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With Game 1 of the 2014 State of Origin Series over, and the Blues running out winners 12-8, it’s time to look at the line-up for Game 2. Barring any additional injuries or suspensions, I figured these would be likely teams for Game 2 in Sydney.
The Maroons have to make some forced changes and may drop some other players. Here are my picks for Game 2.
1. Greg Inglis: He was under-utilised in Game 1, and needs more ball if Queensland want to make something happen. The only way that will happen is a shift to the custodian role. Sorry Billy, you weren’t good enough to hold it.
2. Darius Boyd: Solid, and was Queensland’s best option for points. Looked dangerous every time he had the ball, and was good in defence.
3. Will Chambers: Hodges may have been dangerous, but Queensland need more than his grubby plays, penalty-milking and rather poor passing choices.
4. Anthony Milford: I know, he’s a fullback or a winger, but he is versatile, and big. His talent should see this switch easily enough, and he needs a run for the Maroons. Only other choice would be Tate, and against either Jennings or Morris, Tate is no match.
5. Billy Slater: Yep, relegated to the wing. Funnily enough, some of his best games for Queensland were when he was on the wing. Might stop the sliding boots issue, too.
6. Johnathan Thurston: Would you ever puck anyone else? Sure, he was relatively quiet during the game, but always tried to spark something. The loss of Cronk and lack of training with DCE showed. A solid few runs together should sort their plays out.
7. Daly Cherry-Evans: No Cronk? No worries. The NRL’s best half is here. You could see in Game 1 he hadn’t trained for the role full-time, who would, given no-one would have expected a broken arm for Cronk, but he was still solid.
A couple of training runs in the seven should sort out the jitters with JT before Game 2.
8. Matt Scott: Queensland’s best, by far, in attack and defence.
9. Cameron Smith: All eyes on Captain Cam, he might just be running to the end of his time. Don’t count him out, but he looked shaky, and that ankle injury could trouble him all season.
10. Nate Myles: Queensland’s answer to Gallen. The big head was at his best in Game 1, but with limited support from the backs, it’s no wonder Queensland lost.
11. Sam Thaiday: Slammin’ Sam will be back with vengeance in his eyes. McQueen was virtually a passenger all game, and I have no qualms in dumping him.
12. Matt Gillett: Another who stood up for Queensland. There was never a question over his performance come full-time.
13. Corey Parker: Not his best game, but no-one else would fill this role as well. Look for Corey to go into another gear for Game 2.
14. Aiden Guerra: What a debut! A strong role off the bench, looked like he’d been there for the past eight wins.
15. Ben Te’o: Are Souths out of form? Te’o’s performance says no. The big man shouldn’t be threatened, no matter how well Dave Taylor is playing.
16. Josh Papalii: Had a solid, if unspectacular role off the bench. Might be threatened by the Coal-train, but I doubt it.
17. James Segeyaro: Contentious? Maybe, but Queensland need that utility role filled, and this man has showed in the past two years at Penrith, how dangerous he is out of Dummy-half. Would be the strongest choice Queensland could make, and could give Cam and the halves a much needed breather mid-game.
New South Wales don’t really have a need to change the team, but I’d still swap a few people around, given the ineffectiveness and injuries to some and possible suspensions to others. Here’s the team I’d pick:
1. Jarryd Hayne: The Hayne Plane was at its aeronautical best in Game 1. Did NSW need anyone else on the field? I’m sure they were all just there to make up the numbers. Looks like he’ll get a well-deserved rest on Friday for Parra (which is good for us Panthers fans), but no-one played better than he did.
2. Brett Morris: Is this man even human? Dislocated his shoulder scoring a try, stays on the field and saves a try with a huge hit. Has to be safe if uninjured.
3. Josh Morris: Greg who? Josh shut down Inglis (again) all game, proving why he needs to be their first choice centre.
4. Michael Jennings: Didn’t do much, but when he did have the ball, looked threatening. No real opportunity to use his speed in what was a low-scoring, slower, more defensive game than what he likes. No-one better for the role, though.
5. Josh Dugan or Josh Mansour: I’d go with Mansour, but it could be my Penrith bias. He is bigger, stronger and more consistent than Dugan, but it depends on your outlook. Tupou was virtually unseen all game, made too many errors, even without much pressure.
Wasn’t really suited for Origin. So many better than him out there on Wednesday.
6. Josh Reynolds or Jamie Soward: If, big if, Josh is still sidelined with a suspension from that Tate tackle, Soward has to come in. Not Maloney, who is not in form, and certainly not Pearce, who is 1. A halfback, and 2. crap.
Mullen could be another option, but Soward is a proven Origin performer, noted kicker, and strong defender. You just have to ignore the attitude.
7. Trent Hodkinson: This man is just showing how strong he really is. Should hold on to his spot, no matter what Pearce has to say. Was rather off with his kicking radar, but that’s nerves on debut for you.
8. Aaron Woods: My god, why did he not play Origin sooner? I think NSW have found their Gallen replacement!
9. Robbie Farah: Who else have they got? People talking him up mustn’t have been watching the same Game 1 did. Defensively he was weak, but with Mick Ennis the only real threat, he will keep his position.
10. James Tamou: Not bad from the big man, considering his indifferent form for the Cowboys. Proof NSW have got the pack sorted was the solid defence, and Tamou played a big role in that.
11. Greg Bird: He’s back, and he’ll be raring to go, to lock the series up at home in Sydney. No questions as to his role there. Hoffman was average, as always. Doesn’t get a bench spot in my book.
12. Beau Scott: Mate, where’d that performance come from? Put that man in Maroon and you’d have another Gorden Tallis. Daley might just have a clue after all.
13. Paul Gallen: C’mon, can this man play Origin, or can he? A future Origin legend, no matter what anyone says. Didn’t have the best game, did spend some time on the bench, but still made every Queensland forward look like they were a schoolboy side.
14. Luke Lewis: What can someone do in 10 minutes? A lot, according to this man. Written off as out of form before a ball had been kicked, and when he did come on played on the wing and still made a bunch of metres and tackles.
15. Anthony Watmough: As dangerous as he always his, and under no threats from any other NSW-eligible forward.
16. Trent Merrin: Another reason NSW were so strong in defence. Proof that just because your team sucks, doesn’t mean you can’t play Origin.
17. Jamal Idris: Would be the best option as a utility, given the T-Rex was about as useful as a fencepost in changing a tyre. Gives another speedster, and is big enough to serve in the forwards if needed.
Big Idris can also score points, taking some pressure off Hayne.
Okay Roarers, what do you think?
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