Couple of thoughts:
1 - On locks. There are so many different kinds of locks now, and coaches choose a particular style of lock depending on their team.
Locks can be extra props (Myles/Gallen) tacklebots (Johnson), ball-players (Mateo, Graham), alternative dummy-halves (Young). In QLD's case we have enough creativity in the spine and some dominant front rowers, so it makes sense to have a lock who does a shitload of defensive work to keep our other forwards fresher in attack.
2 - On Yow Yeh. Zero chance of playing Origin this year, which is a damn shame because he's very talented. Ash Graham is NOT barely FG standard as one previous posters said. He was definitely rubbish a few years ago, but he's got the fumbles out of his game and learned how to read the play. He's a very solid finisher and makes a lot of metres for a winger.
Having said that, age is not on his side. I think the selectors will go with Hodges at right centre and Tate on the wing. If either of them are unavailable, O'Neill or Gagai will be the winger - Nielsen just doesn't have the pace.
3 - There are a couple of smokies who are a very good chance of making their Origin debut this year. One is Papalii. The other is Gavin Cooper. He's very quick for a big man, plays 80 mins, gets through a mountain of work and has a really good club combination with JT. I personally think he would be a better choice for the left fringe than either Harrison or Parker.
4 - I would LOVE to see Berrigan back in an Origin jumper. He's one of my all-time favourite players and still has awesome utility value. Anyone else is probably a waste of a bench spot. Unless we do something NSW-like and pick a specialist centre on the bench or something...
Which brings me to 5.
Daley Cherry Evans. Is 2013 the year he makes his debut off the bench? He's the most talented young QLD half in the comp at the moment, and JT and Cronk are both turning 30 this year, we need to start thinking about succession plans.
