Men’s State of Origin Game 1 2026 - The Blues Vs The Maroons - 8:05pm Wednesday 27th May - Accor Stadium

Ponga off. Billy's only change is Capewell to centre Hammer to fullback.

He has Shibasaki on the bench. Has only used 3 subs.

Blues start shredding Queensland every time they target Capewell. Billy makes a change after ten minutes of this. On comes... Trent Loiero. For 15 minutes of game time.

So instead of having Walsh on the bench he's got... a centre he doesn't trust to put on in the exact situation you select him to cover for. Embarrassing.

This coaching contest is a real spud off.
 
So as someone who was at the game and didn’t observe and online chatter or commentary was Daley just high with his coaching? Having no props on the field when Barnett got subbed off, and Saifiti not playing a single minute if the NRL app was right (and I don’t recall hearing his name)
 
Correct. The opening prop paring was so poor at making meters it like he had an epiphany; we dont need a front for in origin. Just have 5 backrow locks out there.

I know we ended up making more meters than QLD, but thats when they shifted from 2025 knights "up the guts' play to 2026 knights 'let's razzle dazzle' play and attack the edges.

Most of that advantage was Ponga being off.

Im adamant that Safiti on for 15min either side of half time would have gotten more than 2 frigging runs for 17m. At least he wouldnt turn his back at the line and make zero impact, im looking at you AFB, ya pillow (cant believe I said that!)
 
Hass comes on, I say AFB does not get picked. Murry needs to start. Thought Radley played well also. Yeo starting prop with Hass, Barnett and Jsaf Bench.
 
frankLauda said:
Hass comes on, I say AFB does not get picked. Murry needs to start. Thought Radley played well also. Yeo starting prop with Hass, Barnett and Jsaf Bench.
Click to expand...
I agree Haas will come in to the team, but I think it’s JSaf that gets dropped. He didn’t see any game time even when QLD was dominating us through the middle and we couldn’t make any yardage with the ball
 
Hass, Latrell, Ford and Moses in for next game.
AFB, Barnett, Staggs dropped .Koula out injured
Latrell to centre for Staggs, McLean in for Koula
I agree Strange was very good, but we missed having a kicking option for Cleary. Moses big boot should bring him in, and Strange to the bench .
Focus on handling and play the ball, and we should win easily in Melbourne
 
I didn't mind what Brailey offered off the bench. But I think a few things need a rethink. I don't know if you can carry two hookers in the game, AND either Strange/Moses off the bench.

I didn't mind what Staggs offered either but yeah you gotta find a spot for Latrell. Whoever misses out we'll see.

And on Moses, Daley also claims he wants Moses in G2, which is another we'll see. If Strange is off the bench that's okay but then (again) you only need the one utility then the backup extra utility. I don't know if Moses off the bench works...
 
He had a better (Crichton) second half then first, but also Ponga being off for some of it...
Could argue it was the majority of the team too.
 
What I’d want to see:

1. Tedesco (experienced and safe, game winner, rarely puts a foot wrong)
2. To’o (hopefully last night was a one off)
3. Mitchell (self explanatory)
4. Staggs (looked more aggressive and dangerous than Crichton)
5. McLean/Koula (both great on debut)
6. Strange (killed it, better than Cleary IMO)
7. Cleary (first half poor, second half great)
8. Haas (self explanatory + AFB was putrid)
9. Brailey (momentum shifter, classy and outplayed Robson)
10. Yeo (need Murray starting and he suits the front row more at origin level)
11. Young (looked better as a started than a benchie, finally played decent at this level)
12. Olakau’atu (willing to give benefit of the doubt, made some crucial tackles in the first half, ordinary in the second half)
13. Murray (has to start, safe as houses, ball playing on par with Yeo)

14. Barnett (average game by Barney’s standards)
15. Radley (not a bad stint despite my doubts)
16. Ford (one of the best props in the comp, Daley has **** for brains for leaving him out)
17. Saifiti (how he wasn’t a straight swap for AFB is beyond me, deserves another crack based on form for us)
18. Robson (solid but there if they aren’t confident of Brailey doing 80 minutes)
19. Sharpe (the flying Mullet from Cessnock over Burton all day, everyday)
20. Koula/McLean
 
Kent makes the point that it was a shoulder charge, Koula was knocked cold, and the fact that the damage may have been done with his head doesn't act as a mitigating factor per the modern rules, due to the lack of wrapping action or genuine attempt at a legal tackle. So, from that point of view, the Knights might be lucky that there has been no post-send-off suspension.
 
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