Internationals 2023 State of Origin

[jonesy101]

I was a Queenslander fan growing up then switched to the Blues when Queensland was dominant for so long. Sort of an underdog thing and the Queenslanders got a bit arrogant.

Now I find I’m getting back in the Queensland bus.

As you can probably tell, SOO has never really been a big deal to me, it’s on to late on a week night!

I've always liked seeing the side that hasn't won the series the previous year triumph. I enjoy the SOO but usually catch a replay. Its the Kiwi tests I can't miss. The game against Tonga last year was brilliant and I was looking forward to some sort of mid-year tradition with the Pacific Nations, but its not going to be anytime soon, if ever now.

 

[jonesy101]

Who would want to be a centre at NRL level?

It seems the elite fullbacks gobble up all the centre spots at representative level to fit them all in.

I think they get a bit star struck at times with the fullbacks. This season it's all in the name of Turbo and Lattrell as opposed to the form guide as those two have been quite patchy, whereas Campbell Graham and Stephen Chrichton are playing well in their specialist centre positions.

 

[bruce]

As you can probably tell, SOO has never really been a big deal to me, it’s on to late on a week night!

me too, some people around here have to work

 

[wizards rage]

I think they get a bit star struck at times with the fullbacks. This season it's all in the name of Turbo and Lattrell as opposed to the form guide as those two have been quite patchy, whereas Campbell Graham and Stephen Chrichton are playing well in their specialist centre positions.

And Queensland with Tabuai-Fidow at centre. I’m surprised they didn’t slot Ponga in as the other centre, although Holmes, another former fullback is there!

5 fullbacks and a former 1 playing!

 

[Ever Hopeful]

It became a bit too glamorous for me and has lost its lustre. Sometimes it feels like blokes are playing dress up. Take me back to the trench warfare of old.

 

[JaggedJ]

That NSW side.....TPJ......more like FMD.

Seems like all you need to do is have a great game right before the teams are picked because goldfish brain Freddie doesn't know how to watch replays that are more than 48 hours old.

 

[Aman]

TPJ has been one of the worst forwards in the NRL. Bafffling

 

[Ever Hopeful]

That NSW side.....TPJ......more like FMD.

Seems like all you need to do is have a great game right before the teams are picked because goldfish brain Freddie doesn't know how to watch replays that are more than 48 hours old.

TPJ is a big game player that can rise to the occasion when he feels like it. That would just make me want to pick him less. Bludger. My pick is that he plays well as an enforcer, and then goes back to marshmallow man for the Dogs.

 

[JaggedJ]

TPJ is a big game player that can rise to the occasion when he feels like it. That would just make me want to pick him less. Bludger. My pick is that he plays well as an enforcer, and then goes back to marshmallow man for the Dogs.

He's got very little between the ears.

50/50 he'll either turn the game for NSW with something big or throw the game away with something stupid.

Either way he probably gets himself suspended and 100% he'll return to being ordinary back in Dogs colours.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

It became a bit too glamorous for me and has lost its lustre. Sometimes it feels like blokes are playing dress up. Take me back to the trench warfare of old.

Agree. The very first game of RL I watched was game 2 of the 1991 Origin series. For quite awhile I use to think it was legit to use a swinging arm to the face in the tackle after watching that game. It's rivalry seems so forced now but that could be the Fox wankfest they put on for Origin. I always wonder what would the international game be like if the focus wasn't on Origin.

I would love to see a NSW/Queensland/Tonga/Samoa/NZ origin series. That would be entertaining.

 

[Beastmode]

I count 5 broncos in that squad …. Lovely

Time to feast on Saturday?!!

 

[Sky Waka]

Learnt of 2 NZL to origin defections in 2 weeks. Spencer Leniu was hoping for a blues jersey before his testie injury and now Stefano Utoikamanu is in the reserves for the blues.

NZRL need to employ someone who can convince these guys to pick the country of their birth and get 'em into the junior kiwis and go from there.

Sick of every year seeing more and more NZ born players picking blue and maroon over black.

 

[Defence]

The Bulldogs coach after the game yesterday said they have simplified his game this year and he’s been responding well.

Averaging 130m this year and 91% tackles, which is average for a prop but you would expect more from a SOO player. Having said all that he is finding form and ran for 213m in yesterdays game.

As a comparison AFB is averaging 149m and 95% tackles (I know he’s not SOO but he’s our benchmark!).

Afb would walk into both these teams- must regret playing that one game for the kiwis.

 

[PullinTeeth]

That back 5 of Queensland are either out of fom, out of position or out of their depth, Cleary, Trell and Luai (id personally do a late swap with Luai and Hynes) are gunna have a field day schooling them.

 

[Juju]

Pretty mindboggling the Adelaide game is not even a sell out and they're offering 2 for 1 tickets for the remaining 10 000 available.

Surely Auckland would have been a better initiative. Feels like a squandered opportunity and another post covid snub of the NZ league public

 

[jonesy101]

Wow. Its AFL heartland which is the NRLs motive for moving the game there, but still really surprising they are struggling to fill the 50,000 seats at Adelaide Oval. Even with a 10 pm kickoff if they were allowed a start that late Eden Park would sell out in an instant.

 

[jonesy101]

Probably not the smartest way to market the game.

 

[J_P]

Learnt of 2 NZL to origin defections in 2 weeks. Spencer Leniu was hoping for a blues jersey before his testie injury and now Stefano Utoikamanu is in the reserves for the blues.

NZRL need to employ someone who can convince these guys to pick the country of their birth and get 'em into the junior kiwis and go from there.

Sick of every year seeing more and more NZ born players picking blue and maroon over black.

Or better yet NRL should let players play for kiwis and origin if they meet the criteria for both.