**Official** NRL 2009 Thread

[chaminda_00]

Interesting side, would have prefer Cooper and Lewis in the centres and lock. But that just personal perference. Good to see they went with four front rowers. Hopefully Kite can play 2nd fiddle to the rest. That when he at his best and doesn't have to lead from the front.

Interesting the whole side picked on form. I guess there isn't many players that warrant selection purely on past SOO performances. But it does seem we are rebuilding every year. I think if he gets close we wont have the experience to match Queensland. Though I doubt it will be close. Some guys are unluckly to miss out, but no real standouts that missed out, apart from Lewis for mine.

 

[Burgey]

That back row is too small for my liking and gives little (Creagh's running aside) in attack.
What's more, Gallen and O'Donnell are walking penalties. Waterhouse and Laffranchi both unlucky.
Hoping one of Gallen or Stewart rubbed out - preferably the former. At least Stewart is a bit creative. Would like to see Waterhouse in if one of those out.

 

[chaminda_00]

Surely Lewis will come in if one of those two are out. Personally hoping Gallen is ruled out so Lewis come in. Waterhouse and Laffranchi aren't the biggest backrowers either. Unless you pick guys that can play both front row and backrow like Thailday and Myles like Queensland do. Most backrowers are fairly small these days. That why I like the four front rowers in the squad, to counter the small backrow that we always are going to have to pick.

 

[howardj]

How overrated is Campese!

Has played about two good games this year.

I think he's really flakey, and will be out of his depth - as will Jennings in defence.

I also think Hayne is wasted on the wing.

 

[James90]

Good side all things considered. Pretty disappointed in the selectors for picking Lyon though. The bloke doesn't want to play ffs.

Lewis and Laffranchi must give inferior blowjobs to Wing and Stewart as well.

 

[chaminda_00]

How overrated is Campese!

Has played about two good games this year.

I think he's really flakey, and will be out of his depth - as will Jennings in defence.

I also think Hayne is wasted on the wing.

TBH I don't think he is rated high enough to be overrated. The fact they where looking at Lewis, Gidley and Mullen as 5/8 shows how little he is rated for mine. Basically the best option from a poor number of options. Also considering Hunt played 5/8 last season for Queensland and we have had Lyon and Campese himself as backup 5/8 to Lockyear for Australia. There not many really good 5/8 running around who are SOO material across the board. He might end up being out of his depth, but it could be alot worse. Our first specialist 5/8 since Fittler, that positive move for mine.

Agree re: Jennings defence.

Would say Boyd and Falou are also wasted on the wing as well to en extent. But that the nature of SOO or should be. Good inside backs or fullbacks playing on the wing to maxise your try scoring potential.

 

[Ausage]

Hopefully we put in a good show, I'm going to game 2.

Same. Can't wait. Hope the side is similar (minus Wing, plus Lewis) due to a crushing victory down in Melbourne.

Spewing for Lewis though. What's the guy gotta do honestly? Reckon if Stewart gets rubbed out they'll pick another forward too, probably Laffranchi. Other than that don't mind the side. Don't mind Campese over Mullen tbh.

If there's no changes to the squad, can Lewis play this weekend?

Bit of a worry seeing Thurston playing himself into this kind of form around Origin time. He's had some shockers this year (Parra game springs to mind), was secretly hoping he'd put in a nothing performance in SOO.

 

[howardj]

TBH I don't think he is rated high enough to be overrated. The fact they where looking at Lewis, Gidley and Mullen as 5/8 shows how little he is rated for mine. Basically the best option from a poor number of options. Also considering Hunt played 5/8 last season for Queensland and we have had Lyon and Campese himself as backup 5/8 to Lockyear for Australia. There not many really good 5/8 running around who are SOO material across the board. He might end up being out of his depth, but it could be alot worse. Our first specialist 5/8 since Fittler, that positive move for mine.

Agree re: Jennings defence.

Would say Boyd and Falou are also wasted on the wing as well to en extent. But that the nature of SOO or should be. Good inside backs or fullbacks playing on the wing to maxise your try scoring potential.

Yeah, but Boyd and Folau are but two weapons in our vast attacking armoury. By contrast, Hayne is in my view one of the most potent NSW players - they need high involvement from him. Would rather him at fullback, Gidley to 5/8th (really, would he do any worse than someone like Campese in that position?) and Monaghan on the wing. From a NSW standpoint, I'd rather Gidley and Hayne get their hands on the ball as much as possible than Campese.

Anyway, in my Origin viewing experience, the trophy tends to follow the team with the better halves. Stuart/Daley in the 1990's etc. In that regard, Thurston/Lockyer vs Wallace/Campese...she's a no contest.

 

[Johnners]

I don't get why people are so hell-bent on playing Gidley out of position. He's arguably the best player in the NRL when he's at Fullback (and IMO is NSWs best player at fullback) yet people seem to think that he should be the one to move to accomodate other players. You don't move your best player to an unfamiliar (Gidley hasn't played 5/8 for quite a while, thankfully) position to accomodate Joel Monaghan (which is effictively what you're doing) who is really no better in his position than Terry Campese will be in his.

 

[Ausage]

I don't get why people are so hell-bent on playing Gidley out of position. He's arguably the best player in the NRL when he's at Fullback (and IMO is NSWs best player at fullback) yet people seem to think that he should be the one to move to accomodate other players. You don't move your best player to an unfamiliar (Gidley hasn't played 5/8 for quite a while, thankfully) position to accomodate Joel Monaghan (which is effictively what you're doing) who is really no better in his position than Terry Campese will be in his.

Agree with this. If Hayne is potent, Gidley is deadly. If we want more involvement from Hayne we should put him in the Centres, with Monaghan coming into the wing spot and drop Lyon. Still don't believe the guy will put in 100%.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, but Boyd and Folau are but two weapons in our vast attacking armoury. By contrast, Hayne is in my view one of the most potent NSW players - they need high involvement from him. Would rather him at fullback, Gidley to 5/8th (really, would he do any worse than someone like Campese in that position?) and Monaghan on the wing. From a NSW standpoint, I'd rather Gidley and Hayne get their hands on the ball as much as possible than Campese.

Anyway, in my Origin viewing experience, the trophy tends to follow the team with the better halves. Stuart/Daley in the 1990's etc. In that regard, Thurston/Lockyer vs Wallace/Campese...she's a no contest.

Well, that's the reason they've won three series in a row. There's usually little in Origin tbh, and having the classier halves makes an enormous difference. When the gulf is as big as it is now, there you have your outcome.

You can have your vaunted outside backs afaic, because the fellas picked to play them are no slouches either. The aerial strength of Folau is obviously a problem but you can't really do anything about that other than try to keep them away from the scoring end of the field. Certainly NSW won't be worried about him popping a pass to put someone through a gap (anyway, Hodges can do that). But if you go on form, NSW centres are both playing very well atm, as are the wingers and of course the fullback.

Wallace has been going well, Campese a bit in and out, but I'd back him to lift for this game, especially when he has quality around him. Thing is though, neither of those blokes are as experienced or quite the class of their direct opposites. Still good players though.

Should be an interesting series. I understand Gallen is fighting the racial vilification charge - he should get Tendulkar in as a witness - he seems to hear what needs to be heard at the right time to help out a team mate. Anyway, if Gallen is found guilty of it, he should be dropped. I don't want someone who comes out with that **** representing my state tbh, and there are another dozen good backrowers going around atm who are eligible.

 

[Johnners]

If Gallen and Stewart get done, Lewis & Waterhouse have to be the ones to take their places imo. Harsh on Laffranchi, but he hasn't been at his best, or as good as either Lewis/Waterhouse imo.

 

[Simon]

Lewis will come in and I'd imagine Laffranchi would be the new 18th man.

 

[Simon]

Couple of poor rounds from you Dale in the sportal comp. I'm in front of you now. We both dropped out of the top 10 last week but I'm back up to 9th. Origin period will be interesting as I have Lyon, Smith and a few others in my side.

 

[speirz]

- Can't tackle.
- Can't run in a straight line unless it's painted on the ground in front of him.
- Can't stay on his man in defense, always (and I mean always) moves in to mark the centre leaving his winger open.
- Wouldn't know how to hold onto a ball to save himself.

That's the best description of Cooper Vuna I've ever heard.

 

[Craig]

Queensland State Of Origin Side:

Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm), Darius Boyd (St George Illawarra), Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm), Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos), Israel Folau (Brisbane Broncos); Darren Lockyer (captain, Brisbane Broncos), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys); Steve Price (Warriors), Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Ashley Harrison (Gold Coast), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos), Dallas Johnson (Melbourne Storm)

Interchange: Karmichael Hunt (Brisbane Broncos), Ben Hannant (Bulldogs), Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters), Michael Crocker (South Sydney)

Matt Scott 18th man.

 

[Mister Wright]

Very predictable side, and all should play except for injuries. I doubt whether the starting 13 will stay the same with Crocker and Hunt likely to start, but there was no real need to change a side which has won the last 3 series and 6 of the last 9 games.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Picks itself really.

 

[luffy]

Not surprising.

 

[Craig]

Very predictable side, and all should play except for injuries. I doubt whether the starting 13 will stay the same with Crocker and Hunt likely to start, but there was no real need to change a side which has won the last 3 series and 6 of the last 9 games.

Yeah I was surprised that Harrison was named in the starting XIII and I would be surprised if it stayed that way.