NSW Team for origin 1

[Seano]

NSW side is nowhere near as bad as I had feared. I thought Loz would select at least 3 more fullbacks.

May would have been weapon off the bench, although I'm sure King will do a job and likely pull fewer penalties, which can be the deciding factor in a "let it flow" contest like Origin.

To'o looked proppy and slow in his only hit out since injury, so that's a concern...but at least it's not Turbo being proppy and slow and playing out of position.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Never gonna not back To’o. His jersey until he literally can’t walk.

 

[Seano]

Never gonna not back To’o. His jersey until he literally can’t walk.

lol it looked pretty close to that a couple of times other night.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Just pump him full of chicken nuggets and coke zero, he'll be right.

Nah that means there's a chance Campbell Graham covers for him on the night, which would be fine. I personally would have had Kiraz on standby though.

 

[Oliver]

Kiraz is out injured.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Well don't I look like a fool then.

 

[Seano]

A bit disappointed for Jacob, shame we didn't lock him onto a wing at the Knights. Yeah, Graham getting his shot on the wing wouldn't be the worst thing if To'o isn't 100% for the game.

 

[Hard Yards]

Happy with the Blues side chosen. The choice of King over May is a surprise, but I’m sure he’ll get the job done. Turbo is playing on one leg currently, so fair enough he misses out. Hopefully Hass leg injury doesn’t rule him out, but I think we are looking better than the maroons in every position, and with a decent run with the referee and bunker I think Blues by plenty.

 

[KPGreatness]

Happy with the Blues side chosen. The choice of King over May is a surprise, but I’m sure he’ll get the job done. Turbo is playing on one leg currently, so fair enough he misses out. Hopefully Hass leg injury doesn’t rule him out, but I think we are looking better than the maroons in every position, and with a decent run with the referee and bunker I think Blues by plenty.

we are in QLD for the first game I doubt the ref or bunker will even give NSW a chance.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Side note: the following players in Origin this year could be considered “players who got away” from Newcastle, to varying degrees -

Latrell Mitchell
Mitchell Barnett
Connor Watson
Hudson Young
Beau Fermor
Max King
Kurt Mann

I’m not counting Payne Haas in that, should I?

Extenuating circumstances with a lot of these, but overall it’s not a great look.

 

[Battler]

I thought the exact same thing when I saw the team announced.

 

[Battler]

1. Edwards
2. To’o
3. Crichton
4. Mitchell
5. Lomax
6. Moses
7. Cleary
8. Barnett
9. Robson
10. Haas
11. Martin
12. Crichton
13. Yeo (C)

14. Watson
15. Leniu
16. Young
17. King

18. Graham
19. Utoikamanu
20. Olakau’atu

How Stefano and King get selected over May is beyond me. Papenhuyzen completely left out too. They must be high.

Pretty much the team I would have chosen. 1-7 agree. I would have had Wayde Egan at 9, and Hudson to start.

I probably would have picked JSaf if not for injury, but would have Keaon on the bench in front of King.

 

[slotmachine]

I doubt the ref or bunker will even give NSW a chance.

Everyone seems to want the game to be close, even if one side is absolutely dominating physically, so I expect the ruck to be an unwatchable mess like Game 3 last year given the side QLD has picked will likely get steamrolled.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Having Tino back this year should be a difference but yeah, still, the Blues pack is still better, particularly when you add in how much more punch there is in the Blues back three.

 

[slotmachine]

I'm really looking forward to watching Cotter do stuff that would result in a 6 again in the NRL in every tackle he's in involved in for 80 minutes straight.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

And even with that, still allow the Blues to dominate field position.

The series is still yet to be played & Origin history is littered with Queensland upsets, so I’m not going the early crow, but I feel like this is the most annoyed I’ve seen Queenslanders with the team which has been picked. Usually they just get behind the team. But apparently there IS a limit on Queensland solidarity, and Billy has found it.

It’s basically shoe on the other foot territory - the years of Origin where Blues fan would see the team list and see names which, somehow, bafflingly, had made the cut yet again after being some of the worst players on the field in multiple previous games in a row. Turns out they don’t like it either and they don’t accept “he’s a Queenslander” as an answer to every question!

 

[HarVeeGee13]

In fact, here are the most baffling selections, ranked, in my opinion:

1. Robert Toia to mark up against Latrell Mitchell after ten first grade games, when there are other options.
2. No Corey Horsburgh.
3. Reuben Cotter not just getting picked again, but picked to start on an edge.
4. Trent Loiero selected after That Game vs the Raiders.
5. Beau Fermor not starting.

Nothing the Blues has done cracks the top 5 for me. Every big selection call Laurie made feels more like "reasonable disagreement" territory than "what the hell is this **** doing?"

 

[Seano]

6. King over May. Especially if it was over comments he made in a live stream, which were a beat up as TheLeaguie points out here:

 

[waynesworld]

In fact, here are the most baffling selections, ranked, in my opinion:

1. Robert Toia to mark up against Latrell Mitchell after ten first grade games, when there are other options.
2. No Corey Horsburgh.
3. Reuben Cotter not just getting picked again, but picked to start on an edge.
4. Trent Loiero selected after That Game vs the Raiders.
5. Beau Fermor not starting.

Nothing the Blues has done cracks the top 5 for me. Every big selection call Laurie made feels more like "reasonable disagreement" territory than "what the hell is this **** doing?"

Completely agree, but I reckon there is a big chance that Fermor actually starts. Toia and no Horsburgh makes no sense at all.

 

[mozza]

Keep Yeo out the way and give plenty of early ball to Trell and Crichton and NSW should win easily.