Game One Team Guide: Queensland

The Maroons have gone with largely the same squad that relinquished the shield last year, with just the two new faces appearing on the interchange bench. While questions may abound regarding the age and competitive desire of Mal Meninga’s squad, there can be no doubt about its credentials; this will be one of the most accomplished groups of footballers to ever take the field together.

Here’s our take on each member of the Queensland squad:

1. Billy Slater: Experience, class and the crucial ability to create something from nothing, Slater is everything you want out of  fullback at this level. Having missed the trans-Tasman test through a shoulder injury, he is reportedly in some doubt due to a flare-up earlier this week, so he will be desperate to prove his fitness and show he’s not  spent force in the representative arena.

2. Darius Boyd: Boyd’s presence in this game after tearing his Achilles in the pre-season is nothing short of miraculous. He’s been solid upon his return to the Broncos line-up without setting he world on fire, but as Origin’s all-time leading try-scorer he deserves some leeway there. He’ll enjoy facing off against Will Hopoate down Queensland’s left flank.

3. Greg Inglis: For perhaps the first time in his career, Inglis is struggling a little bit for form, with an uncharacteristically poor performance in the ANZAC test and some quiet showings with the stuttering Rabbitohs placing him under some pressure. Fortunately for the Maroons, an out-of-sort Inglis is still amongst the top few players in the game, and the big occasion may be just what he needs to kick-start his season.

Greg Inglis will be looking to make amends for a quiet year so far
Source: The Cairns Post

4. Justin Hodges: Yet another Maroon to struggle with injuries this year, Hodges comes into this series knowing it will be his last. He’ll be hoping to see a lot more of the ball this time out after Queensland showed an over-reliance on the left edge in attack last year, and as the smartest outside back in the game his bag of tricks could prove the difference if the game becomes a defensive slugfest.

5. Will Chambers: Chambers has proven he belongs at this level after a great Origin debut in Game Three last year, and was one of Australia’s best in the recent defeat to the Kiwis. He is arguably the NRL’s best outside back at the moment, and his club combination with halfback Cooper Cronk should ensure the right flank is better utilised in attack  in this series.

6. Johnathan Thurston: After a slow start to the year, Thurston has been on fire over the last couple of months, leading the Cowboys from equal last after Round 3 to equal first going into the rep period. Provided his forwards can keep Blues hitman Beau Scott out of his face he should have a big say in the outcome of the series.

The Blues are in big trouble if Thurston’s club form is any indication
Source: Zimbio

7. Cooper Cronk: Cronk is having a relatively quiet year by his standards, with rumours that he’s being managed through a mystery injury refusing to die. With that said, his steady hand is a big reason why Melbourne sits among the leaders at club level, and his influence in the Origin arena was made all too clear when he went down with a broken arm last year.

8. Matthew Scott: At this time last year Scott was the unquestioned no.1 prop in the game, however his performances so far in 2015 have been slightly lacking, with many critics suggesting the likes of Woods and Fifita have surpassed him. If Queensland is to be any hope of matching the Blues in the yardage game, they’ll need Scott at his absolute best.

9. Cameron Smith: Queensland were spared some major drama with Smith escaping suspension for a stray boot to Issac Luke’s head, and nobody will be more eager to avenge last year’s series defeat than the skipper. Despite a new generation of quality no.9s emerging, Smith continues to stand alone as the game’s premier hooker, and as long as he’s on the park the Maroons can never be counted out.

Cameron Smith: Mr Reliable, Captain Courageous and Superman all rolled into one
Source: The Herald Sun

10. Nate Myles: Myles is another Maroon who has been well below his best this season, struggling to make an impact at club level with the Titans and being a non-factor in the ANZAC test. The selections of McGuire on the bench and Napa as 18th man suggest he is under very real pressure to keep his place in the team, so watch for him to lift a gear for this one.

11. Aidan Guerra: Despite missing time recently due to a fractured cheekbone, Guerra retains his Origin spot after a cracking debut series in 2014. Very solid in defence, Guerra’s real strength is with the ball in hand, where the Maroons will be hoping he can further develop his combination with Greg Inglis on the left. He is particularly dangerous close to the line.

12. Sam Thaiday: Benched by Wayne Bennett after an inauspicious start to the season, Thaiday has responded with some of his best football in years recently, playing a big part in the Broncos’ surge to the top of the NRL ladder. With all the talk of Beau Scott targeting Johnathan Thurston, the Blues would do well to remember Thaiday is perfectly capable of doing some serious damage himself – just ask Rooster James Maloney.

13. Corey Parker: Despite having just turned 33, Parker is in the form of his life and a case could be made for him as the best forward in the game at the moment. While he’s always been a stats monster, his running game is doing some real damage at club level and his knack for an offload gives any side he plays for a huge edge in terms of second-phase play.

Corey Parker: Older, wiser and better
Source: The Courier Mail

14. Michael Morgan: With Daly Cherry-Evans ruled out through injury, Morgan is expected to join Josh McGuire in earning a debut Origin jersey, and on recent form he has every right to be there. As impressive as he was at fullback last season, he’s arguably performing even better in the halves at the moment, and his combination with Johnathan Thurston could prove a real factor in the final 20 minutes.

15. Josh McGuire: McGuire finally gets his shot, having been on the cusp of selection for a few years now. An aggressive, relentless prop who relishes a contest, McGuire possess the ideal mentality for Origin, and despite being considered small by front rower standards, he is more than capable of holding his own against the mammoth Blues pack.

16. Matt Gillett: One of the game’s most gifted young forwards, Gillett hasn’t quite lived up to expectations this year, starting the season carrying an injury and spending more time on the interchange bench than a player of his calibre should. Still, he is a vital part of Queensland’s future plans and is versatile enough to cover a number of positions if the Maroons suffer any injuries during the game.

17. Jacob Lillyman: Lillyman might be the most anonymous member of the Maroons squad, but he is by no means a weak link. Another smallish front rower, he’s not a workhorse like McGuire but is the sort of player who’ll take the tough hit-up when his teammates are exhausted and his fearlessness in defence will be crucial against someone like Andrew Fifita in full flight.

18th Man – Dylan Napa: Napa remains in the running for a late call-up, possibly at Morgan’s expense, due to concerns over the Blues’ size advantage but in all likelihood will have to bide his time a little while longer. Napa boasts the size Queensland covets in the forwards but with just 41 NRL caps to his name, he might be considered a bit raw at this stage.

Nick Fray, Origin Online

The ANZAC Test: Origin Implications

New Zealand’s stunning triumph in Sunday’s trans-Tasman test has applied the blowtorch to a number of underperforming Aussies, who now find themselves fighting not only for their test futures but potentially their Origin spots as well. Fielding a side featuring an abundance of experience and success, the Aussies were played off the park by a younger, and some would say hungrier Kiwi outfit, and selectors may well be second-guessing some names who just last week would have been considered certainties.

First, on the injury front, debutant Josh Dugan left the field late with a leg injury and may be in some doubt for Game One, which would make Penrith’s Matt Moylan a near-certainty for the fullback spot given Brett Stewart’s recent struggles to stay on the park. At any rate, Dugan’s performance in an unfamiliar position was poor, and should ensure he is not considered for a spot on the wing, with a number of poor defensive reads allowing Manu Vatuvei to punish the Aussies; the Blues can ill-afford such lapses against the prolific Inglis/Boyd combo down that same edge.

Josh Dugan is unlikely to be picked on the Blues wing after Sunday’s shocker
Source: wwos.ninemsn.com.au

The Blues must also decide what to make of Greg Bird, who is on report for a lifting tackle on Jason Nightingale. It’s highly unlikely he’ll be suspended long enough to keep him out of Origin, but it’s yet another example of poor discipline from the Titans veteran, who has racked up a litany of indiscretions both on and off the field. Given that coach Laurie Daley has been vocal about establishing a more professional culture at the Blues, he’ll face a tough decision as to whether he wants to stick with a hardened veteran who has been a great servant for the Blues, or continue refining the side’s culture by making an example of the wayward Bird.

The other key talking point for the Blues coming out of the game is the quiet performance of debutant Alex Johnston on the wing. Granted, he didn’t get a whole lot of ball with his centre Michael Jennings taking on the line at every opportunity, but you get the sense the Blues selectors would have liked to see a bit more initiative from him.

Will the Blues still look to Alex Johnston’s untapped talent after a quiet test debut?
Source: www.triplem.com.au

The Aussies’ poor performance would be particularly concerning for the Queensland selectors, given that the nucleus of the side was built around the same Maroons core that dominated Origin for so long. The performance of Greg Inglis at fullback was very disappointing; it may have just been an off-day, but selectors are likely to be a lot more comfortable going into Game One if long-time custodian Billy Slater is available.

Cooper Cronk is another who failed to fire on Sunday, and rumours have been swirling for weeks now that he is carrying an injury. Whether or not that’s true, he’s been fairly quiet at club level by his standards this season, and while he will almost certainly be picked for Game One, his spot may come under threat from Ben Hunt or Daly Cherry-Evans if he struggles again, particularly if Queensland find themselves 1-0 down in the series.

Nate Myles is a similar case, struggling to stand out at the Titans this year while contributing very little to the Kangaroos’ cause on Sunday. He always lifts a gear for Origin and will still be one of the first picked for the Maroons, but there may be a push to include an additional prop on the bench this year in case he struggles, particularly given that front row partner Matt Scott is also down on form of late. Broncos workhorse Josh McGuire is desperate for a shot in the Origin arena and may provide the injection of enthusiasm that the older warhorses need.

Nate Myles needs to lift after a slow start to 2015
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au

The performance of Will Chambers on debut was encouraging – he didn’t always execute but his energy was obvious throughout the 80 minutes. With Broncos pair Darius Boyd and Justin Hodges both pushing to return to full fitness in time for Game One, Chambers seems set to line up at right wing, but the Maroons can be confident they’ve found a long-term successor to Hodges at centre.

Cover Image Source: www.foxsports.com.au

Nick Fray, Origin Online

Queensland Origin Contenders 2015: The Backs

We’re now just a month away from the Game One teams announcements, and with injuries, suspensions and form slumps wreaking havoc across the NRL already this year we might be in for a few surprises when the squads are finally named. We continue our look at the men competing for spots as we run the rule over Queensland’s injury-plagued backline.

Fullback

This one is fairly straightforward – if Billy Slater returns to full fitness in time for Game One he’ll be there, if not it will be Greg Inglis. Should disaster strike and both men are unavailable, just about anything could happen here, but it would most likely open the door for a versatile livewire like Anthony Milford or Ben Barba.

Billy Slater is racing the clock, but should line up in his customary no.1 jumper
Source: wwos.ninemsn.com.au

Wing

Darius Boyd is well ahead of schedule in his recovery from an Achilles tear, but getting up for Game One would be a miracle. With Melbourne’s Will Chambers seemingly locked into one spot following a successful debut in Game Three last year and consistent performances at club level since, Boyd’s spot is likely to be filled by either Newcastle’s Dane Gagai or Bronco Dale Copley, with Gagai probably marginally ahead at the moment.

A possible dark horse is young Shark Valentine Holmes – he’s viewed by many as Slater’s long-term successor at the back, and while it might be a little early for him the Maroons do have a history of blooding talented backs on the wing – Slater, Inglis and Hodges all had the same initiation.

Valentine Holmes has enjoyed a stunning start to his career, catapulting him into Origin contention
Source: www.sharks.com.au

Centre

Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges are the incumbents, and if everyone’s fit they’ll be there again. However, Inglis could be forced into fullback should Slater fail to recover in time, while Hodges himself has struggled through hamstring issues that will keep him out of the Trans-Tasman test. Fortunately, the Maroons have plenty of depth here, with Chambers, Gagai and Copley all accomplished performers in the position.

Regardless of his birthplace, Greg Inglis is a Maroons legend and a future immortal
Source: www.zimbio.com

Halves

Barring injury, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk will the 6 & 7 for the Maroons, so the real interest falls upon the bench role filled by Daly Cherry-Evans in recent times. While Cherry-Evans’s recent issues have been well-documented, his form hasn’t been all that terrible, and the Queensland selectors’ famous loyalty to incumbents could work in his favour.

However, many believe that Bronco Ben Hunt has surged ahead of him over the last 12 months, and his experience spelling Andrew McCullough at hooker would probably make him more suitable for the role. The Maroons could even surprise us all by putting Milford or Cowboy Michael Morgan here, but it seems unlikely at this stage.

Can Ben Hunt follow up his 2014 Kangaroos debut with a spot on the Queensland bench?
Source: www.couriermail.com.au

Cover Image Source: www.roundeight.com

Nick Fray, Origin Online

Origin II – In the Mix: Queensland

Nick Fray, Origin Online and Over the Line Sports

The fallout from Origin I has been immense, with several players either ruled out or in major doubt for Game Two in Sydney in on June 18. Both sides are set to field substantially different lineups, with injuries, form and Greg Bird’s return from suspension all set to dramatically shape things up for one of the most anticipated Origin clashes in history.

Queensland

In the immediate aftermath of Game One Queensland looked to be in huge trouble for Game Two, however while a number of players remain in doubt the likes of Cameron Smith and Nate Myles should be fine and Billy Slater and Daly Cherry-Evans look likely to be available as well. Still, we’ll look to cover all possibilities here and with a couple of forwards fighting to keep their places after quiet efforts in the series opener there are several players in the mix for the Maroons. Let’s start with the centre position.

Will Chambers: While both Inglis and Hodges are fit for Game Two, Billy Slater remains in some doubt and if he were to be ruled out Inglis would be shifted to the fullback position, opening a spot in the centres. Most observers have Chambers pegged as the man most likely to cover a backline injury, and his form for Melbourne over the last couple of years suggests he would not be out of place. No Cooper Cronk may hurt his chances slightly as the two enjoy a good understanding at club level, but nonetheless he looks to be the front-runner at this stage.

Dane Gagai: An incident in a pre-season Origin camp appeared to put his Origin hopes to rest for the foreseeable future, but he is playing good footy and can cover any spot in the backline, which may just be enough for him to win back the trust of the Maroons’ brains trust. Another possible factor in his favour could be that he would team up with club teammate Darius Boyd on the left flank, however it all comes down to whether he has been forgiven for his pre-season indiscretion.

Cooper Cronk is officially ruled out, and while Daly Cherry-Evans is the obvious replacement he is no certainty to be fit for the game at this stage, which would not only open a spot at halfback but also a spot on the bench. Here are the next in line:

Ben Hunt: This would have been unthinkable when he was stuck playing backup hooker to Andrew McCullough last year, but Hunt has flourished since being promoted to the starting halfback position and has been one of the form players of the competition in 2014. Origin would be a huge step up for him but after Cronk and Cherry-Evans he is the clear-cut third choice at halfback, and with Broncos teammates Gillett, Parker and Hodges as well as possibly Thaiday and McGuire he would have little trouble meshing with the squad.

Anthony Milford: Milford’s star has dimmed just slightly this year as he has been inconsistent in a struggling Raiders side, but his talent is undeniable and his vision, agility and skill would make him an intriguing option at five-eighth if they opted to have Johnathan Thurston move to halfback. Should cherry-Evans play, Milford may also be an option for the bench utility spot although mail suggests they are likely to go with an extra forward at this stage.

Corey Norman: This would be a real left-field option given that his name hasn’t been mentioned by anyone but Norman has been tipped for big things for some time now and while he has been overshadowed at Parramatta this season by the likes of Jarryd Hayne he hasn’t really done a whole lot wrong. He’s not asked to do a whole lot in Parramatta’s unpredictable attack, but he is certainly capable of taking some heat off Thurston and he is a threatening ball-runner as well. If selectors view Hunt and Milford as being ‘too small’ for Origin then Norman could emerge as a bolter.

Cameron Smith will play through an ankle complaint and his name has been mentioned to fill the halfback role, but really, if you’ve got the game’s best hooker – and possibly best player – in your side, you play him at hooker. The other spots in question for the Maroons come on the bench, where Cherry-Evans’s spot may well be taken by a forward, while the likes of McQueen, Te’o and Papalii are all at risk of being dropped. Aidan Guerra was strong on debut and will get picked again, whilst Sam Thaiday will likely come into the starting side in place of McQueen. Here’s out take on the possible replacements on the bench:

Josh McGuire: With Matt Scott and Nate Myles being Queensland’s only true front rowers in Game One, go-forward was a real problem for them at various stages and a third prop would seem like a good idea. McGuire is regarded as the next in line at the front row position and his rare combination of workrate and aggression make him ideally suited to the Origin arena. He’s been excellent at club level this season and deserves a chance.

Brenton Lawrence: Manly’s late-bloomer has been among the game’s biggest improvers over the last couple of years, and while McGuire is probably ahead of him at this stage he may find himself in the mix if the Maroons opt to move Myles to the back row.

Dave Taylor: The ultimate risk/reward selection, Taylor has had yet another enigmatic season at club level but has been much better over the past month, and as a confidence player perhaps a show of faith from the Maroons selectors is just the kind of thing that will spur him on to take the next step as a footballer. On his day he is as damaging as anyone in the comp, but it would be a massive call to select him based on his efforts over the last 18 months.

Jake Friend: If Queensland were to do the unthinkable and play Smith at halfback Friend would get the nod over Bronco Andrew McCullough for the hooker spot, but again that would be lunacy. What is more likely is that Friend may take the bench utility role as he is strong enough to handle a stint in the back row as well as covering for Smith.

Jacob Lillyman: Not the flashiest of picks, but Lillyman is an experienced campaigner with Origin history and is one of those players you can count on to get the job done without any complaints. He’s quietly having a very strong year for the Warriors where he is probably out of sight, out of mind for most fans but his efforts will not have gone unnoticed by the Maroons hierarchy.

That’s all for Queensland, however there is always a chance that this weekend’s club games may throw a further spanner or two into the works. Be sure to leave your thoughts below or on our Facebook page, and if you haven’t already done so be sure to check out our look at how New South Wales is shaping up for Origin Two.