Men’s State of Origin Game 2 2026 - The Blues Vs The Maroons - 8:05pm Wednesday 17th June - MCG

[bremsstrahlung]

So the Penrith game plan? I wonder if they’re letting Cleary and Yeo dictate what plan they want to play.

Yep!

Think it’s easy for somebody to look at Penrith’s success and think they should model a team on what they do.

Even more tempting when you have a large contingency of current and ex Penrith players, and in theory maybe “grind them down” works.

But…Origin is passion. Explosive runs. Attacking football. QLD always give the impression they are a team and will do anything for eachother.
Queensland look to attack almost every set. It’s dangerous to defend against.

Our tries last night.
- QLD drop kickoff 5m out
- grubber in behind ricochetes, Munster can’t regather, pass over to Marky
- Marky beats 3 to score in the corner
- Barnett strolls over in the 77th minute.

Mostly sheer luck that kept us in the game at time. We never forced the issue. We never outplayed them to score.

 

[Seano]

The NSWRL should really remove Loz. 6 and 2/3rd series....one series win and one game away from another series loss.

He's a 40% win/loss coach with his whole coaching career being rep teams. ie. He's always had the best players to pick from, and he can't even break even.

 

[MattyM]

NSW are known for changing the squad whether they win or lose, so I’d like to see this side seeing as QLD are an automatic lock for this series:

1. Dylan Edwards
2. Brian To’o
3. Casey McLean
4. Latrell Mitchell
5. Mark Nawaqanitawase
6. Ethan Strange
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Payne Haas
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Isaah Yeo
11. Hudson Young
12. Haumole Olakau’atu
13. Cameron Murray

14. Isaiya Katoa
15. Jackson Ford
16. Jacob Saifiti
17. Dylan Lucas
18. Tolutau Koula
19. Keaon Koloamatangi

20. Jack Bostock

 

[listo]

NSW are known for changing the squad whether they win or lose, so I’d like to see this side seeing as QLD are an automatic lock for this series:

1. Dylan Edwards
2. Brian To’o
3. Casey McLean
4. Latrell Mitchell
5. Mark Nawaqanitawase
6. Ethan Strange
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Payne Haas
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Isaah Yeo
11. Hudson Young
12. Haumole Olakau’atu
13. Cameron Murray

14. Isaiya Katoa
15. Jackson Ford
16. Jacob Saifiti
17. Dylan Lucas
18. Tolutau Koula
19. Keaon Koloamatangi

20. Jack Bostock

I like the look of a team without Cleary in it. It feels like he either shouldn’t be there, or they need to pick the entire Penrith team for him to shine.

 

[Tackleslikeagirl]

We might have most of the kiwi spine…. KP, Brown & Crossland

 

[Seano]

I think Casey is out for a month, and To'o is a shadow of the Origin player he was, and has been completely dominated. Needs to go for game 3.


It occurred to me that 1 series in 7, Loz is only behind Smith, Slater and Thurston in establishing QLD dynasties.

 

[Celticman98]

Lucas was set up to fail under Daley who's proven to be a very poor coach. Daley's bench rotation was a disaster and there's no identity or plan compared to Billy's.

I'd be surprised if Lucas returns for game 3 but be interested to see how he goes under a competent coach and play him in his preferred edge.

Had KP not been sent off in Game 1, Queensland would have already won the series.

Queensland 13+ in Game 3.

 

[mozza]

Luke Keary just referred to Nathan Cleary as the ‘best defensive half’ that’s ever played the game.

CTE has kicked in. The Chin missed more tackles last night than Dyl Brown will this season.

 

[Defence wins games]

Luke Keary just referred to Nathan Cleary as the ‘best defensive half’ that’s ever played the game.

CTE has kicked in. The Chin missed more tackles last night than Dyl Brown will this season.

Completely disagree. He mustn’t have seen Joey defend.
Defensively, Joey has been the best defensive half I have ever seen in my 60 plus years of watching the game.
Daylight second.

 

[mozza]

Completely disagree. He mustn’t have seen Joey defend.
Defensively, Joey has been the best defensive half I have ever seen in my 60 plus years of watching the game.
Daylight second.

Joey goes without saying. There’s a few current players ahead of Cleary too.

He normally defends well to be fair but he’s nothing special defensively.