What are they thinking? The champion Queensland Maroons were outpointed in the forwards big time in State of Origin I and they have answered their critics by replacing one of their few big men with little halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.
I get it they they have dropped Harrison, as he should have gone two years ago, and big prop Shillington did very little in Game 1 and clearly has problems.
“Dopey Dora” could have made those changes and allowed Josh Papalii to come on to the bench and allow the Broncos outstanding worker and ball player Corey Parker start in his rightful lock position.
It was a travesty that he did not start there in Game 1 and only God knows why Papa had to watch from the stands.
The Maroons have chosen to go into this sudden death match with only one specialist prop forward, Matt Scott, who is also down on form.
Tough guy Nat Myles will partner Scott up front, and despite his work ethic, he is anything but an Origin class prop forward.
So, what happens after 20 minutes when Scott and Myles are putting in the short ones and cannot breathe? Sorry fellas but you have no other props. That’s right, none! Zero!
Scott will be replaced by Thaiday who has already put in 20 minutes in the back row and Myles will be replaced by whoever loses the coin toss between Papalii, Te’o, Gillett or maybe the other starting back-rower Chris McQueen.
All of these alternatives are second row forwards and are not comfortable playing up front, in the middle.
This is going to make it very difficult for the Maroons to get good field position and allow Cronk and Thurston to kick from the Blues half.
The selectors really needed some big men with punch to cause the Blues some problems and establish some half breaks for Greg Inglis and Slater.
They clearly have not watched the last two Titans games and noticed how big Dave Taylor has completely carved up anyone in his way. He would have been stunning charging down the left side with Inglis alongside him.
The reason the Bulldogs have strung together so many games recently is because of the sensational Ben Barba.
He could have done the same thing for the Maroons and would have been a handful off the bench. He is that good I would have started him at fullback and moved Billy Slater to the wing.
Could you imagine the Maroons left side if they had picked my team? It would have contained Slater on the wing, Inglis in the center, Thurston at pivot, Taylor playing back row and Barba punching through!
So the selectors have stupidly left our Taylor and Barba but included Cherry-Evans, a specialist halfback. Why?
I am a huge Cherry-Evans fan, and think that one day he may take over from Johnathan Thurston as the best player in the world, but he is not an impact player like Barba is. I am at a loss how he will be used.
If you had any doubts that the selectors have lost it you only need to look at who they have made 18th man.
Martin Kennedy is the new big man to be introduced into the Maroon fold. I am tipping that as soon as the Roosters get all of their forwards back, a fit Kennedy will struggle to gain a start in first grade and may well be looking for a new club next year.
He is a mistake freak and gives dumb penalties away at crucial times.
At least he is big, and size is something the Maroons certainly lack for for this crucial game that could hand the Origin trophy to NSW after eight years.
The eye
Guest
I'd love to see Madge give GI an experimental run at lock,up in the front line crunching forwards silly enough to run near him and running into holes,as well as making them, a tank size version of Ryan Hoffman..but licenced to drift in and out. Got to put more fear into teams with him that close to the ball.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Chris Yes Josh Reynolds was not used
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
planko Ideally GI should be the fullback but you also have to try and fit all the wonderful talent into the same side. They have Cronk so their is no room for DCE in my view but Barba is different..
Chris
Guest
Didn't NSW beat Qld in game one with only 3 bench player use??????
planko
Guest
Scott, Maybe if QLD get off to a flyer they can win but in all seriousness can't see it happening. The half time and full time score were very generous to QLD. If a team had dominated that much you would expect them to be up by 30 at half time. I agree that with you that Slater is a fair FB but not the best full back in the world. He is not even the best full in the NRL. QLD can win but they need to get GI more involved. He is out and out the best player running around and he needs to touch the ball more.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Sideline My mother taught me if someone makes the effort to communicate you should communicate back
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Dogs I think he is a selector
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
almost It is a much better starting 13....the problems come when they have to make the first front row rotation
almost
Guest
the team looks okay to me except i'd replace DCE with Hannant.
Renegade
Guest
I still think there is only one Billy Slater as there is only one G.I.....however Slater at fullback is a no brainer for me in any rugby league team i'd pick. Barba on the bench may have been a better choice than DCE in terms of impact....but DCE is in tremedous form in the moment. QLD don't lack the class in the backs....it's the forwards.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
They really need to investment more in the school reading and writing programs in Queensland.
oikee
Guest
The only thing weakened is NSW, they have again failed to keep a team together on the park, this time trough bad behaviour and drunkeness. True story, ,, 8 is enough. They have already made the movie, now for the musical, nice to see a fence sitter when the you know what hits the you know what.. Cheers Scott. Talk to you again when the decider is on. hehe./ You going to hate the scott, your going to hate that real bad, talking to me again when you know i have predicted this result and will also give you the result in the decider ,,, lesson learned my friend, lesson learned.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Scott, we all appreciate your attempts to reason with this bloke, but it's becoming increasingly obvious that it's not possible to do that. I think you'll notice that the roar faithful have largely stopped bothering with Oikee, it seems a wonderfully unanimous and unspoken agreement to ignore his spam. Like a kid throwing a tantrum, replying seems to only be perpetuating the habit. I know it's your article, and you are somewhat obliged by good manners to reply, but there's a saying: don't feed the trolls. Or maybe it's just the editors landing a merciful hand, haha. (Note this is a rely to Scott not Oikee.)
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Cane Toad It is easy to pick a team when you have that spine, but when the same team get 7 years older the edge they had starts to weaken.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Renegade I dont think Billy is THE best fullback in the world. My ratings have Greg Inglis as number 1. It is not about playing everyone in their right positions as QLand are blessed with about 6 world class fullbacks including the injured Bowen. Ben Barba is an out and out freak and should be in the team. He can only be on the bench or fullback. To have Benny plus Billy Plus GI and Thurston all in the one team would be amazing. Barbas stats are every bit as good as Slaters.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
I agree EJ, I thought Hannant was a certainty. But that said, Papalii is a really good selection, and dumping Harrison and moving Parker to start was just commonsense. Those two choices alone scare me, as a NSWelshman, and I don't think they will struggle with penetration quite as much as Scott suggests here. Cherry though, not quite sure why he was selected, and agree that Barba is a better impact player. What this suggests to me is that there is less confidence in Thurston then there used to be, and they're preparing for his successor like the Lockyer/Cronk situation a few years ago. That said, he played pretty well against St. George the other night, and you never count a champion out till he leaves the ring.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
oikee Lay down mate and have a rest. Firstly I dont follow any team. Speaking of Ethics...mmmmmm tell that to Mr Te'o
Cane Toad
Guest
qld is unpredictable, dey r d champs! wateva team dey pick, dey stil will regardless. mal know origin better. 8 in a row qld
oikee
Guest
Marrons, take out the 'r' and add a 'o' or leave the 'r' out, either way it is going to be a world of hurt for nSW. Scott i think you already know the blues destiny, the rugby league gods wont allow this rubbish.
oikee
Guest
We have Papa, in Queensland in front of 50 thousand mad Marrons, and 20 million supporters. You really think the weight of a Queensland one-eyed crowd will let Papa down, this is Queensland, not nsw. Wehave morals,,, ethics,,,and a damm good dose of everything blue smells funny, hehe. We wont let Josh Fail, we refuse to let one of our own be eaten, unlike NSW Daley, and the mad monks running NsW who send lambs to the slaughter , then wonder why they are losers. hehe. Ricky taught you alot, Dalet ook it all away with one act of "WRONG". You will never win this fight scott, never, we are too far in front on the "what is right stage", forget the "big stage", that is where men play, not bullies or cowards. amen. Sorry i had to hit you with that Scott, but someone in NSW has to man up,