My Origin Thoughts

[CliffyIsGod]

Too many utility trype players out there.

Between Campese, Wallace, Farah, Lewis and Wing, there is not one player who can take the lead and direct the team around.

For QLD, Thurston does this, and Lockyer just chimes in when he needs to.

 

[Dan]

Too many utility trype players out there.

Between Campese, Wallace, Farah, Lewis and Wing, there is not one player who can take the lead and direct the team around.

For QLD, Thurston does this, and Lockyer just chimes in when he needs to.

Don't forget to add Gidley, he is another utility player who doesn't specialise in any specific position.

Hayne would be a better option with Gidley to 5/8

 

[CliffyIsGod]

Yep, forget Gidley there too.

QLD as a team, each player knows exactly what they have to do, each has a role.

NSW, Gidley doesn't know whether to run, or chime in at 2nd receiver, Wallace and Campese got in each others way, Wing played dummy half quite well, Lewis doesn't know whether he should play as a running back-rower, or try and set guys up. It is all over the place.

Hayne runs the ball back better than any other NSW player.
Monaghan/Morris -- even if we don't have much going on, a bomb to either wing is a pretty decent option with these two.
Lyon -- didn't do anythign wrong
Jennings -- over-awed in game 1, give another go.
Gidley plays a running five-eighth
Wallace -- the game is his. He needs to touch the ball more than anyone else.

Bit more mongrel in the forward pack with Gallen and Watmough. Weymen needs a slap in the face before the game to get him with some steam to come on.

1. Hayne
2. Monaghan
3. Lyon
4. Jennings
5. Morris, either
6. Gidley
7. Wallace
8. Kite
9. Farah
10. Bailey
11. O'Donnell
12. Creagh
13. Gallen

14. Wing
15. Weyman
16. Poore
17. Watmough

 

[Dan]

That is a pretty solid team, though I would look at bringing Gifty onto the bench to help cover watmough and also do some of the workhorse tackling

 

[CliffyIsGod]

Completey forgot about Glenn. Glenn in for Creagh (good Lyon/Stewart right hand partnership), Either Watmough or Creagh coming off the bench.

 

[Dan]

I'd probably drop Poore instead of Creagh. I think Vreagh did enough last night to show he can be up there with them

 

[niccipops]

I thought Hayne played well although a little selfishly. The "No Try" should have been passed to the inside man for an easier kick but Hayne kept it to himself out on the wing. Another couple of times he had blokes following him but didn't pass.
Kite was good IMO.

 

[Matabele]

Creagh is an Origin player.  It's amazing it's taken them this long to pick him.

 

[Chip and Chase]

I don't understand this Gidley for 5/8 push. He hasn't played 5/8 regularly for 2 or 3 seasons at a guess, and the game has evolved considerably over that time. Gidley's best spot is fullback or bench.

Our biggest worry last night was our kicking game. That's where Mullen would be handy and I'd tend towards him at half and keep Campese. On the Nimbin index (how often you find the grass) Wallace scored about 2 out of 10.

I think it's a given that Gallen will come back in, as will Glenn more than likely. At the expense of Laffranchi and Lewis.

IMO NSW's biggest problem last night was that they didn't want to try and bend Queensland back with solid hit ups. They seemed more concerned with short interchange of passing between the forwards at the line. That's OK if your timing is spot on and you have the defence on the back foot, but that wasn't the case last night. I can only assume that this is Bellamy's coaching genius coming to the fore.

McManus and Hayne both made some bad reads in defence last night. According to the stats, McManus didn't make a tackle and missed 4. Hayne missed 5, but at least made up for it in attack. We could do worse than get Monaghan in there for McManus.

 

[Ian Martin tragic]

Though I still think it won't make a big difference either way this year, I would for the sake of confidence-building keep the halves for another go round in game 2.

Farah definitely over Ennis for mine.
Jennings showed alot of promise; somebody give the him the ball with a bit of space. (and Lyon's side of the field did not have many shots in the whole game)

Monaghan/morris in for mcmanus would be one change I'd go for. and Gallen for Laffranchi. G Stewart maybe, but I thought Creagh, O'Donnell and also Lewis were strong. Front rowers did what they had to.

Pumpkins for: Gidley's stupid mistakes (captains just can't make ones like that!)

and for Hayne: ok I think it was a benefit of the doubt try, but what the f**k is a winger doing running so close to the sideline for no reason? And agree with niccipops the right thing was to put the support player in under the sticks. He IS dangerous, but for both teams.

At the end of the day the toads have a far superior squad that should win 9/10 games against whatever team nsw puts out at present.

 

[Zep]

Gidley should be dropped altogether. He is a ball hog that passes it only when he is certain that the man receiving the ball will be tackled. He is crap. I would rather see Kimorley bought back in just to pass and kick. Have campese, jennings and lyon as your runners. Have hayne as full back as he seems to be able to create a play. Bring in Monas. Then leave essentially the same forward pack but dropping Wing for Watmough who can actually have an impact on the game.

 

[Dan]

I thought Wing was one of our best, and we started going forward once he was on the field. If Farrah can not get us going forward then we need wing

 

[Pearso]

I'd be more critical of bellamy than the players. It was obvious what his game plan was - run from duming half. The backs didnot have a chance to really get into the game in open space. Jennings had to go to dummy half to get a run and the defence was all over him.

The blues were always grouped up around the ruck, they were never spead out in attack, I'd call it school boy error but gees even they would spead out in attack.

I think if you expect to throw a group of players together for a week and expect them to come out and win over a team like Q'land which have alot of experince together, not just at rep level but there is alot of club combinations there aswell, YOUR DREAMING. If you want mass changes you will see the same result. I'd would rather see the team stay pretty much the same, possibly drop mcmanus for Mona's or wolf man.

NSW need to build with this team, they are all quality players and can get the job done. Q'land don't make alot of changes when they lose and it works, they are more competative and that was what the blues lacked. Players walking to the ball bouncing around in goal WTF. they will sit back watch the video and learn. Hopefully bellyache will also learn that his game plan and use of interchange is crap aswell.

 

[ManlyBacker]

A day later and I can see the sense in keeping the squad relatively intact. It is long term combinations that win Origin games and that is something that NSW has always failed to do and has cost us.

Wallace just doesn't have it for mine. He failed to take the line on, kicked down their throats and just didn't move the ball out wide. He needs to go or get pulled aside and given a rocket. Most of the rest can learn from that experience and turn it around.

 

[Pearso]

Wallace has already shown he is up to Origin in the past, he will come good. Our kicking game was ordinary, most NRL kickers know you don't give the ball to slater on the full, yet it kept happening. Farrah at least put it along the ground and in to touch. The titans showed how effective that ploy was when they played the storm, Billy didn't get any ball.

Gould was critical of the kickers that they weren't putting up bombs. Slatter and Co have shown they are confident under the high ball and not to many players will out jump Israil, even when he is standing still.

Give the team time to gel. they have pretty much started from scratch so you could probably write them off for this series, the time and experience together will be a learning and building stage.

 

[DSM5]

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned that Qld won even with only three guys on the bench for 2/3rd of the game.  No wonder Wing ran without much trouble when he came on.  Qld were knackered.  NSW also scored from a forward pass and had luck for another two.  Anyway I just can't see them wining this series.  They might luck again in Sydney, but Brisbane will be much harder.  Gallen and Choco in will only give Qld more penalty possession.  A lost cause really.