Internationals 2017 State of Origin.
- Thread starter Weno
- Start date
Ben Hunt could come back tomorrow and he still wouldn't be relevant to the discussion.
Parker will be replaced by either McGuire or Papalii I reckon. Lowe and Hess may also be considered (Hess unlikely).
I'll be in the minority here but I honestly think Parker was quite overrated and Morons won't miss him too much.
I'd assume that a couple of second rowers are likely to be pushed up to the front row to accommodate Scott being out and Myles being shit. Based on incumbency and common sense (see my Myles comment for clarification) I'll take a guess. Bolded the ones I talk about afterwards.
1. Boyd
2. Oates
3. Gagai
4. Chambers
5. Slater
6. Thurston
7. Cronk
8. Thaiday
9. Smith
10. Lillyman
11. Gillett
12. Guerra
13. McGuire
14. Morgan
15. Cooper
16. Papalli
17. Napa
18th man: O'Neill
Wildcard: Holmes/Slater
Thaiday and Papalli will fill two of those spots, and both can be pushed up into the front row if needed. Maybe push one up front, the other from the bench with Guerra sliding into the second row next to Gillett.
That would leave two bench spaces and a centre spot. Cooper played game 3 last year and has a killer combo with Thurston so he slides into one bench spot. From there I think they need a bit of size and a proper prop so if fit Napa could be the last bench spot.
Centre spot is tough. O'Neill/Chamber/Gagai are all right hand centres. You would have to think that Chambers is the guy to come in, but not necessarily to left centre as O'Neill was only there last year because of injury. Perhaps the wildcard though could be Gagai to left centre and Slater/Holmes to the wing? I think Boyd has the fullback slot locked up but don't discount either of those two.
1. Boyd
2. Oates
3. Gagai
4. Chambers
5. Slater
6. Thurston
7. Cronk
8. Thaiday
9. Smith
10. Lillyman
11. Gillett
12. Guerra
13. McGuire
14. Morgan
15. Cooper
16. Papalli
17. Napa
18th man: O'Neill
Wildcard: Holmes/Slater
Thaiday and Papalli will fill two of those spots, and both can be pushed up into the front row if needed. Maybe push one up front, the other from the bench with Guerra sliding into the second row next to Gillett.
That would leave two bench spaces and a centre spot. Cooper played game 3 last year and has a killer combo with Thurston so he slides into one bench spot. From there I think they need a bit of size and a proper prop so if fit Napa could be the last bench spot.
Centre spot is tough. O'Neill/Chamber/Gagai are all right hand centres. You would have to think that Chambers is the guy to come in, but not necessarily to left centre as O'Neill was only there last year because of injury. Perhaps the wildcard though could be Gagai to left centre and Slater/Holmes to the wing? I think Boyd has the fullback slot locked up but don't discount either of those two.
No way will Slater play anywhere other than fullback if he's fit.
Not that I think you're wrong or that Boyd doesn't deserve to. But that's just the way Mal - and QLD in general - rolls. So long as Slater can put his boots on, he will have that jersey and Boyd will play wing.
Sorry, my reference to Mal is obviously out of date! But Walters is very much in the same mould and follows the same philosophy. Lock in Billy at 1 unless his shoulder packs it in again
Two more potential wildcards, Anthony Milford and Coen Hess. Hess is an absolute beast, best straight runner in the NRL currently and he is only 20. Has Origin written all over him. Would also note that if Thurstons injury keeps him out DCE could come in.
Yep, when Billys played , Boyd has played in the number two jersey.
Then, Boyd has been so outstanding playing for QLD.
Could be a changing of the guard.
Oh I agree, Boyd has been brilliant.
But he'll never play fullback for QLD while Billy is fit. The same way no one will else will ever play hooker or half while Smith and JT are available. The guard won't change in that team until those guys decide to finish up.
Not only do their respective records afford them that luxury (they will all be Immortals at some stage) but QLD have redefined what loyalty is. I honestly think QLD would sooner risk a series loss than drop any of those players.
And as a long suffering Blues supporter, I hate and admire that about them in equal measures.
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
You poor losers have been saying that for a few years now lol.
NZWF traditional avatar bet poll is up. For those that dont know the losers of any game have to wear an avatar of the winners choice for a week...
Couple of beastly teams, nice.
The only change I would make to your QLD team is move Darius Boyd onto the wing and bring Dane Gagai into the centres. Valentine Holmes would drop out.
Inruin
Contributor
Best thing about State of Origin, is seeing young Kiwis' getting the chance to make their NRL debut.
Lol...mate the Kiwis couldn't tame Scotland.
Like you I'm not interested in SOO, it's pretty much like a good club game these days as much as the fans try to pretend it's something more.
