Queensland's Origin team is too old? No, it's too good

You realise NSW won 3 origins in a row when this was going on

Well, after the announcement that both Josh Morris and Tyson Frizell have been released I have to say I'm pretty much relieved. Although Moylan is now confirmed and as a Qlder it is a major concern, the fact that Dugan is matching up on Inglis and Walker is on the bench makes me smile. 4 forwards on the bench in NSW with 8 interchanges was going to be hard to handle, with Walker there as basically cover the strength NSW had has now levelled back out with QLD.

hunt and Minster aren't that great

What rubbish about Billy Moore, Queensland have been great for ten years because they have the best players in the most important positions Inglis, thurston, smith, Lockyer and Cronk This culture nonsense is tired This teams depth is a lot weaker but still rightfully favourite

I agree- QLD are at least as beatable in 2016 as they have been during the last 5 years, but NSW refuse to pick on form.... Very frustrating to be a Blues Fan. The 2016 NSW G1 side is pretty strong, but I simply cant cop Farah over Ennis. At their peak there isn't much between them, they offer different strengths and weaknesses, but the simple fact is that based on both Form and Fitness- Ennis was the pick. Secondly, Something must be going on with Dugans spatial awareness, He gets carried over the sideline far too often and is scared of throwing intercepts. He would be far more effective coming off the bench as a backrower late each half with a licence to roam.. He is a great hole runner, offers great support play and with strong running and a Corey Parker type off load could cause some damage. He is capable in 1,2,3,4,5 but isn't the best available in any of those positions. Thirdly, WTF Daley plans to do if Farah cant play for 80 minutes is beyond me??. If anybody could shed some light on this please do.I would have loved to see J Bird in the 14 Jumper over Walker. I think he is NSW's best answer to Morgan. Both are natural footballers who would provide decent dummy half service if required. Painfully- I predict QLD by 7.

Moderated.

Here we go again. He grew up in Wallangarra, go look that up in an atlas. How about all the ACT players representing NSW over the years, disgraceful.... By the way I don't think Moore invented he Queenslander call but he made it famous.

Exactly Drac - read the papers though, and the press will have you believe that QLD have dominated, and how wonderful and gifted each bloke who wears maroon is, despite the past 5 series going down to the wire.

It is tempting to say that NSW does not have the talent of the Queensland players because the Blues have been made to look very ordinary each year before getting replaced with a new bunch of players and the cycle continues. But it is this constant cycling of NSW players that results in the Blues never developing their players into experienced Rep footballers. Queensland reached a "critical mass" after the 2010 series (won series 3-0) and that has been the difference since 2011. Queensland can now afford to slowly introduce young players without weakening the team. Plus, Queensland do benefit from having their core players limited to 3 Clubs - Brisbane, North Queensland and Melbourne. NSW choked in 2006 (Bret Hodgson error), were then flogged for the next 4 years, but since 2011 the teams have been evenly poised. Some of the Stuart/Daley coached teams (5 years) have been very strong and youthful, yet Queensland have been able to stay calm and win the the key moments. 2011: Queensland won the decider in Brisbane, but NSW choked in 73rd minute of Game 1 and could have prevented a decider. 2012: Queensland won the decider in Brisbane by a Cronk field goal in 75th minute. Game 1 also had a controversial try by Inglis who actually dropped the ball onto Farah's boot. 2013: Queensland won the decider in Sydney by 1 goal. 2014: NSW won Games 1 and 2. 2015: Queensland won the decider in Brisbane convincingly, but Game 1 was won by a Cronk field goal in 74th minute so NSW could have prevented a decider.

Uate and Tamou were born overseas, like Papali.....NSW haven't had a QLD born player in their squad since 1995....QLD have had NSW born players in their team every year since 1991!

Whilst Dugan is a warrior and good defensive man to have at fullback, if they don't play Moylan they will have added absolutely no creativity to their attack ( the one thing that has had them behind Queensland now for a decade !). The new halves are no better than what we play every series ( all just Pearce , Reynolds, Hogkinson, Maloney, types) with little creativity. The pack is tough but robotic with no creativity. Only Moylan brings some flair to the attack. He must play or else send him back to club footy. So it has to be Dugan who should be sent back to Kogarah ( even if not injured) and the proven Josh Morris should be picked in the centres where he has never let NSW down, and he can even pass the ball ! With Moylan chiming into the backline the centres might even get a chance to score !

1. Coote 2. Dugan 3. Walker 4. Roberts 5. Ferguson 6. Moylan 7. Reynolds 8. Fifita 9. Peats 10 Tamou 11. Cartwright 12. Cordner/Finucane 13. Merrin 14. Peachey 15. Klemmer 16. Campbell-Gillard 17. Frizzell

Here we go again. 1. Ken Nagas (Bundaberg), 2. James McManus (Scotland), 3. John Hopoate (Tonga), 4. Timana Tahu (Melbourne), 5. Hazem El Masri (Lebanon), 6. Peter Wallace (Melbourne), 7. Peter Sterling (Toowoomba), 8. Dean Pay (Melbourne), 9. Ben Elias (Lebanon), 10. Justin Poore (Bunbury, WA), 11. Ian Roberts (London), 12. Willie Mason (Auckland), 13. Mario Fenech (Malta). Bench: Brad Clyde (Canberra), Joel Monaghan (Canberra), Ryan Hoffman, (Canberra), Craig Polla-Mounter (Ipswich Grammar, via Melbourne).

How about Stirling, Uate, Tamou etc? Its a pointless debate. Happens on both sides.

I think if NSW leave J.Morris out and pick Dugan at Right Centre they are going to regret it. Morris has done a pretty good job containing Inglis of the last couple of years whereas Dugan was found wanting by less classer centres when he was moved there for St George. Part of me thinks Laurie isn't that silly, which would mean Dugan could be selected at fullback. As a Qlder, that selection would also be a relief as I rate Moylan way above Dugan. Don't be surprised if the final team ends up being like this: 1. Dugan 2. Mansour 3. Jennings 4. J.Morris 5. Ferguson 6. Maloney 7. Reynolds 8. Woods 9. Farah 10. Gallen 11. Jackson 12. Cordner 13. Bird; 14. Frizell 15. Tamou 16. Klemmer 17. Fifita. 18. Moylan 19. Walker

...and those guys are already killing it week in week out. I'm blue through and through but some of the head scratching selections over the years are demoralizing. Here's hoping all this will lead to a new generation of blue players like wade graham, Campbell-Gillard, Peachey, Roberts etc

We get it: you don't like Aaron Woods. But you have friend on here in that department. Still don't reckon he's one of the leading props in the comp by measurable standards.

That's a great looking Qld side with a good mix of young and old. I don't buy into the too old line. JT, Smith, and Cronk are still miles ahead of everyone else. They're also in that critical spine / organizational role where everyone else just has to do their job, run their lines and give them options. Then you see the Qld emerging stars and it gets even scarier I think the Blues need more X factor fwds with an off load rather than just bashers. On that note I hope Fifita is retained for game 1 and Cartwright plays during the series

Good old Gaz, still one of the funniest things I have ever read.