Kangablues or Kangaroons?

You could argue the merits of James Graham or Matt Scott however Matt Scott is eligible for Australian selection whereas James Graham isn’t and for the sake of this discussion I believe you could reasonably argue that Matt Scott is the #1 prop for Australia. Below are the series stats for Woods and Scott; Aaron WOODS GAMES: 3 AVG. TACKLES: 17.3 AVG. MIN: 36.3 OFFLOADS: 2 AVG. RUNS: 8.0 LINEBREAKS: 0 AVG. METRES: 66 TACKLE BUSTS: 1 (Source: Fox Sports Match Centre) Matt SCOTT GAMES: 2 AVG. TACKLES: 16.0 AVG. MINS: 31.5 OFFLOADS: 0 AVG. RUNS: 7.5 LINEBREAKS: 0 AVG. METRES: 62 TACKLE BUSTS: 1 (Source: Fox Sports Match Centre) Hardly flattering for either player but given that Scott sustained a fractured cheek bone that penetrated his eye socket in the 12th minute before coming off in the 23rd minute of Game 2 I’m prepared to be a bit lenient and go on his proven ability at this and Test level should he recover from his injury and be available for selection. Those stats simply confirm that Woods was average at best. He might eventually develop into a Test quality player however at this stage he is an average first grader who has done zero in 5 Origin appearances other than what I mentioned before. You could argue the merits of Hayne or GI at fullback, the simple reality is that Slater didn’t do anything to lose his spot. He was a constant threat to the NSW defence in attack and once again did all the little things right in defence through all 3 games. Hayne had a spectacular 40 minutes of attacking football in the first half of Game 1 and then after that was reasonably well contained by the Qld defence along with the rest of the NSW attack. This is evidenced by the fact that NSW scored just the ONE try (albeit enough to win the series) in 120 minutes of football and a grand total of TWO tries in 200 minutes of football after that first 40 minutes. I should add that there wasn’t a lot wrong with Hayne’s defensive efforts throughout the series. If you can highlight a player from NSW in the past 10 years who has 20 Origin appearances for 15 tries (equal highest Origin try scorer) and is a two time premiership winner (at different clubs) which includes a Clive Churchill Medal then I might accept your argument that Darius Boyd is over rated. Inglis and Boyd will go down as one of the great centre/wing combinations in Origin history when they eventually hang up their boots. I have written elsewhere that the Morris Twins should be automatic selections for NSW because of the way they play Origin footy and I would give them the ultimate compliment by saying that they play like Queenslanders. They happen to be unfortunate in that they are playing at the same time as one of the most freakishly talented footballers we have all seen in Greg Inglis and whilst Josh Morris has done a great job in recent series in containing GI, Qld still continues to score tries down his side through the combination of Thurston, Inglis and Boyd. I would argue that Josh Morris would look just as good as what Hayne did at centre in the World Cup playing in a backline that had Cronk & Thurston giving superlative service. The Australian three quarter line up for the RLWC final was 1. Slater, 2. B. Morris, 3. Inglis, 4. Hayne & 5. Boyd with the Australian selectors electing to split the Inglis/Boyd combination. Brett Morris certainly had a great time of it playing outside Inglis to bag two tries in the final with Slater, Hayne and Boyd heavily involved in most of Australia’s tries. Hodges didn’t make the RLWC squad due to injury and was noticeably omitted for the Test against NZ earlier this year after returning from injury at the age of 32. His form in the Origin series where he was in my view head and shoulders above the other centres including GI should be a reminder that he still has plenty to offer at Test level. In saying that I would have no problems if the Australian selectors stuck with the RLWC line –up given that Hayne and Morris at 26 & 28 (in August) represent a longer term proposition; I would simply restore the Inglis/Boyd combination. I noticed you mentioned Reynolds as an interchange player based on Origin form and I have written elsewhere that being a serial pest might be a factor in representative longevity however Game 3 highlighted just how limited his football talent is both in attack and defence at this level. He has quite a bit to do if he is to be seriously considered as a Test quality player. Also noticed James Maloney mentioned as a candidate for the #6 jersey based on NRL form who probably has more to offer than Reynolds in attack but like Reynolds and any of the NSW #6’s during Qlds’ run of 8 series wins performs the duty of speed bump for the Qld forwards admirably. Seriously does anybody REALLY think that there are challengers to Cronk, Thurtson and DCE as the halves with DCE almost certain to get the utility spot? I also noticed T-Rex on your interchange bench and I’m probably of the view that he is still the highest paid reserve grader running around in the NRL who is still nowhere near his best form after leaving Manly. You did mention Josh Mansour, Josh Jackson and Wade Graham who have representative potential and are not yet ready for Test football but are more than likely knocking on the door of NSW selection. I guess we will have to wait and see until next year if they are brought into the side; however given the history of NSW selectors it could be anybody’s guess as yes I am a Qld supporter.

You must be a Qld supporter. Mat Scott isn't the best prop James Graham is. You have named the Qld team that wouldn't be the team at all. Woods was a lot better than Scott in origin, Hayne was better that Slater, Boyd is overrated big time. Going on origin alone Hayne, Morris, Morris, GI, Slater, JT, Cronk, Woods, Farah, Myles/Gallen, Bird, Sammy, Gallen/Parker Bench Reynolds, Parker/Myles, Scott, Hoffman Going on the nrl games GI, Morris, Morris, Hayne, Mansour, Maloney, DCE, Scott, Smith, Woods, Jackson, Scott, Graham (Wade) Bench Parker, T-Rex, Hoffman, Sammy Combo both and I personnel think the team should look like this GI, Morris, Morris, Hayne, Slater, JT, Cronk, Woods, Farah, Scott, Myles, Sammy, Gallen Bench Bird, Parker, Scott, Hoffman

Well Mick, Tim Sheens has been known to say some things I think we can agree are pathetic garbage "We're training really well, a win is only around the corner." - Tim Sheens on the Tigers for half of 2012 "I think John Morris can be our Cooper Cronk"

Tallis anyone????????

Do you actually watch rugby league Kurt?

V.O.R. I said NRL not Origin even though Farah still did better there - Cam didn't do anything spectacular either? He was definitely full of himself by saying that but I back the comment he made. However by saying that just unleashes the beast of Smith.

Lol well you know I'm a blue and I certainly thought he was their best in game 1 and solid in 2 and 3.... There wasn't many others putting their hand up for QLD ;)

1. Billy Slater 2. Darius Boyd 3. Greg Inglis 4. Justin Hodges / Josh Morris 5. Jarryd Hayne / Brett Morris 6. Johnathan Thurston 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Matt Scott 9. Cameron Smith ( c ) 10. Nate Myles 11. Sam Thaiday 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Corey Parker Interchange 14. Daly Cherry-Evans 15. James Tamou / Andrew Fifita. 16. Beau Scott 17. Aiden Guerra NSW scored a total of 4 tries in 270 minutes of football during the Origin Series and Jarryd Hayne would be the only back from NSW who looked remotely like a Test player during the series and offer something that resembled attacking flair. Whilst Hodges is 32 he still has plenty to offer at international level and was arguably the best centre from either side during the Origin series whilst arguments can be made for the Morris twins. Other than that the back line should pick itself. Matt Scott is the # 1 prop in the game. Where this push for Aaron Woods who did very little other than put on a great acting performance in Game 2 and give the bird to the crowd in Game 3 is coming from is bewildering. Paul Gallen for all his metres gained and tackles made is now pretty much a liability in terms of stifling any form of attacking play. Corey Parker offers the same metres and same number of tackles and a lot more quality attacking options with his off-loading ability. Andrew Fifita didn’t feature this series due to injury and wasn’t in the best of form prior to that so would just have to wait and see how form holds up on return. Beau Scott and Ryan Hoffman were close to being NSW’s most consistent and arguably best forwards during the Origin campaign and should be rewarded with Green jumpers, whilst Aiden Guerra made the absolute most of his opportunity.

Alex tim sheens has been quoted that hayne is a walk up start to the Australian team. I will take tim sheens opinion over your pathetic garbage

It's amazing how many "QLD's best" there was : )

Disagree Muzz, Slater was QLD's best over the whole series.... Inglis isn't touching him as a fullback - his pass into row Z of suncorp when he roamed as fullback on the left was evident to that.

disagree,basic premise of the game..the opposition dont score they cant win

Haha have to call it like I see it. Guerra will be a force for Qld for many years to come, if he can keep up the performances we have seen lately from him and you can get rid of the likes of McQueen and co. Will be a genuine strike weapon for the maroons which they have lacked in recent years in the back row. As for Hodges, I would not be upset about it but at 32 and the list of injuries he has received in recent years, it wouldn't suprise me if he ruled himself out

Well mate, you can see as a club we are heading in the right direction.... we'll take you back, you can sit next to me ;) haha On the metres per run.... we'll have a look at it again at the end of the year - he has led that stat each season for the best part of a decade - still 9 games to go this year.

V.o r your qld bias takes away all credibility in your comments. Hodges was over looked for the trans tasman test and he won't get a run in the 4 nations. Tim sheens called hayne his go to man during the world cup and will be the first centre picked. Your bias is ridiculous

Josh morris is not actually the incumbent. He was selected because jarryd hayne had a shoulder injury and yes your right sheens is loyal hayne will be there and along with smith cronk and thurston the first man picked.

Yer I agree those picks are reasonable.Still think Hodges deserves his spot on form and I will think we will see by the years end that he will take it to another level in the NRL and he will be picked. I chose Guerra before the QLD origin 1 team was picked...just didn't want to put too many noses out with a lopsided QLD representation after they lost the series ;)

Just pick the Storm big three and you could beat any other nation.

Ah Will, you are Master baiter! Catch em everytime

Yeh Slater goes alright for 31 but i rate both GI and Hayne above him.Cronks the man for both QLD and the Storm on and off the ball. All this talk about Slaters positional play and organising being superior hasn't helped the Storm or QLD of late. As a blues fan i was glad GI wasn't picked at fullback.