The Queensland Maroons team for State of Origin 1 in 2015 might already have been leaked, but we still put Roarers under the microscope as to who they would pick in the Maroon jerseys for ANZ Stadium.
Picking the Queensland team has been largely a boring affair in the past eight seasons, with Mal Meninga very quick to spill the beans to anyone in the media willing to listen, prizing consistency and combinations above all things.
Who can argue? This loyal approach brought the Maroons unprecedented success, with eight successive titles.
More State of Origin:
» State of Origin News
» State of Origin team news
» The Roar’s NSW Blues team for Origin 1
» The Roar’s Queensland Maroons team for Origin 1
But what did Roarers think the team should be? Here’s your team, from top to bottom, with no further ado.
1. Billy Slater
2. Will Chambers
3. Greg Inglis
4. Justin Hodges
5. Darius Boyd
6. Johnathan Thurston
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Matt Scott
9. Cameron Smith
10. Nate Myles
11. Sam Thaiday
12. Aidan Guerra
13. Corey Parker
14. Daly Cherry-Evans
15. Josh Papalii
16. Josh McGuire
17. Jacob Lillyman
Well, it seems like Roarers think a lot like Mal Meninga, and think the old guard can go back to their winning ways in 2015.
Injury-struck Broncos Darius Boyd and Justin Hodges have both gotten the nod, alongside stalwart Greg Inglis and new man Will Chambers.
Johnathan Thurston narrowly beat out the next contender, Daylight, for the five-eighth spot. Similarly, there was no competition for Cooper Cronk at half.
Matt Scott and Nate Myles are unsurprising as they come in the front row, while the only possible contentious selection for the starting team was Aidan Guerra and Sam Thaiday in the second row.
Corey Parker gets the nod at lock.
Matt Gillett is among a number of good players to miss out on bench spots, which went to players whose names start with ‘J’ (and Daly Cherry-Evans).
Is this a stroke of ‘Jenius’ from Roarers? Well, we’ll find out when the Queensland team is announced on Tuesday.
Here’s the full summary of selections for the Queensland Maroons team for State of Origin 1.
Summary
1. Fullback
| Billy Slater | 96 | 89.7% |
| Greg Inglis | 10 | 9.3% |
| Other | 1 | 0.9% |
2/5. Winger (Select two)
| Darius Boyd | 95 | 88% |
| Will Chambers | 73 | 67.6% |
| Dale Copley | 12 | 11.1% |
| Dane Gagai | 26 | 24.1% |
| Other | 1 | 0.9% |
3/4. Centre (Select two)
| Justin Hodges | 95 | 88% |
| Greg Inglis | 98 | 90.7% |
| Will Chambers | 14 | 13% |
| Dane Gagai | 7 | 6.5% |
| Other | 0 | 0% |
6. Five-eighth
| Johnathan Thurston | 102 | 94.4% |
| Daylight | 6 | 5.6% |
| Other | 0 | 0% |
7. Halfback
| Cooper Cronk | 90 | 84.1% |
| Daly Cherry-Evans | 17 | 15.9% |
| Other | 0 | 0% |
9. Hooker
| Cameron Smith | 102 | 95.3% |
| Matt Ballin | 1 | 0.9% |
| James Segeyaro | 4 | 3.7% |
| Jake Friend | 0 | 0% |
| Other | 0 | 0% |
8/10. Front Row (Select two)
| Matt Scott | 92 | 86.8% |
| Nate Myles | 56 | 52.8% |
| Sam Thaiday | 15 | 14.2% |
| Jacob Lillyman | 14 | 13.2% |
| Josh Papalii | 8 | 7.5% |
| Josh McGuire | 24 | 22.6% |
| Other | 0 | 0% |
11/12. Second Row (Select two)
| Chris McQueen | 29 | 26.9% |
| Nate Myles, | 18 | 16.7% |
| Matt Gillett | 18 | 16.7% |
| Sam Thaiday | 83 | 76.9% |
| Josh Papalii | 5 | 4.6% |
| Aidan Guerra | 53 | 49.1% |
| Dylan Napa | 4 | 3.7% |
| Other | 4 | 3.7% |
13: Lock
| Corey Parker | 98 | 92.5% |
| Josh Papalii | 3 | 2.8% |
| Matt Gillett | 5 | 4.7% |
| Other | 0 | 0% |
14, 15, 16, 17: Bench
| Matt Gillett | 56 | 51.9% |
| Daly Cherry-Evans | 72 | 66.7% |
| Jacob Lillyman | 60 | 55.6% |
| Corey Parker | 6 | 5.6% |
| Chris McQueen | 28 | 25.9% |
| Josh Papalii | 66 | 61.1% |
| Dave Taylor | 19 | 17.6% |
| Jake Friend | 9 | 8.3% |
| Dave Tyrrell | 11 | 10.2% |
| Josh McGuire | 63 | 58.3% |
| Other | 30 | 27.8% |
rexmarn
Guest
I believe in this QLD team...as in confident and maturity in this level of football.
geoff evans
Guest
Niall, I agree that DCE is better than Hunt at the moment and has always been better than him in the NRL. Funny how DCE got MOM playing for Australia in the Four Nations . Hunt came off the bench for Australia but did not set anything up but scored his tries by backing up. DCE also came off the bench in origon 3 and set up the QLD first try. As for defence DCE is rated as the best defensive half back in the NRL. In his last three games before this weekend his tackle count was 35, 31 and 29. Hunt is a good player but not a good halfback.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Yeah, which is why I just dunno what to make of him. That was one of the best debuts I've ever seen, on one of the biggest stages of the year. Sign of s special player. And he has this ability to anticipate the defensive line's responses to what he's going to do...again, sign of a special player. A couple of months ago I wouldn't shut up about him. I wonder if he's playing the wrong position? As a halfback, a good long kicking game is essential. I wouldn't say his is "good". Short kicking game is a different story, but still. The number of time she gets caught down the right-hand short side on the fifth, side trying to clear kick back across field... Plus, I've counted a number of times recently where the defence has presented him with opportunities to run...and he hasn't even looked! That's one of his biggest weapons! What's doing, seriously.
Niall
Roar Pro
DCE is definitely in better form at the moment. Hunt's weakness has always been his kicking game. If I'm taking one to put on the bench its Hunt. DCE has never really done much coming off the bench for QLD or Aus. Hunt made big plays from the bench in the four nations and has covered hooker for the Broncos at the start of his career. I think he's a better defender as well.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
I'm a big fan of both Cronk and Hunt, but at the moment, Cherry has Hunt covered I reckon. Hunt is just lacking focus or something, his kicking game has been really ordinary also. Cherry on the other hand is really carrying the Eagles at the moment, which is a trait I value very highly. I don't think you could say the same about Hunt in the past month or so.
Niall
Roar Pro
I think DCE was more reliant on Glenn Stewart then Jamie Lyon. Stewart was the main ball player on the right hand side. DCE's best plays always came from hitting holes off Stewart's perfectly timed passes.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Acting as the counterweight to JT I would pick Hunt ahead of DCE any day of the week. Hunt makes his team look better than they are, Cherry-Evans.. well he's fortunate to have spent virtually his entire career next to Lyon.
Renegade
Guest
I don't think it would be Manly fans.... they were all on here saying how rubbish he is and that he only looks good because of Foran, etc, etc. Meanwhile Cherry is carrying that side on his own for the past 10 rounds.... Cronk is the best halfback in the game but there is no way in the world that Hunt is in the same bracket is DCE.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Looks like 15.9% of Roarers are Manly supporters, because there's no other reason to want Cherry-Evans at halfback ahead of Cronk (or even Hunt).
Rellum
Roar Guru
Those experts are not lazy, they are just instructed to craft their stories around certain stars because those stars sell.
AUBZ
Guest
JASON BUKUYA SHOULD HAVE A CRACK @ SECOND ROW FOR QLD
AUBZ
Guest
JASON BUKUYA @ SHARKS SHOULD HAVE A CRACK
Niall
Roar Pro
Thurston is great, it just seems he gets all the praise whether he deserves it or not (he usually does deserve it) I think its the laziness of most of the 'EXPERTS?' who cover our game on TV, Radio and in the newspapers. I often wonder if they're watching different games to me. I think Cowboys will be there at the end of the year if the pack keeps turning up. Taumololo is just scary, Lowe and Cooper defend well and run good lines and options. Scott and Tamou working away in the middle. Only thing that would concern me would be the long kicking game (Thurston's only weakness IMO) and maybe having no real standout centre who Thurston or Morgan can just throw an early ball to and let him go to work.
Kingcowboy
Guest
Niall I think you are right in the sense that people just assume that if the Cows win it is because of JT. Don't get me wrong, he has been that good for that long in club, SOS and internationals that people think without him, the cows are nothing. But you take most halfbacks out of any side and they will struggle eg Souths. This weekends game will be a massive test for us against the Tigers. We will be missing JT, Matty S and Jimmy. Tigers lose Farrah and Woods. I see Ray Ray shifting from the bench to 5/8 and MM moving to the 7. I think the game will come down to MM v Brooks. Both great young players with a great future ahead of them. I think MM will get us home and people will really start to see how good he is. I watched a lot of MM in 2013 when they won the Intrust cup for Mackay and him and Taumololo where out of this world. 2015 is still JT and Matty's side but 2016 it is MM and Lolo's side.
Niall
Roar Pro
Morgan has been brilliant. Just wondered Cowboy, assuming you're a Cowboys fan, Do you think Thurston gets too much credit when the Cowboys are going good. It seems to me he always get the praise when they win, even if Morgan, Taumololo, Cooper or others have been better. For example Morgan ripped Canterbury up but Thurston is the man getting the headlines for the field goal at the end. He seems to get all the Dally M points as well, am I right or wrong?
Kingcowboy
Guest
I like Ben Hunt and I think he had a great start to the year but it seems he has been off his game the last couple of weeks. Was wondering if has been carrying an injury?
Kingcowboy
Guest
Maybe MM is worthy of a mention but he should be on the bench. He can cover every position except front row. It is a joke that he wasn't even in the running for the bench. To me, he has been the best cows player this year and a lot of last year. He is QLD's future!!
Niall
Roar Pro
I'd have Ben Hunt as the bench utility ahead of DCE. Played that role for the Broncos at the start of his career and would be comfortable at 9 if Smith was to go down during the game. Look at how good he was for the Kangaroos in that same role against England and New Zealand
maximillian
Guest
Who was the 1 "other" fullback vote for? I seriously cant think of anyone who deserves to be in the conversation.