In my last article I selected a NSW team based on their point-scoring ability, so here’s their Queensland opposition. A team of players selected solely on the basis of the points that they have scored for Queensland in State of Origin matches (excluding Super League).
The criteria are that the player is only eligible for the position that they predominantly played for Queensland, and the eligible player who has scored the most points for Queensland in that position makes the team.
1. Gary Belcher
128 points from 64 goals in 17 games. Belcher’s best effort came in Game 3, 1988 when he score a try and kicked five goals.
2. Valentine Holmes
86 points from 11 tries and 21 goals in 13 games. Holmes scored three tries in just his second game for Queensland in 2017.
3. Mal Meninga
86 points from 11 tries and 21 goals in 13 games. Meninga has scored the second most Origin points for Queensland and landed seven goals from as many attempts in the very first Origin game in 1980.
4. Greg Inglis
72 points from 18 tries in 32 games. Inglis played the same number of Origins as Meninga and ran in nearly four times as many tries, including two on debut in 2006.
5. Darius Boyd
68 points from 17 tries in 28 games. Boyd scored four Origin try doubles.
6. Darren Lockyer
82 points from nine tries, 22 goals and two field goals in 36 games. He landed seven goals from as many attempts across his first three games for Queensland in 1998.
7. Johnathan Thurston
220 points from five tries, 99 goals and two field goals in 37 games. No one has scored more Origin points than Thurston, and he landed nine goals from as many attempts in Origin 3 in 2015.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
8. Greg Dowling
16 points from four tries in 11 games. Dowling scored tries in three consecutive Origin matches.
9. Cameron Smith
58 points from five tries and 19 goals in 42 games. With Thurston in the side, Smith didn’t get many chances to kick goals, but his best effort was five from five in Game 1 of 2005.
10. Sam Backo
12 points from three tries in seven games. Backo scored all of his tries in his first Origin series in 1988.
11. Gorden Tallis
16 points from four tries in 17 games. Was victorious in only one of the games in which he scored a try.
12. Michael Crocker
12 points from three tries in 13 games. Scored a try in each of his first two Origins.
13. Bob Lindner
28 points from seven tries in 25 games. Queensland lost the first three games in which he scored a try.
That’s a star-studded line-up by any measure, and they should have far too many points in them for their NSW rivals.
matth
Roar Guru
And in extra time JT does the same thing with his shoulder hanging around his knees
elvis
Roar Rookie
Hi Tony, your Meninga section appears wrong. Too few games and too many tries? It's not the same number games as Inglis and not 4 times fewer tries as mentioned in the Inglis section.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Booooo. BOOOOOOOOO!
Tony
Roar Guru
If he did, it wouldn't have been many Max
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Imagine it. Pouring rain. Absolute slog fest. Nothing in it. Blues score a match tyingt try to equal the scores the Snoz O'Connor (picture it with me) from the right hand touchline, curls a beautiful kick around to take the lead and NSW holds on. Magnificent. And pure bloody fantasy. Damnit
max power
Guest
Did Boyd ever score when not set up by Macksville Inglis?
Tony
Roar Guru
Let's go with Mal as captain/coac John
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Definitely will be underdogs :laughing:
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Good morning Tony. Captain? Coach? I await a Blues fan to nominate Cameron Smith as referee! Some years ago, computers were used to match up sporting teams with players from different eras & the results were always topics for discussion.This Queensland side on paper is really strong & wouldn’t need to play at Suncorp or have The Grasshopper “keeping NSW onside” to be almost unbeatable.
matth
Roar Guru
NSW only by thirty if they stayed on the field for another half hour after QLD went to the sheds.
matth
Roar Guru
I was leaving myself an out. It would have been a mighty game.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Almost anybody = NSW
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Booooo. BOOOOOOOO! Glad to see Sam "F-Bomb" Backo in the team. He was a bug square block of mo. NSW by 30.
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes Phil. This team looks just about unbeatable to me. They've certainly got plenty of points in them :happy:
Phil
Roar Rookie
Yesterday I said it would take one hell of a team to beat the NSW side. Today we have that hell of a team.
Tony
Roar Guru
Pretty handy line-up, eh. :happy:
matth
Roar Guru
I’d back that team to beat almost anybody.
andrew
Roar Rookie
A great side there Tony. Who could forget slammin Sam Backo and GD.