By Gabriel Knowles
May 26th 2009 @ 2:28am
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Queensland pack to give it to inexperienced Blues
Queensland's Michael Crocker and Scott Prince (left) react with tryscorer Israel Folau during the NRL State of Origin match between Queensland and New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, June 11, 2008. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
For the first time in a long time, there’s no way that Queensland can claim to be anything other than favourites heading into State Of Origin. With New South Wales naming eight debutants in their Origin team, and the Maroons boasting the same one through ten as the Australian side, at least the Blues can claim to have underdog status.
That’s not to say that they’re not in with a shot. The New South Wales selectors have to be commended for picking a fresh outfit that is largely unburdened by the losses of recent years.
While the Queensland team largely picks itself at the moment, there’s still a few spots up for grabs, so I’d like to suggest who fills them.
My preferred Queensland Origin team:
1. Billy Slater
2. Darius Boyd
3. Greg Inglis
4. Justin Hodges
5. Israel Folau
6. Darren Lockyer (c)
7. Johnathan Thurston
8. Steve Price
9. Cameron Smith
10. Petero Civoniceva
11. Michael Crocker
12. Ashley Harrison
13. Dallas Johnson
14. Karmichael Hunt
15. Nate Myles
16. Sam Thaiday
17. Ben Hannant
Obviously the all Kangaroo backline is a no brainer, as is the front row.
The second row is less so.
Michael Crocker might only be two games back in the NRL, but he has already shown the kind of form that has made him a mainstay of the Maroon’s pack over recent years. Crocker’s backrow partners, Harrison and Johnson, are also some of the hardest workers in the game and together they give their pack a nice balance.
On the bench, Hunt provides vital cover for the backs and at dummy half, as well, and although it’s hard to see him getting too many minutes, it’s quite a luxury to have.
Nate Myles may have been playing in a beaten pack all season, but there’s something about Origin that changes players. The Roosters might well find Myles the catalyst they need to turn their season around when he returns from rep duties.
Thaiday’s all action go forward and enthusiasm gets him the nod over his Bronco’s team mate, Corey Parker. Perhaps if the side wasn’t already blessed with such competent goal kickers, Parker could have demanded a place. As it is, Hannant rounds out the bench and interestingly would provide Origin with the only member from the league leading Bulldogs.
Not such bad news for Doggies fans on the whole, really.
A lot has been said about the Maroon’s backs, but when it comes down to it, Origin is won and lost up front and if Petero and Price lay the platform again, then the Blues will be playing catch up all series.
It’s Queensland’s to lose.
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Spiro Zavos said | May 26th 2009 @ 8:09am | Report comment
I’ve never been able to understand why teams want to have the ‘underdog’ status going into big games. All too often it is a defensive statement protecting the team against having to dare to win by giving them an excuse to lose before the match has been played. In big games like the State of Origin teams should be positive, the way Craig Bellamy was when the team was announced. Positive but not cocky or over-confident should be the mentality. The Blues players play with and against the Queensland stars every week. They know their strengths and weaknesses. They should give themselves a strong chance of winning, even with 8 new players in the squad.
Brett McKay said | May 26th 2009 @ 8:51am | Report comment
Gabriel, your Qld team will pretty close to that selected by the sounds, the “likely” teams in the papers this morning have Thaiday in the backrow and Crocker on the bench, but otherwise you’ve nailed it. Either way, it look a pretty formidable side..
macavity said | May 26th 2009 @ 9:07am | Report comment
please pick David Stagg, QLD.
us Knights don’t want to play him!
Gerry Faehrmann said | May 26th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Pity they picked Hannant, as the Bulldogs have no other Origin starters ensuring a well rested Bulldogs camp!
Gabriel Knowles said | May 26th 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Right you are Brett, wasn’t far off. But then the side does pretty much jump out at you when you look into it, so no surprises.
Spiro, I think having the underdog status for big games was justifiably perceived as advantage by coaches in the past. What better way to get a team playing freely than by taking some of the burden of expectation away from them? But these days when most sides have some sort of in-house sports psychologist on hand it probably doesn’t matter as much anyway.
Should be a great series.
Worlds Biggest said | May 26th 2009 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
For the first time ever in a series Qld are favourites, the World has gone mad !. Not many punters are giving the Blues a chance due to the formidable and very settled Maroons outfit. How will they handle being favourites ?. There has been very little between the teams the last 3 series. In 2006 the Blues threw away ( literally ) the deciding game in the final minute. In 2007 the series was over after Game 2 by a scoreline of just 10-6 with the Blues winning Game 3 in Brisbane. Last year the deciding game in Sydney was 16-10 after Thurston made a break out wide to set up the series winning try for Slater late in the game. Not much in the scorelines. All this depite Qld fielding an all World team. I reckon the ” baby ” Blues have a decent chance as not many of the squad carry any baggage from previous series losses. For once NSW is the underdog just how they like it. I can’t wait for the series.
Brett McKay said | May 26th 2009 @ 3:27pm | Report comment
they certainly will be Worlds, but that hasn’t stopped the great Choppy Close claming the underdog tag for Qld already. While talking up NSW’s side, he said Qld would “make do with what we’ve got” which of course just happens to be the Australian backline. I’ve only read these comments, so I don’t know if he was smiling at the time or not..
Gabriel, as you say, there were no surprises from Qld at all, I’d reckon they had that team pencilled in 10 days ago..
OldManEmu said | May 26th 2009 @ 8:21pm | Report comment
It is remarkable that the selection of Crocker has not received any comment – a true mark of what a fantastic big game player he is.
kevin from glebe said | May 27th 2009 @ 7:02am | Report comment
i think it was publicised enough that crocker was selected and even rumoured to be selected for SOO the moment he signed for the rabbitohs. he’s a big game player and gives qld that X factor. awesome player, definitely lifts for the big games.
fred said | May 27th 2009 @ 11:01pm | Report comment
SPIRO,got to agree with you;but we assume that the public statements are what is also shared privately.a little doubt takes away overconfidence(the reds did well out of opponents overconfidence)After environment engineering comes the psych of reducing the importance and uncertainty so that the team can relax and focus.clearly the home town advantage works both ways and mental strategies are important to cope with these pressures.the team is made up of individuals and the coach with ability selects to fit the strategy and knows the emotional ratings of his charges to maximise performance.AGREE?
Richard Brockhurst said | May 28th 2009 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Remember game 3 last year-the QLD bus turned up at the gates and was ignored for 40 mins.This was obviously organised by the NSW brass to throw QLD off their game. The gate keeper sat in his office and played dumb.Choppy Close was spewing to say the least. It’s BS like that , that motivates QLD players and officials and the Qld puplic.