Maroons forward Corey Parker ruled out of Origin 2

JH...the fans will never get tired of winning...I never want QLD to lose a series however after 8 years in a row it has become easier for me as a fan to eventually lose one...nowhere near as painful as in the prior decade. I'll actually look forward to watching a series again where QLD is not the holder of the shield. I think a great motivator for sportspeople (especially champions) is when they get written off. This was always a motivator for the QLD origin team prior to there dominance as no matter what eventuated after a QLD win, NSW would always end up being touted as favourites. I personally think that QLD players are missing this dynamic as a motivator (as demonstrated by their slow starts) but their superior talent and teamwork has got them through. Now they have the motivation of achieving a Decade of Dominance however one would think that winning your first series since 2005 would be the greatest motivation of all.

Nono, that's why I was comparing Lockyer of about 2007 to Smith of today. See, I don't think the potency has plateaued at all - I think the team of Game 1 2014 was the strongest Maroons line-up I'd seen since about 2010, and before that, 1989. I had only two differences to the actual selection (Hannant instead of Papali) and McGuire instead of Gillett. (I had much less luck with NSW, and thank buggery they didn't listen to me, because I had Hayne at right centre...with Brett Stewart at fullback!) Anyway, point being is that I think the talent level is stronger than I'd ever seen it. And while missing the game's MVP from the 9th minute will always put you behind the eight-ball, they still just didn't seem to be as fired up as they were in the pre-Smith years. Maybe you're right, maybe it's hard to be motivated after all of what we've seen. From my experience though, this would be a first: it's at odds with so many Qlders I know who say that the Maroons could win 100 in a row and it would never get old. Is this the case? Is the team starting to be out of touch with its support base?

JH, their could be something to the point you make about Smith's leadership qualities however I'd like to point out that it's a bit early to compare Lockyer's record with Smith's. Smith was thrown in the deep end in 2008 with Lockyer's injury and while QLD lost game 1 they obviously lifted to the occasion. Smith also is at the helm at a time when reasonably the QLD team's potency has plateaued. An interesting statistic that may be seen to back up my original point of QLD feeling comfortable in their skin or extra motivated when dealt with their friend adversity....since the Origin series started the Maroons have gone on to win the series after losing the first game 6 times. 3 of these have been in the current streak of series wins. NSW has only done this twice - 1994 with Daley, Fittler team and again in 2005 with Johns. QLD definitely appear to be more comfortable (clearly more skilled, more driven perhaps) with taking the prize after losing the series first game.

Ej you are having a lend right? He is obviously one tackle away from aggravating it...I assume you watched the game on the weekend.

It's interesting how 8 years in the wilderness creates such a pesky fervour from the one-eyed mozzie.

Fair enough, thanks for the response. I would probably disagree, as I can't really see that sort of thing happening under Lockyer and he too would have experienced a lot of that narrative stuff. Another question: how do you think Captain Smith of 2014 compares to Captain Lockyer of about 2007? Roughly the same amount of series and so forth...although Lockyer had to wear a few losses early on (and was criticised by people like Tallis - who's own captaincy record in all spheres was diabolical, but anyway). Let me be clear though - I think Smith is the best captaincy candidate in the NRL (I would John Hopoate in his current form would be better than Gallen), I guess I just see some weaknesses there that might need to be looked at.

Hey JH...Smith does come off as a relatively cool customer...maybe QLD slow starts are due to the amount of players bought up in the tropics. ;) but after winning 8 years in a row it must be hard to maintain the intensity of the underdog, a position that historically QLD thrive in. It could be that being 1-0 down in the series makes them feel comfortable in their skin, becoming aligned with the narrative born of their formative years. Slow starts and lack of first half intensity could be a result of the favourites tag and lack of adversity. So it could just be that the unprecedented injuries now hitting the Maroon camp is a gift from the Rugby League gods....that and the criticism of Tate (silly, silly)... If it is true that the QLD spine actually run this team, it is equally true that Coach Mal as a motivator comes into his own in such circumstances....anyone predicting NSW putting a score on are kidding themselves...it is going to be a game for the ages.

Common sense used. All the best Corey Parker with your recovery from this eye injury

Very harsh I think they were a get bet at 1.8 but at 1.65 it is starting to get hard to justify 13 plus you are a brace man Mr Renegade...

You two-headed guys keep telling yourself that.... Blues 13+ :)

First, I agree. Qld are gone in my opinion. They just don't have the same depth quantitatively, meaning that injuries are going to affect them disproportionately. Second, this is a genuine question for Qlders (like VOR and so forth): behind closed doors, do you guys have any question marks over Cameron Smith's captaincy style? Because I would. Have a look at this: - In 2008, Smith's first series as QLD captain, NSW won game 1 (with Qld obviously winning the next two). - In 2013, Smith's third series as QLD captain, NSW won game 1 (with Qld obviously winning the next two). - In 2014, Smith's fourth series as QLD captain, NSW, yet again, wins game 1.... The obvious trend here based on past results is that Qld will win the next two, but I don't think they will. This is kind of beside the point though...ever since Lockyer retired, it seems Qld and Australia have this trend of starting really slowly, almost lethargically, in most of the games they play. There's been several games that they've done this but then actually won, meaning that even these stats actually might actually be hiding something. I also remember Bellamy witholding the captaincy from Smith at the Storm because he wasn't "urgent" enough, for lack of a better term. Like he wouldn't be late for the team bus, but he'd always be there with two minutes to spare, and even then, was just laughing and joking around and so forth. Look - results speak for themselves, and his results are very good, so fair enough. But it's just something I've noticed in teams he's captained ever since Lockyer retired.

Josh McGuire has to come in now. One of the form props of the competition. Lillyman to start in the front row, Myles to lock, Teo to start, Gillette off the bench where his energies would be mainly used for attack. McQueen should be dropped. Slater, Chambers, Tate, Hodges, Boyd, Thurston, DCE, Scott, Smith, Lillyman, Thaiday, Teo, Myles. Bench-Gillett, McGuire, Guerra, Taylor I am worried about not having utility considering the injury clouds or recent fitness problems of Slater, Hodges, DCE and Smith. If any of them get injured with 4 forwards on the bench, QLD will be up the creek. Gillett or Teo could play centre, Chambers into the centres, Boyd fullback etc. But no backup half or hooker. Not a huge deal, but still a worry

Seriously? He is easily one if the fittest guys in the nrl? You obviously haven't seen much of his play...

Just having a bit of fun, JH...We have been copping it for years. BTW - We didn't have any halves in the first game, just 2 guys that gave 110% effort.

pick and- after 1 solitary loss by an eyelid-unstick,gotta love em.

Well put Damo, if the responses from El Jacko and Muzza are anything to go by. Mal's preparations have worked for the past eight years, I think you Blues fans are reading into this too much. He's giving time for the stars to recover. There's still a week to go lads. You say that Queensland have become an untidy outfit after one loss? Strange. I think the loss of the most tidy and tactically astute halfback in the league after 10 minutes will throw your structure into disarray a bit. I didn't see the Blues halves do a heck of a lot of organising in the last match though. Some Hayne brilliance and good defence, not to mention goalkicking and uncharacteristically poor options by Queensland in attack got you over the line. Even Hayne was putting in the long range punts when our boys were mobbing yours down your end in the final 30 minutes. This game will be a true test, no doubt. Win or lose, you can count on the Maroons putting in a gutsy performance.

I would've said the only that would happen is if Cronk and DCE broke their legs along with every other NSW player capable of playing in the halves. Dead wrong about Hodkinson, not far off on Hunt.

I'm waiting for one of them to chip a finger nail, at one of the many bonding sessions they like to have.They have become such an untidy outfit. Mal directs these "video sessions" from behind the bar. 3-0 coming up

Why do QLDers keep bringing up the 4 points? QLD won game III last year by 2 points. The year before by 1 point. Makes no difference when putting the name on the trophy

DCE could play this w/end. But it makes for a good story. Backs to the wall and all that.