NSW Origin side 2018

Oz Sport Mad wrote:

I was actually surprised he didn't bring up the overlooking of Timmy Mannah and his renowned, rapid play-the-balls......which ultimately cost NSW the series.

I was a bit miffed as to why he was not picked in game one as the incumbent who had a win in his first start the year before and think we would have gone better with him there as a different body type to Tamou or Grant, or even been there instead of Merrin, who he had outplayed in their previous Origin starts, so yep, chalk that down as another error.

Seriously, Ricky totally fucked that series.

Ice wrote:If Hayne stays on the left, Morris partners his brother on the right, Lewis starts, Merrin plays and Scott doesn't, I honestly think we win that game.

Ice: "QLD, at $2.50 for 2018, are runaway favourites in every origin game ever played and in every game to be played in the foreseeable future"

Also Ice: "NSW would have easily won if only we knew the difference between left and right"

Its apparently a very fine line between being heavy favourites and only being able to win because the other team line up on the wrong side.

ryno_ wrote:

Ice: "QLD, at $2.50 for 2018, are runaway favourites in every origin game ever played and in every game to be played in the foreseeable future"

Also Ice: "NSW would have easily won if only we knew the difference between left and right"

Its apparently a very fine line between being heavy favourites and only being able to win because the other team line up on the wrong side.

You are misrepresenting my comments, RYNO and you know it. I don't think we were favs or should have won in 2012, but I think ALL the changes Ricky made in game 3, not just the Hayne switch, resulted in us losing game three and hence the series.

In 2018, I still think with the team make up Qld should be favs, and $2.50 is great value, better value than NSW under $2, if I was to have a bet, but I don't think NsW could have chosen a much better side and think they will win game one, possibly with a leg in the air . Still,my cash will stay in my pocket.

Ice wrote:

I was a bit miffed as to why he was not picked in game one as the incumbent who had a win in his first start the year before and think we would have gone better with him there as a different body type to Tamou or Grant, or even been there instead of Merrin, who he had outplayed in their previous Origin starts, so yep, chalk that down as another error.

Seriously, Ricky totally fucked that series.

I don't remember Tim Mannah outplaying anyone in origin. I do remember he played 4 origins from game 3 2011 to game 3 2012 and went LLWL. Also Tim Grant wasn't selected for game 1, and the other prop to James Tamou was Paul Gallen, who is a different body type (not that having a different body shape is important IMO).

He was better than Merrin, held his own and did a job, especially when given the chance to start. He should have been there game 1 2012.

I'm seriously concerned about our left edge defensively. People bang on about Maloney, but he clearly brings significant advantages over our other options in attack and with his kicking, Mitchell is an unknown, he could be anything, so he is worth the gamble, JAC is a concern under pressure under a high ball, but will also ask question in attack, I'm comfortable with him there but really have come around to the idea of Cotric, so JAC will have to perform to keep his spot I think as wingers are easy to drop and replace. Where we have an issue I think is our decision to keep Cordner as skipper. If he isn't as his very best, I am just not convinced he is Origin quality. Namely, he leads the league in ineffective tackles, and outside Maloney, that is a massive concern. Coupled with the fact he rarely passes (meaning Mitchell and JAC may be starved of ball) and runs basically one line, I think it is were Qld will target us and also where we might fail to asked the questions we should of Chambers and Gagai.

People say he was one of our best last year, and one of Aus' best in the WC, which I won't dispute, but was he really "damaging" enough to be an auto selection and the skipper? I'm just not a fan of a backrower, who may or may not play 80, being the skipper. Gallen was a terrible skipper, even though they players seemed to like him, and I'm not convinced Cordner is the right selection either.

It's no surprise to me that our captains during this run of series losses have been Gidley, who should never have been a certain selection, and Gallen, a thug and bonehead who would never either give credit or accept responsibility and in some cases had question marks on his selection, so not sure why we have headed down that path again.

Who would you captain Ice?

Krump wrote:Who would you captain Ice?

Tough call, going forward, I think the only guy who looks like he is an almost certain 10 year Origin player with captaincy potential is Cleary, but I wouldn't throw him in there yet.

I've got my doubts on Maloney, defensively, and I'm sure he will either miss a tackle or give away a dumb penalty that will lead directly to a Qld try, but he is our best option in the 6 with Cleary possibly for the next couple of series, so on that basis, I'd go with him for a few years until he pulls the pin or we move on and by then I expect Cleary would be ready, but the reality is there is no standout option.

If I'm picking a forward though, I'd be going JTurbo and he'd be my 80 minute starting lock. I just think he is a better allround player than Cordner.

All that said, I do understand why they've stayed with Cordner.

No changes to be made but I’d probs like the interchange use to be tinkered with

Friz was a threat on the edge, Crichton wasn’t the same and frizz was quiet in the middle. Just because he can play some middle doesn’t mean he should be playing the majority of His minutes there.

I think we can easy get more minutes out of a few middles and maybe crighton a bit less

they shouldnt make any changes barring injury
I too was perplexed as to why they put friz in the middle of the park when he was dominating on the right edge.

You have Klemmer, RCG, JDB, JTrbo as genuine middles, there shouldnt be a need to move an edge specialist back rower there. Personally I thought crichton got way too much game time.

Maloney is our best option - as many predicted, he cost us points but generated more than he cost us this game so thats a bonus. IMO, he wont be there next year but we actually need him this year. He controlled the fuck out of that game towards the end and really took pressure off cleary.

Cleary defended his (what I can only assume) 12 inch cock off all game. Got absolutely lit up heaps of times when kicking it, something needs to change there to help protect him.

I still LOL when I see mitchell out there - to the blokes who thought he couldnt handle it... fucking solid lol. Might he cost us a try or fuck up big time once or twice a game? yep. but close to the line the guy is just about unstoppable. JAC too - he was deadset outstanding.

I thought TTrbo was unlucky that Ted had such a good game - TTrbo was close to my MOM. The dumb cunts kept peppering him with bombs, he took every single one of them without even looking like he would fumble one. Kick it to JAC FFS, ya morons. I would still like to see cook come from the bench, his speed later in the games would absolutely tear QLD apart, even more so then when exhausted.

IMO, you bring slater back into that QLD side and its a completely different game. QLD prob win. Their defence is more settled, their attack is more structured and he is just simply more dangerous than morgan at fb. He prob stops a try and scores one.

NSW are certainly in with a shot - and i like that no one had any out of the ordinary performances el at last year with fifita in game 1. He had an all time prop performance only to be get worked out for games 2 and 3. It was just a solid team performance where everyone played well and did their jobs.

No changes for me barring injury, which I hope doesn't occur in the pack as that would likely mean a return for Graham.

Frizell must stay on the edge and keep terrorising them. Shift Cordner to middle to do his grunt work if you want a backrower there as he doesn't have half the possible impact Frizell does. Agree we probably overplayed Crighton but he didn't put a foot wrong.

I see no reason why, if fit, Maloney wouldn't be there next year, I can't see a 6 on the horizon that looks more likely than him.

Cleary very quiet in attack and must be encouraged to take on the line and few of his kicks found the ground, but still, he was tough as nails and when he does find his attacking mojo, look out.

Mitchell, yep, props, I was doubtful and admit that. And think he has lots more to give.

TTurbo was outstanding and defo in our top 3. Easily could shift in to directly oppose Inglis with Jimmy shifting to the win.

You couldn't and wouldn't possibly shift Cook to the bench, you'd loose the impact he provided through out with no certainty he'd be more damaging than he was. He easily got he 80 minutes even after he copped the dog shot knee to the chest. It was an incredible debut. He asked all the right questions at the right time, defended so well, is as tough as nails and it was great to see him kicking out of dummy half. If he keeps his form up, he is a certainty for the Aus number 9. Possibly my new favourite player.....step aside Jarod Hain, or whatever your name is....

there is no way he passes Tim Mannah mate, calm down

Pieman wrote:there is no way he passes Tim Mannah mate, calm down

Nah, might even have Timmy covered.

You feeling ok Ice? Better than Hayne and Mannah?

Krump wrote:You feeling ok Ice? Better than Hayne and Mannah?

As a great man once said " it's evolution baby"

RCG out for series by the looks.

I'd go with Ryan James.

I hope they pick him before Woods or Sims or put a shout out to Fifita.

Not sure why they would bring Prior into the squad. I wouldnt think he has a long term blues future and he shouldnt be in line to play this series. Nathan Brown or Pangai Jnr, would have been a better choice

Ice wrote:

Krump wrote:You feeling ok Ice? Better than Hayne and Mannah?

As a great man once said " it's evolution baby"

SI wrote:

Glad someone got the reference, at least I assume you did.

NSW BLUES SQUAD FOR GAME TWO STATE OF ORIGIN

Josh Addo-Carr, Nathan Cleary, Damien Cook, Boyd Cordner, Angus Crichton, Jack De Belin, Tyson Frizell, Ryan James, Luke Keary, David Klemmer, James Maloney, Latrell Mitchell, Tyrone Peachey, Matt Prior, James Roberts, Tariq Sims, James Tedesco, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Paul Vaughan.

Where is Ipswich? Thats in New South Wales!