With back-to-back home-game losses in Games 1 and 2, a massive 76 points conceded, and just a solitary converted try on the board, it doesn’t take a genius to conclude that Queensland need to do something different in game 3, which kicks off on Wednesday week.
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is not only the definition of insanity, but will also be unacceptable to Queensland supporters.
The Maroons find themselves in one of the deepest holes since the Origin concept kicked off, and rather than just tinker around with the team, it’s time for them to go all-in, disrupt the Blues’ game plan, and try to salvage something from the series.
So what do they need to do? Well, first of all, what can they do? They can’t change coach Paul Green at this late hour, even if he was the problem. They can’t change the fact that Game 3 won’t be in Queensland, and they won’t have a home ground crowd behind them.
They can’t change the list of eligible players, just ask Ronaldo Mulitalo about that one. And they can’t change the fact that some of their key players are injured, including Reece Walsh, Harry Grant and Reed Mahoney.
But what they can do is go all-in for Game 3 and pick a team that will play with the passion needed to either take down their seemingly superior opponents, or at the very least put up a competitive showing and regain some pride and momentum for next year’s series. The key improvements that they need to make for Game 3 are:
1. Improve their edge defence on both sides of the field. The NSW outside backs had a field day against players who either couldn’t make a basic defensive read or just didn’t put in the effort.
2. Improve their attack. Queensland had limited scoring opportunities in Games 1 and 2 and failed to convert those opportunities that presented themselves. Attack is the best means of defence after all.
Here’s the team Queensland should select for Origin 3.
Fullback – AJ Brimson
Brimson simply has to play fullback as, like the NSW back five, he is a threat to the defence from anywhere on the field. Brimson’s explosive pace, broken-field running and strong carries from his own line have been sorely missed in the series so far.
Valentine Homes has had his chances and failed to impress, and is better suited to the wing. Kalyn Ponga, while certainly an option, may be better utilised elsewhere in the team. And Reece Walsh is injured.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Wings – Valentine Holmes and Corey Thompson
Neither Kyle Feldt nor Xavier Coates looked convincing in Games 1 and 2 and were heavily targeted by the NSW attack. In addition, they both failed to take their opportunities in attack.
Holmes is a far better winger than he is a fullback, as evidenced by his 17 tries for Australia and nine for Queensland when playing on the wing. Wing has been a real problem for Queensland this series, and Holmes is part of the solution.
Corey Thompson is made for Origin and could be Queensland’s answer to Brian To’o. Injury has limited his time on the field this year but in his eight appearances, he has seven tries, 45 tackle breaks and averages around 180 running metres. He knows how to score a try, is a strong ball carrier and can defend.
Centres – Kalyn Ponga and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Kurt Capewell and Dane Gagai have both been disappointing as centres in the series so far and have been owned by their opponents Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell.
Neither have the speed or agility to shut down their opponents in defence, nor could either of them run out of sight on a dark night. It’s time to play the NSW card and pick a couple of talented fullbacks in the centres.
Kalyn Ponga could be just the man to create some opportunities for the Queensland right-side attack, and he has the skills to handle the positional change. His clash with Latrell Mitchell would be something to see.
Tabuai-Fidow is a real speedster who would take some watching by the NSW backs as it’s unlikely they’ll run him down if he gets in the clear. He is a dangerous attacking centre with loads of potential.
Halves – Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans
No changes to personnel required here, and also no real alternatives knocking down the selectors’ door, but they’ve got to bring their A-games and get some early ball to the edges.
Munster spends too much time holding the ball and jinking back inside and not enough time setting his outside players in motion.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Middle forwards – Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Josh Papalii and Christian Welch
Once again, no changes required as these three are the best equipped to match it with the NSW forwards in the middle of the ruck.
Back row – Jai Arrow and Kurt Capewell
The change I’d make here is to move Capewell the right edge in place of Felise Kaufusi, who hasn’t offered a lot in attack in Games 1 and 2, and he has been part of the right-side defensive problem for the Maroons.
Capewell should ask far more questions of the NSW defence with the ball in hand and is a willing and effective edge defender.
Jai Arrow retains his spot in the absence of strong competition but will need to lift his game and bring an extra dose of mongrel.
Hooker – Ben Hunt
Queensland are short of options here, with both Harry Grant and Reed Mahoney currently out with injury. The Andrew McCullough gamble in Game 2 didn’t work as his service was too slow and it’s no secret to the defence that he doesn’t run the ball.
The best option, with improving the attack front of mind, is to play Hunt at dummy half. He has the experience, combines well with Cherry-Evans, provides another strong kicking option, and is a dangerous ball runner.
The bench – Jake Turpin, Sam Walker, Moeaki Fotuaika, David Fifita
This is where the Queensland team need to think a little outside the square, increase their attacking options and decrease their middle forward rotation, as starting middle forwards Christian Welch and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui can both play big minutes if required.
I would pick Jake Turpin to cover the dummy-half role, Moeaki Fotuaika to reprise the excellent minutes he played off the bench in Games 1 and 2, David Fifita to play as a middle forward, and Sam Walker.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Turpin looks to be the best available option to cover the dummy-half role and has been one of the Broncos’ best this year. He is a good defender, is clever around the ruck and has a developing short kicking game.
Fotuaika has looked the goods every time he’s worn the maroon jersey and is just the player to keep taking the fight to the NSW forwards when he gets his chance.
David Fifita has been disappointing in the series thus far and has been missing in action out near the left wing, hoping for a pass from Cameron Munster. I would play him off the bench as a middle forward where he can get the ball more often and use his destructive running, footwork and offloading ability to create havoc closer to the ruck.
Sam Walker is the wild card here but if used properly, his vision, cut-out passes and great short kicking game could create additional opportunities in attack. He is well worth the risk.
So here’s how they line up.
1. AJ Brimson
2. Valentine Holmes
3. Kalyn Ponga
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5. Corey Thompson
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Josh Papalii
9. Ben Hunt
10. Christian Welch
11. Jai Arrow
12. Curt Capewell
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
14. Jake Turpin
15. Sam Walker
16. Moeaki Fotuaika
17. David Fifita
Joey
Guest
QLD whacking their heads together to solve the great mystery of how to win the 2021 dead rubber is (expletive) hilarious. In the end, so what if you win the game.
Tony
Roar Guru
I guess I must have been away the day that Fifita became an "Australian edge forward". :laughing:
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
So your solution is to: 1) improve attack 2) improve defence 3) move the best FB in Qld to the centres 4) move Arrow, a noted middle forward out to the edge, and put the Australian edge forward (Fifita) on the bench 5) go in with just the one middle-forward on the bench, as you want two utility players, who have barely played first grade, on the bench. Oh, please can you be a QLD selector for the next 1,000 years??????
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Capewell may have been picked on the left but on at least two occasions was the recipient of that pass twice. He probably went out there to look for Gagai because no one had seen him all night
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Ponga to six and Munster on Turbo. Agree on the wingers ,. Who plays 9?? . I seriously can't believe we have two quality nines and both are out . I guess we have to go with Hunt but does that mean we need a replacement 9 on the bench?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Now you know what you are talking about. Munster HAS to go on Turbo. Its the only option with a chance. Tell him Turbo is his . If Turbo scores or try assists its his fault. Make it personal. Munster will either shut him down or be sent off. 50 50 I reckon but its better than certain annihilation. Ponga plays like a six a lot for the Knights so he can do it. At least he is creative. I still think Val over Thompson . He's a very good winger.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
what about when DCE went to the right in SOO Game 2, Tom?
Brett Allen
Guest
1) KP has just gotten thru 80 against the Cowboys, he’ll be fine. For me it’s KP or AJ, but not both. 2) Opacic isn’t a huge threat with the ball, but he doesn’t need to be. Capewell showed in game 1 that Turbo can be vulnerable even against a makeshift centre. But in today’s game arguably the most important position defensively is Right Centre, defending against the oppositions left side attack. 3) Dane Gagai is still amongst Qld’s best, albeit in a shallow pool. But moving him to the left side will help his attack given that he plays left centre for the Bunnies. 4) Oates has his moments I agree, but he’s a great starter out of the back field and a great finisher. They could, and have, done worse. 5) With Reed Mahoney I did make the caveat that he was fit, but I have given him Ben Hunt to tag team with. He’s only been out for 3 weeks, he would find to play 40-50 minutes. 6) David Fifita, he is a strike player, and a devastating one at that. Not every forward has to be high work rate, especially your left edge forward. Using him as a battering ram in the middle would be a waste. 7) I have Jai Arrow in the 13 over Tino because a) Arrow ISN’T an edge forward, has never been. He plays in the middle exclusively at the Bunnies, just as he did with the Titans & Broncos. I have Tino coming off the bench because he can give you a lift, as well as having a bit more footy in him. Having said that I wouldn’t have a problem swapping Jai & Tino. 8) I agree Kaufusi is a shadow of his former self, but I’d be prepared to give him a bench spot. He could give you 20 on an edge & another 10-15 in the middle. 9) As above re Ben Hunt
Tony
Roar Guru
Interesting team Brett, and as a NSW supporter I hope that's the team they go with. Here's my critique: 1. Ponga - obviously has to be there but so does Brimson. Ponga hasn't played many minutes this year and would struggle to get through the 80, and would handle the centre role better than Brimson. 2. Holmes - agree 3. Opacic - a steady player who may defend well but won't threaten in attack. Not much of an improvement on Capewell. 4. Gagai - way down on both form and confidence and is beginning to look like Mitchell's front door mat in defence. Hasn't done a thing in attack. 5. Oates - a reserve grader at the Broncos which says it all. Has the handling of a fish. Has been tried at Origin before but never impressed. 6. Munster - agree. 7. DCE - agree. 8. Papallii - agree. 9. Mahoney - hasn't played for a month and wouldn't have the match fitness for an origin debut. 10. Welch - agree. 11. Fifita - one of the laziest players in the game. If he plays on the edge he seems happy to hang out near the wing. Would be a threat as a middle forward though, preferably off the bench. 12. Capewell - agree. 13. Arrow - could play 13 but Tino offers more. Doing a good job on South's edge and played well enough in games 1 and 2, and QLD don't have much to choose from here. 14. Tino - agree, but should be in the run on team. 15. Fotuaika - agree. 16. Kaufusi - doesn't offer much these days and has been a big contributor to the poor right edge defence in games 1 and 2. 17. Hunt - will need to play 9 in place of Mahoney. Cheers
Spotter
Guest
DCE is a facilitator not a creator. He allows people to be good he doesn't make them good thats why he only goes well with decent cattle. It's not a blight on him it's just where his talent lies. No halfback or 6 is gonna fix them right now. The missed tackles , the bad reads, the complete overwhelming difference 8n class in outside backs. Thurston and Cronk couldn't make that backline defend well enough to contain Turbo and Lattrell
Brett Allen
Guest
Um, Mitch Moses, he’s in the form of his life
Brett Allen
Guest
1) Ponga 2) Holmes 3) Opacic 4) Gagai 5) Oates (dunno what he’s done wrong) 6) Munster 7) DCE 8) Papa 9) Mahoney ( if declared fit by the Eels) 10) Welch 11) Fifita 12) Capewell 13) Arrow 14) Tino 15) Fotuaika 16) Kaufusi 17) Hunt Some of you guys over complicate things. We didn’t win because of tactical superiority, there’s no clever out of the box strategy to bridge that particular gap. The team I’ve picked still won’t win, but at least it’ll give you a fighting chance. As usual Gus is right, Qld are in this pickle because of the QRL and their insistence on promoting the Q Cup as the 2nd best league in the country, hilarious in and of itself. They’ve been so obsessed with the Q Cup that they’ve haven’t paid attention to what is happening at the Broncos, Titans & Cowboys and their horrendous development record. If it wasn’t for Craig Bellamy & the Storm, where would the Maroons be ? Like the dumpster fire that is the Broncos football department, there is no quick fix for the QRL. They can only pick their best players in the best positions and hope for the best. As a proud Blue, I couldn’t be happier.
Tony
Roar Guru
Let's hear your suggested team Brett
Brett Allen
Guest
1) Kalyn Ponga isn’t a centre, has never played in the centres and would be badly exposed in defence. Turbo & especially Trell have spent significant time in the centre’s in their careers, and even then they are still suspect in defence. Furthermore if you were to put KP in the centres at the very least it would need to be left centre since it’s pretty commonly known that he attacks right to left far better than left to right. Unfortunately that exposes him to Turbo. 2) Tabuai-Fidow, please, now you’re just picking names out of a hat. The guy has straight line speed and that’s it. He doesn’t have Rugby League speed ala the Fox or Papenhuysen. What has he done for the Cowboys ? SFA. Better off picking a proper defensive centre in Tom Opacic, especially for Right Centre. 3) Jai Arrow on an edge again ? Did y’all not learn your lesson from game 2 when he was badly exposed by Cleary, Cam Murray & Turbo ? He is strictly a middle forward, and a bloody good one, but a fish out of water defending 4 in. 4) Fifita on the bench ? Qld can’t afford to waste their best strike player on the pine for even 20 minutes. He needs to start on the left edge and put pressure on Mitch Moses or Adam Reynolds, whichever gets the nod. Qld need to get on top early, waiting until the Blues lower their intensity is like waiting for a politician to tell the truth. 5) Sam Walker & Jake Turpin. You are kidding ?
Tony
Roar Guru
Yep. They need pace out wide, and wingers who can catch the ball.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
He was 10/10 yesterday.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
DCE threw three wide cut out passes yesterday to a winger with pace and the result was three tries.. in SoO 2 he threw a similar pass several times to Capewell who was run down in a couple of paces by the NSW three quarters. The problems for Queensland this year wasn’t Munster or DCE it was a pedestrian backline
Tony
Roar Guru
You may be right
Kurt S
Roar Pro
We were smashed in the forwards in both games. Reducing the number of big men for rotation might not be help. Unless the small men on the bench were Ponga-esque but we need him at fullback. I'd gamble with Ponga at the back, Holmes to wing. Capewell to second row. Sami into centre. BUt most of all, I would have Munster and DCE spending a lot of time together. Get them on the drink or whatever, but get the two of them communicating. There wasn't a lot of option when DCE was named captain. But QRL made a rod for its own back because DCE had hardly set the SOO on fire in the past. But they can't drop him now. DCE looked half a beat out of sync in the last two games. especially with his passes out to the right to hook up with the men outside. Maybe with Ponga coming in and running hard onto DCE, the timing might come back. Munster made some half breaks in the second half of game 2 and we also bombed quite a few scoring opportunities. The second game, whilst NSW were clearly more dominant, should have been a lot closer on the scoreboard than it was. Qld need to remember that. They have played poorly in game 2 and deserved to be thumped as in game 1, but they weren't somehow. We need another fresh forward to the team this season to just not give a damn and play hard and loose. Just definitely not Napa or Hess. But I can't decide who yet.
matth
Roar Guru
I suspect the erratic but special talents of Munster wouldn’t gel with a coach like Green?