLD SoO girls would have done better. At least we own the shield for the ladies.
Submitted by Mary S on
Hi Tiger,
I will grant you - the better team won the series this year and congratulations on their win.
The Maroons fans have enjoyed 22/39 series wins since 1980, with Blues 15/39 series wins (2 drawn games), so I imagine most are still getting over the shock of 2 such convincing wins by the Blues in this series!!!!
Once again - congratulations!
Cheers,
Mary