Comments on: Queensland pack to give it to inexperienced Blues

By: Richard Brockhurst

Richard Brockhurst — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:53:29 +0000

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.

By: fred

fred — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:01:26 +0000

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?

By: kevin from glebe

kevin from glebe — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:02:02 +0000

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.

By: OldManEmu

OldManEmu — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:21:18 +0000

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.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:27:05 +0000

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..

By: Worlds Biggest

Worlds Biggest — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:29:56 +0000

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.

By: Gabriel Knowles

Gabriel Knowles — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:01:34 +0000

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.

By: Gerry Faehrmann

Gerry Faehrmann — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:55:49 +0000

Pity they picked Hannant, as the Bulldogs have no other Origin starters ensuring a well rested Bulldogs camp!

By: macavity

macavity — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:07:03 +0000

please pick David Stagg, QLD.

us Knights don’t want to play him!

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Mon, 25 May 2009 22:51:27 +0000

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..

By: Spiro Zavos

Spiro Zavos — Mon, 25 May 2009 22:09:27 +0000

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.