....don't know about anyone else, but I can't wait.

to quote Big Kev....

Should be great. NSW will stick with the same side if there's no injuries but they seem to have no luck when it comes to picking the same team, they always have a few injured.
Hopoate is out already i think which is a shame but hopefully Jennings is fit and he'll come straight back in as he played well in game one anyway. Even if B Moz is fit he wont get back in, Hayne didn't get much ball but is still better than Morris.
Why did Trent Merrin only get 12 minutes? He came from the bench and had 3 carries for 18m, 12 tackles and missed the one on Cam Smith for the QLD try along with Bird. He didn't get injured so why did he only get 12 minutes when NSW only went with 2 props? If he's not getting any minutes then why not pick someone else on the bench, like Idris who will offer impact because Merrin playing 12 minutes is a waste of a bench spot. In game one he only got about 20 minutes.
Ennis did a job at hooker but i thought NSW looked better when Gidley came on, QLD did score as soon as Gidley came on but they looked more lively around the ruck i thought with Gidley but Ennis will play game 3. He did give a couple of dumb penalties away like when he got Parker high and then near the end when he took out a chaser for a bomb that could have cost NSW the game and everyone would of been saying it's his fault, never pick him again etc etc.
But NSW were worthy winners, they outplayed QLD for alot of the game and stopped the QLD forwards dominating. There was only Nate Myles who made 100m out of their forwards and that was it.
Minichiello was great at the back, he took the bombs with ease, brought the ball back with purpose, he was popping up everywhere and was busy, busted tackles and deserved to get the sealer.
Uate was the best winger on the field and is the best in the NRL, he runs the ball strongly with speed, when he gets the ball your expecting something to happen. I thought Watmough and Lewis from the bench were great and totally justified their selections. Soward's kicking game was pretty poor again early on and some of his attacking kicks were just wasteful but he improved as the game went on and did well in the end, he's good at running the ball later on when the forwards are tiring and that sealed the game. Pearce was solid in defence and set up 2 tries. Still not sure about Gasnier, he's looked good for the Dragons but in game one he was quiet without getting much ball, but again he didn't do much wrong but doesn't offer a great deal to say he's one of the games premier centres. His defence is solid but Idris would surely offer more threat in attack than Gasnier although his defence is suspect.
Anyway, same team for game three apart from Jennings in for Hopoate because of injury.

Just thinking out loud here. The idea would not be necessarily to have only played him for only 12 mins. You don't go into a game with such a notion. With Stuart however, if he thinks you've messed up, he'll cut you and leave you there. A few years ago at Cronulla, a prop I know went to the Sharks, called Eddie Sua. Eddie made his debut, played a few minutes, made mistakes, was dragged off, not only did he not get back on, he NEVER played another first grade game again. He's now a prison guard. I suspect that Stuart may be of the ilk that, if you mess up, you're gone, end of. Let's see if Merrin's selected again.

Also, the trainers are out there continually (illegally actually in Origin, Langer in yellow is NOT allowed on unless the Orange is out there treating another injury, or there is break in play, or time has been called by the ref) checking up on players. As NSW were buzzing they'd have come back with an OK report for the coach often as no-one would have wanted a break. This may be another reason why Merrin wasn't brought back on.

I dont know what minute he came on but the QLD try by Smith was scored on 24 minutes and Merrin along with Bird missed the tackle on him for the try. I'd imagine Merrin had only just come on around the 20 minute mark and one of his first tackles was to miss the one on Smith for a try. I wonder if Stuart decided to hook him for that and nnot give him anymore gametime. It'll be interesting to see if Merrin gets picked for game 3, if he isn't playing many minutes then then they may aswell go with someone else but we'll see.

No idea why Merrin was picked in the first place, but i'd say his place in Game III is pretty tentative.

I've been pretty disappointed with Gaz too, but think he should stay based on his defence and lack of a standout replacement. I don't want Idris as I fear he'd get turned inside out in defence. The other alternative i've heard thrown around is putting Lewis there, which is a huge no-no for me.

Uate is amazing though. The way he can beat a defender is unreal. It's like they've got him, bend down to make the tackle and he's gone. Kinda half hurdles them. After watching Boyd own Gaz in Game I, it was awesome watching him look like a muppet trying to tackle Uate.

It should be a cracker with the confidence NSW have with their excellent win.

I will still go for Queensland though being on their own turf.

I thought the same regarding Gasnier, he has been very disappointing in both games, his defence has been good and that will keep him in the side for game 3 but in attack he's been dire even when he's got early ball with space. He's also made a few errors which shouldn't be happening at that level.
I was surprised when Merrin got picked but he was going great for the Dragons this year, racking up over 100m plus every game but he's not looked the same in Origin and i think he'll keep his place but wouldn't be surprised if he got dropped for someone else.
Hopoate is out for 6 weeks so hopefully Jennings will be fit but he's doubtful aswell, god knows who they'll go with if Jennings is out, probably Josh Morris as he's one of the only options for NSW that plays left centre at club level. Luke Lewis would be staying in the forwards for me. Creagh and Scott are in some doubt so if either are out then Lewis will come in to start.

Thurston could be ruled out for upto 3 weeks meaning he could miss Origin III all because he knocked the ref over during the Warriors game when he was running back to after the Warriors had made a break and they scored a try from it but JT knocked the ref over while he was running back.
What a joke that is, he didn't mean to do it but he's still been charged and will miss 2 games if he takes the early plea or will miss 3 games if he fights it and loses. An Origin decider, Lockyer's last Origin game, JT has played 20 games for QLD on the trot and he could miss all that for accidentally running into a ref who was in his path. Something needs to change, it's embarrasing.

from the foxsports websiteicon_sad.gif[url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/state-of-origin/queensland-halfback-johnathan-thurston-facing-two-match-ban-would-rule-him-out-of-state-of-origin-iii/story-fn31yxah-1226078585346here[/url)

[iAt start of the season, NRL amended the contrary conduct rule to say "it's the responsibility of the player to avoid contact with match officals at all time".[/i

...I thought it was 100% accidental and the referee even joked about it just before he blew for the restart. Farce if he gets even one game for it IMO. Mal Maninga reckons it's a conspiracy

Greatest sporting worldwide 2011 for me, cannot wait. Going to be brutal. Landed lucky with shifts this year too, off for the first two and on lates for game 3! Get in!

news.ninemsn.com.au/national/826 ... parliament Quote Thurston charge makes waves in parliament'" Bloody QLDers.

news.ninemsn.com.au/national/826 ... parliament Quote Thurston charge makes waves in parliament'" Bloody QLDers.

Soward has done his hamstring against Manly today and will be in doubt for Game 3. That's all the Blues need, aswell as Gidley and Scott being in doubt and now this.
I really hope Jennings pulls through okay because moving Hayne to centre and bringing B Moz back in is just terrible IMO, B Moz does not deserve to play Origin, he nevers does anything and shouldn't play for what happened in game one with the Yow Yeh try.

Shoud be a great game, we are heading to the Paddo pub to catch it live and will be packed out I reckon.

Yeah that'd be right. A host of injury concerns just as we look like we can take a series again.

Meanwhile, the QLD team named looks very, very good.

Queensland Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Ash Harrison.

Interchange Cooper Cronk, Ben Hannant, Jacob Lillyman, Dane Nielsen, Corey Parker (one to be omitted)

The b*stards.

I dont see the point in having Corey Parker coming from the bench for QLD, it's like going with Dallas Johnson on the bench, would be pointless. They are starting players that can get through a mountain of work and put in 80 minutes if needed but coming from the bench they dont offer much IMO. They've got Ash Harrison who can do what Parker does and he does it for 80 minutes. They'd be better off with someone like Shillington, Taylor, both are out i know but they offer more impact from the bench. They might aswell start with Parker and put Thaiday on the bench and then bring him on after 20 minutes.
Dane Neilsen has done a steady job and will be disappointed to miss out but that's what QLD do, bring one of the regulars straight back in when fit.
Should be a cracking game, it's just a shame that NSW have so many injury doubts heading into camp and even if they do come through and play they will have missed most of the training which is a disadvantage straight away. Soward, Gidley, Scott, Jennings, aswell as having lost Dugan, Snowden, Morris and Hopoate during the series. I know QLD lost Inglis for a game and Hodges for two along with Taylor for this one but imagine QLD losing Slater, Boyd, Matt Scott and then going into game 3 with injury's to Lockyer, Cronk, Thaiday and Inglis.
I really hope Soward comes through okay along with Jennings and Gidley. Beau Scott has played well but he wouldn't be missed as much as Luke Lewis would come straight into the staring side with either Glenn Stewart or Galloway going onto the bench. Lewis did a job on Thurston for the Panthers the other day and ripped it up in attack aswell. If Soward doesn't make it i bet Gidley will go in the halves with a forward going on the bench but the kicking game will drop massively without Soward, Pearce is up and down with his kicking and alot of the time he's poor, never finds the grass and Gidley i cant really comment as i haven't seen enough of him kicking consistently, Mullen usually does it at the Knights but they need Soward playing and to get his running game going, especially late in each half when the big men around the middle are tiring.
I'm going for NSW by 8 with Gallen crashing over for the match sealer and another real captain's knock aswell as being named player of the series.

Apparently Beau Scott and Jennings are no chance of playing so the team will be.
1. Mini
2. B Moz
3. Hayne
4. Gasnier
5. Uate
6. Soward
7. Pearce
8. Gallen(c)
9. Ennis
10. Mannah
11. Creagh
12. G Stewart
13. Bird
14. Gidley
15. Lewis
16. Watmough
17. Galloway
I cannot believe Morris is in on the wing with Hayne at centre, what happened to not playing players out of position? Why not keep Hayne on the wing and play Josh Morris at left centre, the position he plays for his club. Or even Idris who played there for the Aussies in the Test match in May. B Moz should not play again, he never does anything of note in Origin apart from the stuff ups like Game I when he let Yow Yeh in for a try that ended up being a match winner as the game finished 16-12.

Queensland

1. Slater
2. Boyd
3. Hodges
4. Inglis
5. Yow Yeh
6. Lockyer
7. Thurston
8. Scott
9. Smith
10. Civoniceva
11. Myles
12. Thaiday
13. Harrison

14. Cronk
15. Parker
16. Lillyman
17. Hannant

NSW

1. Minichiello
2. Morris
3. Gasnier
4. Hayne
5. Uate
6. Soward
7. Pearce
8. Mannah
9. Ennis
10. Gallen
12. Creagh
18. Stewart
13. Bird

14. Gidley
16. Watmough
17. Lewis
20. Galloway

Another embarrasing performance by NSW, too easy for Q'land.

you can see the best highlights from the link below www.rlnetwork.tk

you can see the best highlights from the link below www.rlnetwork.tk

Far too many mistakes on the few times NSW did have the ball in the first 30 minutes and QLD took full advantage of that. Possession was soemthing like 70-30 at one point.
Mini had a shocker at the back, i just hate seeing B Moz in a Blues jumper as he doesn't deserve one. Ennis went off after about 20 minutes injured but the first set he kicked down the throat of a QLD player on the third tackle, he does dumb things guarenteed every game. Gidley came on and had a shocker, making errors and basic ones you just cant do at that level. Mitch Pearce kicked out on the full early on, Soward was kicking down the throat of Slater every single time. When they have a chance to attack the kicks were dire, QLD build pressure, if they dont score they get a repeat set. NSW dont, look clueless and then put a poor kick in that QLD clean up with ease and get out.
Some of the tries were poor from NSW point of view, how many times has Slater scored off that inside ball play? Inglis had 3 tacklers on him and still brushed them off to score, Smith from dummy half was soft, Watmough was moaning but he went the wrong side of the play the ball, Miniletting the ball bonce off his knees at that speed and then Yow Yeh scoring, Yow Yeh has scored twice this series and they've both been gifted to him on a plate. NSW get a few decent tries once it was game over but it's no good then. The spine of the team is there biggest problem IMO, they have some of the best backrowers in the game. The props never stay in the side long enough to get a good crack but next year they need to pick some props and stick with them. I dont think Gasnier has done anything this series and isn't knowhere near the player he once was, got ripped by Inglis and even in game 2 when they won he did nothing. Time for Idris or someone to get a crack along with Jennings or Lawrence. Uate and Hayne will be there on the wings but the rest needs sorting out badly as that's where QLD dominate, at least Lockyer wont be there.
Dugan hopefully can stay fit or Brett Stewart will be in great form for FB. Soward will be the 6 and Pearce the 7 but only because there's nobody else unless Mullen plays well at the Knights when Bennett gets there. It's the best of a bad bunch. Hooker is a real problem aswell, Cam Smith gets them rolling forward and can put quality kicks in from DH. Ennis cant lace Smiths boots and his kicks always find a player, i'd sack him off Ennis and give someone else a crack.

I'd agree with most of that.

If your leaving Ennis out Farrah would be the obvious choice.

B****rds cost me a slab of Bluetongue. Still at least I dont have to drink XXXX which I would have had to endure from my workmates in Qld if the Blues had won. Small mercies I suppose.

Agree on Mini, Gidley and Gasnier. Three experienced Origin players we needed to step up to the mark and all three failed. For me Pearce doesnt cut it at Origin level either. Although his defence is good he doesnt take control when NSW have the ball and is far too anonymous. Trouble is there are very few other options

Personally I would have put Hayne at fullback for the last 20 mins as there was nothing to lose and he seemed to be making a few metres when he got the ball. Also I mentioned to my mates that NSW were clueless in the last 10 and only looked dangerous 30-50 metres from the line. When you run at Qld and move the ball around they look very flat footed. When they defend the line though, very organised and composed.

Ah well, theres always next year (again !)

Pearce is only young and will get better, the sad truth is there's no one else.

Another disappointing game quality wise - the PTB was shambolic, too slow, too much messing around. Virtually every tackle involved some contact above the neck.

Defences were pretty poor - with almost 60 points scored - the Queensland tries were a laughable in the main - how many times do Qld have to put the inside ball to Slater before NSW find a way to stop a very simple and obvious play? Smith's run from dummy half!! Thaiday untouched run to the line, Minichello's attempt at a trap, Inglis running through 3 defenders, all basic defensive stuff you expect players of this quality to be able to stop.

Sad to see Thurston get such a serious injury, but this has been his worst Origin series, his kick for the Inglis apart he had a shocker.

The Qld forwards were superb to a man, Thaiday was my MOM, NSW have some thinking to do the likes of Gasnier, Gidley, Ennis, Morris and Minichello should never play for the Blues again.

One positive from the game Gould hardly said a word during commentary - fantastic.