State of Origin 2018 ... this year it will be different !

[David48atTD]

State of Origin 2018 ... this year it will be different !

Why?

Well QLD has pensioned of a raft of players who have been the spine of the team this past decade.

I no particular order ...

Cooper Cronk

Johnathan Thursten

Camron Smith

Darius Boyd

Matt Gillett (injured)

Corey Oates

Matt Scott

With the rep-football retired Johnathan Thurston (37 matches), Cameron Smith (42) and Cooper Cronk (38) - plus Scott (22) and Boyd (28) - out of the squad, Queensland will be missing a combined 167 matches of experience for the series opener on June 6.
In the named team, only Billy Slater (29) and new captain Greg Inglis (30) have played more than 10 matches for the Maroons.
The uncapped players include Brisbane Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough, the Gold Coast Titans' Jai Arrow and the Melbourne Storm's Felise Kaufusi.

Maroons squad: Billy Slater, Valentine Holmes, Greg Inglis, Will Chambers, Dane Gagai, Cameron Munster, Ben Hunt, Dylan Napa, Andrew McCullough, Jarrod Wallace, Gavin Cooper, Felise Kaufusi, Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan, Coen Hess, Josh Papalii, Jai Arrow.

Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt will be the new halves combination for the Maroons

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NSW has a new Coach, promising changes and excitement.

Expected NSW Squad:
James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, James Roberts, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Damien Cook, Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell, Boyd Cordner (c), Jake Trbojevic.

Interchange: Tyrone Peachey, David Klemmer, Jack de Belin, Angus Crichton. Reserves: Nick Cotric, Tariq Sims, Ryan James.

Comments, thoughts and feelings?

[Loy Toy]

Whilst I would love to see the blues get up Queensland always seems to pull new great players out of their hat.

I also predict Cam Munster to be the player of the series.

Anyway GO THE COCKROACHES.

[TizMe]

I think on paper the Blues have a better team, especially in the forwards, but you never know what magic a couple of those toads can pull out of their hat on the night..

[bobo746]

NSW: 1. James Tedesco 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. James Roberts 4. Latrell Mitchell 5. Tom Trbojevic 6. James Maloney 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Boyd Cordner (capt) 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Jack de Belin Interchange: 14. Paul Vaughan 15. Jake Trbojevic 16. Angus Crichton 17. Tyrone Peachey 18. Tariq Sims 19. Nick Cotric


Queensland team: 1. Billy Slater 2. Valentine Holmes 3. Greg Inglis (capt) 4. Will Chambers 5. Dane Gagai 6. Cameron Munster 7. Ben Hunt 8. Dylan Napa 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Jarrod Wallace 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Felise Kaufusi 13. Josh McGuire Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan 15. Josh Papalii 16. Coen Hess 17. Jai Arrow

[bobo746]

[Bazzy]

We might let the Blues get the first one, go QLD.

[AntRobertson]

I have no dog in the fight but hard to go past the Blues for this one I think.

[Headworx]

It'll be interesting, I dont see why NSW are 1.60 favourites v QLD 2.40 in this for a few reasons:

1/ QLD have far more players with Origin experience. How many of the 11 debutantes for NSW will under-perform (or fold) under the pressure?. Big difference between club games and Origin. Even Origin players with 20 or 30 games under their belts says they get nauseous with nerves before running out...
2/ The entire Australian back-line will be wearing Maroon.
3/ The opening game is in Melbourne which will favour QLD for fan support. NSW might be right next door but Melbournites fly straight over the top of the fucken joint to get to QLD for their holidays and to eye-up a retirement property.
4/ Billy Slater, best #1 ever to lace a boot up, his final Rep series. Say no more.
5/ Gus Gould has said QLD are no chance. It may be worth noting he's said that so many times and been wrong that you'd think the stupid cvnt would learn to keep his mouth clamped. NSW have won what? one series out of the last 13? and that was only because Cronk was out with a broken wing.
6/ This is Blind Freddie's first crack at coaching Origin. That *might* be a good thing, but his CV pales against Kevin Walters.

Anyway, roll on next Wednesday!

[TizMe]

Slater & Inglis are definitely the danger men.

The NSW backline might be faster, but these 2 guys can do magic.

[Loy Toy]

I just hope it is a great game.

Even without Smith and Cronk the Toads will always remain competitive.

[David48atTD]

^^^ This is how the Bookie sees it ...


Stats That Matter

– Queensland have won 14 of the last 21 matches
– Queensland have won 6 of the last 9 series openers
– Only 1 of the last 5 series openers have topped 20 points
– The underdog has covered 6 of the last 8 live Origin games
– Five of the last eight Origins have been decided by eight points or more
– The over has hit in 6 of the last 10 Origins
– The last five Origins and 7 of the last 8 have all topped 28 points
– There have been only three field goals kicked in the last 27 Origins
– Queensland have just two players who have won an Origin Man of the Match award while NSW have zero
– Wingers scored 7 of Queensland’s 8 tries in 2017
– Forwards scored just 2 of the 17 tries last year
– The over is 8-2 in night matches refereed by Gerard Sutton since 2014 where the total was less than 36

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Final Thoughts

The 2018 series is where the tide finally turns for New South Wales after a generation of punishment.
History means precious little in this series with Brad Fittler handing debuts to 11 New South Wales players.
The move was deliberate.

He wanted none of the scars – or the selfishness – of series gone by.
He has not put a foot wrong with selection, notably prizing speed and current form over reputation, body type and experience.

He has chosen a team that can punish the Maroons and that is exactly how the opener shapes.
The Blues pack is dominant and playing great football and seem destined to win the arm wrestle, as they have in previous series.

The difference this time around is that a hooker and a backline have been named that can take full advantage.

The Blues win the opener and win comfortably.

---


How It Shapes Up

New South Wales by 14

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ME? I can't bet against QLD.

Will settle for the annual 'slab of Tooheys' series winner bet with my cockroach mate

[bobo746]

[Loy Toy]

Is see that Brad Fitler is the new Blue's coach.

A great player but a great coach?

Time will tell.

[Lantern]

You can say that again!
Most games were watched in the company of my mate Terry, an avid Queensland supporter.
Last year we watched the second game in his hospital bedroom, with a few other close friends, and shared a bottle of Jamesons.
At the end of the game he raised his arms, went to sleep and didn't wake again.
He was only 53 weeks older that myself.
Next day got on the computer and booked a trip. Landed two days before my birthday.

[TizMe]

^^^ This is how the Bookie sees it ...


Stats That Matter

– Queensland have won 14 of the last 21 matches
– Queensland have won 6 of the last 9 series openers
– Only 1 of the last 5 series openers have topped 20 points
– The underdog has covered 6 of the last 8 live Origin games
– Five of the last eight Origins have been decided by eight points or more
– The over has hit in 6 of the last 10 Origins
– The last five Origins and 7 of the last 8 have all topped 28 points
– There have been only three field goals kicked in the last 27 Origins
– Queensland have just two players who have won an Origin Man of the Match award while NSW have zero
– Wingers scored 7 of Queensland’s 8 tries in 2017
– Forwards scored just 2 of the 17 tries last year
– The over is 8-2 in night matches refereed by Gerard Sutton since 2014 where the total was less than 36

---

Any time you read an investment disclosures, you are probably going to come across the phrase, "Past performance is no guarantee of future results."

[TizMe]

BILLY Slater has been ruled out of Origin 1 on Wednesday night after injuring his hamstring at a Queensland training session on Sunday.


The Daily Telegraph broke the news the 34-year-old had been scratched, leaving the Maroons scrambling for a replacement at fullback. Broncos playmaker Anthony Milford and gun Newcastle No. 1 Kalyn Ponga have flown to Melbourne to join the Queensland camp.


“I didn’t pull up as well as I would have liked after our training run on Sunday, and because I’m not 100 per cent, it’s in my best interests as well as the team’s to withdraw from Wednesday’s game,” Slater said.


The Daily Telegraph reports Michael Morgan — originally named on the bench to fill the utility role — may move to fullback while Ponga will come into the 17-man squad.


However, coach Kevin Walters told the Courier Mail he will wait until Tuesday’s captain’s run to finalise the team. The publication suggested captain Greg Inglis may replace Slater at fullback with Morgan to slot into the centres.


The Cowboys second receiver isn’t unfamiliar with the position, playing centre in Origin III last year.


“Billy was fine until yesterday. He completed training (on Sunday) but then woke up a bit sore and said he didn’t want to risk it in an Origin game,” Walters said.


“Milford and Kalyn will be coming to camp. We’ll make a final decision tomorrow but I haven’t brought Ponga here to fill up the water bottles, he’s definitely being considered to make his debut.”


Walters said he will consult Inglis and Slater before naming a replacement for the Storm veteran.


“We knew we had some concerns with Billy, but he’s a champion player and we needed to give him every chance to play,” Walters said.


“We’ve had plans in place to cover Billy if he didn’t come up right, and we’ve actioned that today with Anthony and Kalyn coming in.”
The Maroons outfit has already lost dozens of games of experience after the Origin retirements of veteran trio Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk. Slater will now have a maximum two games left in his Origin career after announcing his representative retirement last week.


Slater’s absence leaves Queensland with an incredibly green spine. Five-eighth Cameron Munster debuted last year, halfback Ben Hunt has only played one game for the Maroons off the bench and hooker Andrew McCullough is playing his first Origin at the MCG.


That Milford — who played one game in the 2017 Origin series — and Ponga are the viable options to take Slater’s place in the 17 mean Walters has opted against adding an experienced head into the mix.


Darius Boyd — who was controversially overlooked for the series opener — will have been an option as a straight swap for Slater but Walters is looking towards the future.


Former NSW pivot and Dragons premiership winner Jamie Soward said Boyd is the logical replacement.
An out-of-sorts Morgan was shifted from pivot to fullback by the Cowboys in a bid to regain his Midas touch.


Morgan joked that he may not even have his Cowboys fullback gig when he returns from Maroons camp after fill-in No. 1 Lachlan Coote helped inspire North Queensland’s NRL win over Manly on Thursday.


“I thought Cootey had a pretty good game the other night. Actually Greeny (Cowboys coach Paul Green) rang me up after the game and said, ‘No (need to) rush back fellas, good luck on Wednesday,’” Morgan laughed.


“Who knows, I might go back to the (Cowboys feeder side Townsville) Blackhawks.”


While disappointed to have missed a rare chance to nail down a Maroons halves start, Morgan was convinced his Queensland stint could catapult him back to his 2017 form.


“I wanted to come in with a fresh mindset, leave what happened at clubland there for a little while, enjoy the week here and that is what I have done,” Morgan said.

[Bazzy]

QLD have 3 players who can spot into fullback at this level.

[bobo746]

Smith,Slater,Cronk.

[Headworx]

^Looks more like the NSW selection team, who've picked squads that have won one series in 12 years. Oh the pain

[bobo746]

^ It's all good mate the tides about to turn.

[David48atTD]

^ It's, for sure uncertain, but exciting times.


State of Origin: Calls for eligibility rules to be changed for rugby league's showpiece


Imagine North Queensland Cowboys powerhouse Jason Taumalolo, currently the most devastating ball runner
in the NRL, playing in the State of Origin arena.

It could have happened.


Taumalolo moved to Townsville at the age of 14 and ticked all the boxes for eligibility, except one.
He chose to play for his country of origin, New Zealand (before defecting to Tonga for the World Cup) over State of Origin.


But should that change in the future — and should the game's governing body allow players to make themselves available for
Queensland or New South Wales while representing their country of birth at the international level?




Of the 196 players to have represented Queensland, 32 were born in a different state or country.
While 17 of the 267 players who have represented New South Wales were born somewhere else.
"Origin's really littered with them," Middleton said.
"Peter Sterling was born in Toowoomba. Adrian Lam was the Papua New Guinean national captain, he played for Queensland.
"Craig Smith was a New Zealander through and through and went to college in Ipswich.
"There are so many … Israel Folau [born in NSW] probably should have never been a Queenslander."

More here at ... https://www.google.com.au/search?ei=....0.fUiv6XD0QvE
(the direct link isn't working)

[AntRobertson]

Eligibility rules in RL are a bit of a joke really (and not just SOO).

[Headworx]

^Settle down!. If Jason Tamalolo wants to play for QLD he should be allowed to play for QLD, starting tomorrow.

He was pretty much unstoppable last week, ran something like 250m, made about 30 tackles, and crashed over for a try. A very good Queenslander he is

[AntRobertson]

A very good Queenslander he is

Indeed. Who just happens to have been born in Auckland to Tongan parents and played for the Kiwis and Tonga.

As much a QLD'er as the odd fixation with tying kangaroos down and abusing them or jumping in billabongs after having been caught molesting sheep.

He was pretty much unstoppable last week, ran something like 250m, made about 30 tackles, and crashed over for a try.

Missing the RL on RugbyPass. Shame they lost the rights.

[TizMe]