I thought it was a fairly boring origin compared to its usually high standards. NSW and Queensland both played below par and there were very few big hits or any biff. NSW didn't deserve to even be in the match. The scoreline was flattering. Inglis was excellent and Thurston played well as usual but no one else from QLD really stood out from my point of view. For NSW Hayne, Wing and Lewis gave everything they had and are the probably the only blues that can hold their heads high. The impact of Wing off the bench was excellent, he turned the match straight away. Lewis tested the maroons line a few times and made some good defensive decisions. Hayne was excellent and needs to be involved more. I think he needs to be the fullback for game 2.
Changes ???
I don't think NSW will make many changes but I really hope they make a couple. Hayne to fullback and Gidley to either 5/8 or hooker. If we move Gidley to hooker then we can bring in Mullen at 6 and drop Campese. Campese really struggled to make any impact and looked out of sorts. Mullen is in form and has been there before. Laffranchi also played very average and you would expect that Stewart will come in for him. Mcmanus struggled too and we need Monaghan's size and strength in there to slow down Inglis on the right hand side.
One positive the on field refs actually went ok. Shame about the video ref call. In the end it probably didn't matter anyway.
What are your thoughts and suggestions ?
Read my thoughts in the below article titled NSW Raped?
ReplyDeleteYour kidding, drop Farrah and put in Gidley to hooker? Farrah was NSW best player. Drop Campese and put in Mullen, I wanted Mullen for game one. Refs were a joke, keep your whistle in your pocket and dont blow pedantic penalties.
ReplyDeleteQLD were gone in the final 20 and Gidley made a few mistakes that cost NSW.
I would drop Kite and have Bailey on the bench. Start with Weyman and Poore. I would also have Watmough in the team for Luke ODonnell who was again at his stupid best last night. Game 2 team: Gidley, Monaghan, Jennings, Lyon, Hayne, Mullen, Wallace, Weyman, Farrah, Poore, Laffranchi, Creagh, Watmough (Gallen, which is a joke) Bench: Wing, Lewis, Bailey and Watmough / Stewart.
Gidley should be dropped for that performance. He basically cost NSW any chance in the end with his very ordinary mistakes. Buckled under pressure, not captaincy material.
ReplyDeleteI too thought Farah played out of his skin for his debut. Keep him in with Wing, especially out of dummy half in the last 20 mins where we would have won the game if not for Gidley's putricity and the 1st half refereeing.
Unfortunately Mullen wont be able to play both 6 and 7. Our halves were terrible last night. Shows you how much the Brisbane pack and backs make Wallace look better than he really is. Hasnt really done anything since that now obvious fluke performance in origin 1 last year.
Can someone send a search party out for Kite and Lyon. Didnt see them at all last night. How long are we going to persist with the joke that is Brett Kite...
Gidley is NSW captain, he deserves another chance, however a repeat performance would see him out. Kite should not have been picked the past 2 seasons in any rep side. Mullen really rubbed the non selection in with his performance on Sunday Vs the Dogs. Also Wallace doesnt do the majority of ball playing at the Broncos we are forgetting how much first receiver Hunt plays, he also has a fair player in Darren Lockyer. I player Junior Reps with Wallace at Panthers and he is a mate, however I thought he was ordinary last night and isnt as great as people would make you beleive. Would he be playing Origin if he was at Penrith? Not so sure.
ReplyDeleteGeorge, I cannot believe you think that the on field refs did well. i think they should've just made the Blues drop trou and bend over before the game just to get it over with.
ReplyDeleteNSW weren't that bad, Campese was probably overmatched, Gidley made some bad blunders, a couple of the forwards were passengers but a lot of the young guys did well with Hayne Jenko and Farah excellent. I thought Lewis was very good and they need to get Wing more involved. They found a game plan- use dummy half running and quick guys thru the middle to run around the bigs Qld forwards.
The problem is, with that classy Qld backline, repeat sets and penalties in your own end are fatal- especially when the penalties are bullshit anyway
2nd origin
ReplyDeletegidley - wish stewart was back, played ok
monaghan - mcmanus was not terrible did not get many chances but mon should have ben there game 1
jennings - played great game 1
lyon - did not do much game 1 but not much better out there an has been playing well in club footy
hayne - excellent in game 1
mullen - campese looked out of place at city country and did nothing last night
wallace - one more chance
gallen - unfortunately
odonnell - terrible when showed no urgency for thurston try but pretty good for rest of game
creagh - excellent game 1
weyman - ok game 1
farrah - exellent game 1
poore - ok game 1
lewis - played well when came on
wing - as above
bailey - would rather not have him looked old and slow lastnight but was probably better than kite and need a frontrower on bench
watmough - lafranchi did not do much might have him instead of bailey
wish we could have stewart 1, gidley 6 and mullen 7
Im with you Frank !! But would have Stewart instead of Watmough. Good assessment.
ReplyDeleteI think Watmough is a must, he makes strong contact in defence, a hard ball runner and is a massive linchpin in the success of Manly in recent seasons. I think he would thrive in Origin, I dont think Stewart has the mongrel. Watmough loves the physical stuff. I wish Kite or ODonnell would have rolled their ankle in the warm up so he would have got a start in Game One! I would keep Laffranchi and not have Gallen or ODonnell. I personally thought it was Laffranchi's best game this season. Wish he would show that form for the Titans.
ReplyDeleteSorry Boxhead cant agree that Farah was best on park for NSW. Kicking game was ordinary and the service wasn't quick all the time from dummy half. I will say he played well but not best on park. If you want grubs to play for the blues then take Gallen. Watmough wouldn't know how to run straight unless his missus was up the other end of the park giving him a gobful and he was trying to get to her to give her one.
ReplyDelete