08 :: Origin III :: NSW 10 QLD 16 @ ANZ

[Jatz Crackers]

is this a joke?

Always horsing around, those selectors !

 

[Geohood]

is this a joke?

Apparently not.

 

[Hutty1986]

F*cking Joel Monaghon... Pearce and Anasta need to have blinders imo and deadsh*t Mason better pick up his game BIG time

 

[Timmah]

Hmmm... Mason at prop. Interesting.

 

[Shorty]

I think Joel is a good choice for NSW - It definitely makes sense.
Braith and Pearce use a lot of kicking for their tries at the Roosters and Joel is very good under the high ball at Canberra.
He atleast can try and compete with Inglis and Folau.

 

[Jono078]

Why's it interesting?

Hopefully he has that MOTM type game he had a couple years ago when named at prop in game 1 I think it was. He killed em.

Although his form since origin 2 has been poor. Dropped balls everywhere.

 

[Timmah]

Why's it interesting?

Hopefully he has that MOTM type game he had a couple years ago when named at prop in game 1 I think it was. He killed em.

Although his form since origin 2 has been poor. Dropped balls everywhere.

Mason's balls dropped? :sarcasm:

 

[Noa]

Mason's balls dropped? :sarcasm:

Yeah wasn't that Peter Wallace,

 

[Timmah]

Can't wait to see Pearce upstage Thurston

 

[Timmah]

For those interested in the Centenary Trophy curtain raiser... the teams are:

Illawarra
1 Grant Smith (Collegians)
2 Jarrod Boyd (Dapto)
3 Ty McCarthy (Thirroul)
4 Wes Hallam (Collegians)
5 Ryan Smith (Collegians)
6 Ryan Smith (Collegians)
7 Scott Borg (Thirroul)
8 Robbie Payne (Collegians)
9 Matt Clarke (Wests Illawarra)
10 Greg Reh (Wests Illawarra)
11 Blake Dunn (Thirroul)
12 Rimini Reweti (Collegians)
13 Ben Cole (Collegians)
14 Blake Nicolls (18)
15 Ben Condon (Dapto)
16 Dan Lawson (Wests Illawarra)
17 Mark Corrigan (Thirroul)
Captain TBC
Coaches Brett Jones and Paul Air


Townsville
1 Billo Mosby
2 Lester Hero
3 Kurt Olsen
4 Tremayne Bowie
5 Steven Elliott
6 Colin Wilkie
7 Mitchell Seri
8 Michael Green
9 Roy Baira (Captain)
10 Quentin Mitchell
11 Craig Snell
12 Darren Griffiths
13 Justin Dennien
14 Lee McLean
15 Shaun Ashwell
16 Barrett Wherry
17 Gordon Santo

Captain Roy Baira
Coach Todd Wilson

 

[Timmah]

Shillington named QLD's 18th man
Sydney Roosters forward David Shillington was today named as Queensland's 18th man for Wednesday night's Harvey Norman State of Origin match in Sydney.

Brisbane-born Shillington has been a strong performer for the Roosters this season.

He joins the XXXX Maroons squad tomorrow morning.

Queensland coach Mal Meninga will put the Maroons through their final training run at ANZ Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

www.qrl.com.au

 

[Timmah]

Hornby named NSW 18th man
St George Illawarra’s Ben Hornby has been named as the NSW Wizard Blues’ 18th man for Game 3 of the Harvey Norman State of Origin Series to be played at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.

www.dragons.com.au

 

[dragondad]

Anyone got PAX Numbers/Crowd estimates

 

[Timmah]

Haven't heard anything... I mentioned my pax info from my purchase almost 4 weeks ago but that's long ago.

I reckon it'll almost fill up.

Rumours abound today that Stewart is going to be benched in favour of Gidley as starting fullback.

 

[Patorick]

http://www.manlydaily.com.au/article/2008/07/02/10885_sports.html

Stewart move a big blue call

Jason Avedissian

2 July 2008

NSW Origin great Garry Jack fears the Blues "will play into the Maroons hands" if coach Craig Bellamy shifts in-form Manly fullback Brett Stewart to the bench for tonight's deciding match in Sydney.

Speculation of a late backline reshuffle swept Origin camp in Coogee yesterday with utility reserve Kurt Gidley being strongly tipped to start ahead of Stewart.

Bellamy yesterday refuse to rule out late changes to his team ahead of tonight's decider at Homebush's ANZ Stadium.

However, Jack was stunned when told of the possible late swap.

"Why? Why would you put Gidley there?" the Balmain great, who played 17 matches for NSW from 1984-89, asked The Manly Daily last night.

"He's (Stewart) the best fullback in NSW and Australia. He eats bombs for breakfast. There's not a problem with Stewart. Gidley can cover a multitude of positions, but I wouldn't start him at fullback.

"No, no, you are playing into their (Queensland) hands taking your best out of his position. It's silly to consider that."

That theory was supported by former NSW series winning captain Steve Mortimer.

The ex-Canterbury half said he expects Gidley to cover the halves and hooker, not Stewart at the back.

"Stewart has proven himself and knows how to handle the front line," Mortimer said. "I've got no doubt Gidley is there to hang around the halves and hooking areas."

Word of the intriguing late switch reached Maroons boss Mal Meninga late yesterday. "There is talk about Gidley maybe playing at fullback and using Brett Stewart off the bench," the Queensland coach said.

"We're just focused on what we do.

"Origin footy's about the head and we're in a good space at the moment."

So too is Stewart who has arguably been among the Blues best from the opening two matches.

Not sure about it.

Stewart off the bench running from dummy half though could be lethal.

 

[Patorick]

Bit early to close the poll, isn't it?

 

[Timmah]

Unfortunately I don't sit around until exactly 8pm to post the match thread... it closes at the time of day, x days after I make the thread. Nothing I can do unless the admin open it up.

 

[Patorick]

Not having a crack at you mate, just saying it's odd.

 

[wittyfan]

Ivan Cleary has started the trend of putting 80 minute players on the bench, and it seems Bellamy has taken note.

A real kick in the guts for Stewart.

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

Bit of sour grapes over Witty's bench spot eh WF? It was a strange call I don't doubt, but it did work out well in a way. But that's only the third time he's done it and he only really, from memory d id it this year. Not in '06 or '07