i'll be very pleasantly surprised if game 3 is a dead rubber.
I have a strange feeling that Game 3 will be a dead rubber. NSW tonight were very impressive and look a very different side from what everyone was making them out to be, despite some questionable selections (which were justified tonight). Majority of ppl thought that QLD were going to romp NSW tonight and how good QLD were, how they have the majority of players in the Australian side, blah, blah, blah. Well, as was shown tonight, there are a lot of deficiencies and weaknesses that NSW exposed in the QLD side tonight (eg Jonathan Thurston, supposedly being the 'best player in the world' was and has been light years away from looking like the best player in the world this season. Carl Webb: Still trying to live off the brilliance from Game 1, 2001. Even Cameron Smith was found wanting tonight and failed to deliver his trade mark inspiration when it mattered the most). Karmichael Hunt at 5/8th????? A guy, who said that he's never played at 5/8th in his life, is moved there in one of the biggest games of the year? Man, Scott Prince (who's been the form player this year) can feel extremely cheated. What's with the QLD selectors?????
Furthermore, NSW style of play, sheer grit and determination was a reflection of the style of coaching from Craig Bellamy. No disrespect to Graham Murray (whos already been through enough crap with the Roosters and Cowboys management). But, the last two years (when NSW lost the series in 2006 and 2007), NSW on the field looked like a very unethusiastic and poorly coached side. They definitely had the players there to beat QLD, but the passion just wasn't there when it was needed the most.
For me, if QLD are to win in Game 2 (even though its at Suncorp),
they'll definitely need Darren Lockyer back (who will provide much needed control and direction at 5/8th, as well as leadership with the captaincy),
move Karmichael Hunt to Fullback (get rid of Slater. Slater is a bit overrated, IMO. May be a very good player, but in the big matches, has a choking tendancy and can be found wanting if pressure is applied to him), r
eplace Jonathan Thurston with Scott Prince at halfback (the form player of the NRL this year and the best and most consistent halfback atm),
get rid of PJ Marsh and replace him with another utility player (again, found wanting in the big matches, was terrible tonight),
get rid of Carl Webb (yes, as I said, had that one superb Origin game in 2001, but is wayyy too overweight and slow in the forwards). If available,
Steve Price should be in the front-row. He, like Lockyer, can provide some much needed leadership to the side and can steer and motivate the side when the going gets tough.
