08 :: Origin II :: QLD 30 NSW 0 @ Suncorp

[Chook Norris]

me predictions:

Queensland 16-14

 

[The Riddler]

NSW by 4

 

[Tipster]

Prince has been drafted into the squad with the injury scare to JT

 

[Timmah]

...and Lockyer. This will be interesting. If JT is out no biggie IMO but losing Lockyer is huge.

 

[Apey]

Hampstead for Origin III.

 

[Timmah]

Provided he favours NSW as much as he did Newcastle, OK

 

[Billythekid]

...and Lockyer. This will be interesting. If JT is out no biggie IMO but losing Lockyer is huge.

I know cause they would be forced to bring in the best player in the NRL what a massive blow.

 

[Timmah]

They'd be losing the best - Lockyer, and gaining the second best - Prince.

Ideally they'd like to lose JT imo, they're better off with Locky/Prince.

 

[Timmah]

Lockyer is out

QUEENSLAND Maroons skipper and five-eighth Darren Lockyer has today been ruled out of the second State of Origin match.
Scott Prince replaces the injured Lockyer in the XXXX Maroons team.

Prince is the new halfback and will wear the No. 7 jersey. Johnathan Thurston is expected to switch from halfback to five-eighth and will wear No. 6.

In Lockyer's absence, Cameron Smith is the new captain.

The XXXX Maroons will have an opposed session against the Queensland Residents team at Skilled Park this afternoon.

http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=3895

 

[Shorty]

Not necessarily,Lockyer was coming back from injury - And I'd actually prefer this team.
Prince and Thurston are fit and fighting,Lockyer was coming back from a knee injury and had the potential to be injured during the game.

And seriously,if Thurston and Prince click...NSW are going to be very very busy.

 

[Eelectrica]

They'd be losing the best - Lockyer, and gaining the second best - Prince.

Ideally they'd like to lose JT imo, they're better off with Locky/Prince.

I agree, but beggers can't be choosers. At least Prince and Thurston have a whole season of games under their belt.
Should QLD win and I'd expect it will be due to Prince having a blinder, will be interesting to see what happens when the QLD selectors pick the team for game 3.

 

[Butters]

YES! Melboure are a chance now!

 

[Shorty]

I agree, but beggers can't be choosers. At least Prince and Thurston have a whole season of games under their belt.
Should QLD win and I'd expect it will be due to Prince having a blinder, will be interesting to see what happens when the QLD selectors pick the team for game 3.

It all depends on Lockyer's fitness,if it's the way he is than I expect they'll fit all of them in a put Lockyer on the bench.

But it'll be more clear when the team as a whole has played,Thurston needs to have a blinder though.

 

[Timmah]

Shorty... Thurston is the weakness in the halves - he hasn't been in great form this year, including his efforts in SOO1. That's not an attack because he's a Cowboy - he's just not performing this year as he has in the past.

 

[Eelectrica]

It all depends on Lockyer's fitness,if it's the way he is than I expect they'll fit all of them in a put Lockyer on the bench.

But it'll be more clear when the team as a whole has played,Thurston needs to have a blinder though.

If both Prince and Thurston can have blinders, then it will be good times for us Queenslanders, and having all three in for game 3 would work I think. Especially as Lockyer hasn't yet played 80 minutes all season. Or if he has, I don't remember it.

 

[Shorty]

Shorty... Thurston is the weakness in the halves - he hasn't been in great form this year, including his efforts in SOO1. That's not an attack because he's a Cowboy - he's just not performing this year as he has in the past.

Yeah I'm aware of his form,but I doubt he'd be a weakness at all - Especially if Scott Prince is doing the steering from halfback.

Because there's another option in attack there now Thurston has the potential to do what he did so successfully at the Cowboys last year.
Which is take advantages of situations where the defence focuses on a certain player(which would be Scott Prince because his defending is quite poor).

He could have a really sh*t game and then fine the decision is simple,but I think the opposite is going to happen purely because the load of pressure isn't nearly as heavy.

Nah I'm happy with this team,I reckon it'll be a great game.

 

[Chook Norris]

ah Prince deserves it

i'm sure he won't let anyone down

 

[Hutty1986]

Prince will be having a very very busy night.. in defence that is

 

[Shorty]

Oh I hope the Blues target Prince plenty,because it's a silly thing to do when there's so many players in the team that you give a mile once you've gave an inch!

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

i see the walk up start got another gifted SOO game.

good that prince finally gets a go. will do well.

QLD 24 NSW 18