2012 NSW soo side..

[typicalfan]

So he scored a try in the first minute he came on, so what.

What did he do for the rest of the game?

In attack he did a few angled runs that looked good but achieved nothing. 8 runs for 46m.

Defensively he tried to rush up a few times and failed to effect the tackle. Also it was his defensive error that opened up the gap for a Slater line break early on in the second half.

Lewis made the big run that set up his own try, he came straight on and had QLD on the backfoot and we scored. He changed the momentum into our favour. His stats didn't look great but he had a big influence on us winning that night. I seem to remember him making an amazing tackle on Cooper Cronk as well saving the game, so he was directly involved in a 12 point turn around (at least) in a game we won by 10 points.

 

[Big Pete]

You say that as if it was Sattler on Byrne.

Cronk was covered by at least a three-four players.

 

[typicalfan]

You say that as if it was Sattler on Byrne.

Cronk was covered by at least a three-four players.

Lewis doesn't tackle Cronk, he scores simple as that. Not only that but it was 12-8 at the time and he doesn't just tackle him, he smashes him. 3 minutes later we seal the game.

 

[God-King Dean]

He had two Blues in front of him. :S

 

[typicalfan]

He had two Blues in front of him. :S

And Lewis came from the furthest away to effect the tackle. The others certainly didn't stand up and make the big play, Lewis did.

Funny how people easily forget these games. Lewis was the second most talked about performance behind Gallen and deservedly so. Even by some people here arguing against me. :lol:

 

[typicalfan]

You say that as if it was Sattler on Byrne.

Cronk was covered by at least a three-four players.

2 players, an uncommitted Jarryd Hayne and a retreating Jamie Soward. Hardly a brick wall.

Funny after game 2 you rated Luke Lewis behind no one apart from Gallen and alongside Watmough.

 

[Dragon2010]

Gallen, Pearce, Bird and Lewis were in my opinion the big stand-outs on the night in Game II.

Watmough to.

I could explain and justify why these were but I can't be bothered.

 

[watatank]

Lewis made the big run that set up his own try, he came straight on and had QLD on the backfoot and we scored. He changed the momentum into our favour. His stats didn't look great but he had a big influence on us winning that night. I seem to remember him making an amazing tackle on Cooper Cronk as well saving the game, so he was directly involved in a 12 point turn around (at least) in a game we won by 10 points.

Good run but it was a quality set from NSW. Pearce's contribution to that set was just as important, if not more yet many don't want him there.

The tackle on Cronk was good but I highly doubt he was going to score. There was too many cover defenders coming across and NSW wanted it too much to let that try happen.

Lewis is a good player and he does good things but it seems to me that his efforts are exaggerated, he always seems to escape criticism no matter what he does and his selection is never questioned...I just don't think it's justified based on what he has done *overall* at this level.

 

[typicalfan]

Good run but it was a quality set from NSW. Pearce's contribution to that set was just as important, if not more yet many don't want him there.

The tackle on Cronk was good but I highly doubt he was going to score. There was too many cover defenders coming across and NSW wanted it too much to let that try happen.

Lewis is a good player and he does good things but it seems to me that his efforts are exaggerated, he always seems to escape criticism no matter what he does and his selection is never questioned...I just don't think it's justified based on what he has done *overall* at this level.

Just remember that Pearce was set up initially by the Lewis run and up until that kick had kicked quite poorly. Lewis really made that kick with his chase but the inside ball to Mini by Pearce was very slick but again given room by Lewis and his initial hit up. Pearce deserves to be there he played well in 2011 so I don't agree with people shunning him. Again the two closest players to Cronk was Soward retreating and Hayne who was not committed to the tackle with a gaping hole between them and wanting it so much didn't prevent Slater from scoring in origin 1. Lewis wanted to tackle him more, hence he did.

Lewis isn't beyond reproach but that game he really shone. He was only given limited time which begs the question why not more compared to say Ben Creagh.

Lewis has only been at this level as a backrower for a few years. Starred for Australia getting big minutes.

 

[Big Pete]

He had two Blues in front of him. :S

And about 2 others around him.

Honestly, if those players couldn't tackle Cronk they shouldn't be playing Origin, he had very limited room so again to suggest Cronk was certain to score is a massive exaggeration.

 

[watatank]

Just remember that Pearce was set up initially by the Lewis run and up until that kick had kicked quite poorly. Lewis really made that kick with his chase but the inside ball to Mini by Pearce was very slick but again given room by Lewis and his initial hit up. Pearce deserves to be there he played well in 2011 so I don't agree with people shunning him. Again the two closest players to Cronk was Soward retreating and Hayne who was not committed to the tackle with a gaping hole between them and wanting it so much didn't prevent Slater from scoring in origin 1. Lewis wanted to tackle him more, hence he did.

Lewis isn't beyond reproach but that game he really shone. He was only given limited time which begs the question why not more compared to say Ben Creagh.

Lewis has only been at this level as a backrower for a few years. Starred for Australia getting big minutes.

Lewis' opportunities haven't been ideal but he was still playing 40-50 minutes and was being brought on when the game opened up, that should've been enough opportunity to show what he can do. For the game time he has got for NSW he doesn't have a lot to show for it IMO. Definitely not enough to be considered an automatic selection.

Thinking about it now Lewis really should've started the decider after Scott pulled out, not sure why that didn't happen tbh.

As for that tackle, I guess what I'm trying to say was that I wasn't particularly worried about Cronk scoring there. I can't fault Hayne there, he didn't need to make the tackle straight away and he gave the cover defence time like any good fullback should (I know he wasn't playing fullback).

 

[Springs]

Fair call on Bird - he still has the defence of a five-eighth more often than not. Yes Game 1 was a shocker - but he missed 2 and 3 in his next two games. Watmough missed 3 and 4 which is on the high scale for a backrower but the work these two do with the ball more than makes up for slipping off tackles. I can remember some shockers from Bird at club level but in the Origin arena I can't recall any Farahesque efforts leading directly to linebreaks or tries.

Replacing them with Hindmarsh and Hinchcliffe is absolute overkill. It's akin to picking Beau Scott in the centres. They might be able to flop onto Inglis after a guy like Watmough chops him down but they are the equivalent to a wet tissue with the ball in hand and their positive defence does not outweight their negative attack.

Hindy has been a champion of NSW in the past but now is not the time to bring him back into the fold.

Smith ran over Bird for their only try in Game 2. A simple goal line tackle missed.

Hindmarsh would easily bring more good qualities and leadership to the Blues than Bird or Watmough. Bird's only quality seems to be dirty tactics and starting fights cause we lost. Their attack isn't any better than Lewis's or Stewart's while their defence is a lot worse. With Hindmarsh and Gallen as 70-80 minute workhorses, Hindy more for defence and Gallen in attack, these two can use their playmaking and ball skills to trouble the defence. And with four props making metres we won't need Watmoughs runs or Birds...well whatever good he is supposed to do.

I only put Hinchcliffe in as an alternative to Gidley. Buderus probably wouldn't be able to play the whole game, or at least wouldn't be as effective, and I thought a utility would be of more value than having Farah or Ennis on the bench.

 

[watatank]

No one was stopping Smith with that much time and space.

It's a sound theory but what props have actually made metres at this level? Gallen is really the only one...Bird and Watmough are the only ones who come close.

 

[timka4]

Brett White actually made I think it was 80m in his last origin game, he actually played alright. But I'm not sure if going back to him is the right thing to do

 

[Big Pete]

TLL > White.

 

[Springs]

No one was stopping Smith with that much time and space.

It's a sound theory but what props have actually made metres at this level? Gallen is really the only one...Bird and Watmough are the only ones who come close.

And Bird gave him that time and space.

Props didn't make last year because Mannah played about 20 minutes a game, Merrin played 8 and Galloway played 9 or something.

 

[Big Pete]

To be fair, Merrin didn't deserve any.

 

[timka4]

TLL > White.

Of course he is. Just saying though White did have one good game, now I think about it he might of made 110m that game.

 

[Big Pete]

I just thought TLL would have ranked a mention before one of the softest props in Origin history.

It was 82 metres. Some of which was a stint when the game was well and truly over.

He had a better game in the 2009 dead rubber, but I wouldn't consider it good enough for Origin.

 

[Dragon2010]

At least we don't have O'Donnell running around anymore handing penalties left, right and center.

I think in the Prop department we have some good depth it will depend on a few things though:
1) The team structure what other players are playing what positions and which player is best suited to go with X-Player.
2) Injuries
3) Who's in form and who's having shockers although you can "Form is temporary, Class if permanent"