Men State of Origin 2024

Suaali'i doesn't deserve to get picked imo. They would have been better off chucking Burton in the centres.
Looking at the side and making sense of it, they're seemingly looking for big bodies out wide, metres capable from every player, power game.

Overlooking Latrell due to perceived cultural ailments is understandable, if poor form/attitude wasnt the reason to leave him out. But it could prove to be a master-stroke if he's included later in the series. But that's wishful thinking. He's not a Mag type of personality.
 
He’s just a great leader I think … like Harragon might not have always made the most metres for us, but the rest of the forward pack always followed him and he had an effect beyond just what he did on the field. With key players out I can see why they’d want a player like that as captain.
 
I think Madge has got that squad mostly right, however there’s a few selections I don’t agree with. Suaalii isn’t even the 2nd best centre in NSW and probably only got picked as a kick target, I’d swap Robson out for Api and have Yeo starting over McInnes. Hudson Young is the biggest howler of a selection, pure flat track bully, Barnett should’ve got the 17 over him. Leniu making the team after 4 games is a laugh as well.
 
Actually Cobbo not getting a spot anywhere 2-5 is ****ing scandalous too hahaha. Taulagi isn't someone who worries you as an opposing coach. They're trying to out-CTE each other with these selections man.

17. Cobbo
I thought this was an interesting selection
 
Inclined to agree about Jurbo. I've always whinged about his unconditional selection. But maybe there's something he has in spades that Barnett can't be relied upon to deliver when the going gets really tough? Jurbo is as good as anyone in the comp at cleaning up the ruck
I think he just reminds old men of players they liked in the 80’s tbh. Is he really good at cleaning up the ruck? That’s not the take on him I’ve heard from Manly fans.

I’m also not sure about his leadership, you don’t have to go far to find footage of him yelling at teammates who clearly aren’t listening to him.

I don’t know. I think he’s just a bang average footy player at this point and has been for years now. I’m sure he’s earned his reputation for being a good bloke, but I’m not sure where the rest of his reputation is coming from at the moment. The best thing you can say about him is that the minutes he plays allows the props to be rotated more, but an ability to play long minutes isn’t a unique attribute at Origin level and his work rate in those minutes is way, way lower than other players in his position eg Radley, Cotter, Yeo.

There’s heaps of hate for Adam Elliott on here but I’d have him comfortably ahead of Jake as a player right now. All the **** which annoys people about Adam, Jake is a worse example of.
 
Carrigan & Cotter will probably both go close to playing the entire game so it’s not outrageous to think they don’t need a lot of forwards on the bench.

The weirder selection is actually Jmaine Hopgood. The dude is soft as baby ****. Classic SuperCoach stat padder who doesn’t actually help you win.
 
Carrigan & Cotter will probably both go close to playing the entire game so it’s not outrageous to think they don’t need a lot of forwards on the bench.

The weirder selection is actually Jmaine Hopgood. The dude is soft as baby ****. Classic SuperCoach stat padder who doesn’t actually help you win.
I don’t really understand what he does so well. Has a good offload but misses a lot of tackles and seems to get run past/through a lot.
 
Edwards has been ruled out due to his quad strain and will be replaced by Tedesco subject to approval from the ARL commission.
 
I'm hearing you Matty....my main interest is just to see if Madge can bring a fresh approach to the Blues in both mindset and strategy?

I think we are as good a side as you can pick, based on available players....and having the first game at home should elevate the atmosphere to Origin standard - let's hope that it lives up to my expectations and we get ourselves 1 - 0 in front after tonight's game, just so we can hear those cane toads squeal and make it exciting for the next 2 games
 
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