Best prop in the comp

[Big Pete]

TLL has had injury concerns these past couple of years hasn't he? He always seems to be struggling for fitness during the Origin season which is a shame because he was just about the only highlight for the Blues in 2010.

Douglas is good and better than the likes of King, Perry, White, Merrin, Creagh and some of the other hacks they've chosen but I haven't seem him prove himself on any stage to say for certain he'd be more suited towards Origin.

I have this impression of him being pretty cod ordinary in the tough games. Can't remember any games during the general season but I remember that prelim against the Storm in 08 and he was just about the worst player on the field coughing up the pill constantly, making little inroads & adding nothing in defence.

In terms of Queensland props, don't forget about Myles either who practically fills that role for the Maroons and does so very well.

I question his consistency, but Shillo doesn't get anywhere near enough credit for his 2012 season.

 

[aqua_duck]

I don't understand the Merrin hate, I personally think he's very good, has that bit of footwork and an offload which is what you want from a bench prop, picking Creagh ahead of him for origin 3 was a massive mistake on NSWs part

 

[RWB]

I don't understand the Merrin hate, I personally think he's very good, has that bit of footwork and an offload which is what you want from a bench prop, picking Creagh ahead of him for origin 3 was a massive mistake on NSWs part

What hate? He's a promising youngster who got a origin spot well before he deserved it, has nothing to do with hate.

 

[RWB]

TLL has had injury concerns these past couple of years hasn't he? He always seems to be struggling for fitness during the Origin season which is a shame because he was just about the only highlight for the Blues in 2010.

Douglas is good and better than the likes of King, Perry, White, Merrin, Creagh and some of the other hacks they've chosen but I haven't seem him prove himself on any stage to say for certain he'd be more suited towards Origin.

I have this impression of him being pretty cod ordinary in the tough games. Can't remember any games during the general season but I remember that prelim against the Storm in 08 and he was just about the worst player on the field coughing up the pill constantly, making little inroads & adding nothing in defence.

In terms of Queensland props, don't forget about Myles either who practically fills that role for the Maroons and does so very well.

I question his consistency, but Shillo doesn't get anywhere near enough credit for his 2012 season.

Yeh I don't really see it as an alarming issue. Myles is a top front rower, Mcguire & Kennedy two of the more promising young props and Lillyman's performances at origin level have been very good.

Throw in options like Parker & Papalii at lock and you're more than covered for go forward in the foreseeable future.

 

[Raider_69]

The fact TLL played like a f**king fairy half the year didnt help his origin hopes.

He has been fantastic every time he's played for the blues but you've got to put the club form on the table before SOO comes along. Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane, some of that has been due to injuries... TLL needs to get on the paddock and put consistent efforts in each week before SOO can be discussed. Before last year i couldnt understand why he wasnt given more of a go, i have absolutely no qualms about his omission last year

 

[Red Bear]

TLL has had injury concerns these past couple of years hasn't he? He always seems to be struggling for fitness during the Origin season which is a shame because he was just about the only highlight for the Blues in 2010.

Douglas is good and better than the likes of King, Perry, White, Merrin, Creagh and some of the other hacks they've chosen but I haven't seem him prove himself on any stage to say for certain he'd be more suited towards Origin.

I have this impression of him being pretty cod ordinary in the tough games. Can't remember any games during the general season but I remember that prelim against the Storm in 08 and he was just about the worst player on the field coughing up the pill constantly, making little inroads & adding nothing in defence.

In terms of Queensland props, don't forget about Myles either who practically fills that role for the Maroons and does so very well.

I question his consistency, but Shillo doesn't get anywhere near enough credit for his 2012 season.

I don't understand the Merrin hate, I personally think he's very good, has that bit of footwork and an offload which is what you want from a bench prop, picking Creagh ahead of him for origin 3 was a massive mistake on NSWs part

Merrin a hack? Chosen before he was ready in '11, sure, played very well this season and really about the only shining light (along with Rein) for the Dragons this season.

The others are def hacks

 

[chrisD]

By selecting and playing them limited minutes Stuart has hurt the Origin development of a few of our props, none more so than Merrin.

 

[RABK]

Merrin was identified and selected for Origin based on detailed stats i recall. Yes he was young and selected ahead of a few props who were a bit more seasoned but Merrin for a 20 year old was topping the comp for props who make the most metres over the advantage line, runs per minute on the field and successful offload rate amongst others. Basically he produced a lot of quality that NRL stats don't track but in-house NRL coaching staff track.

Ricky Stuart and even Tim Sheens for the anzac test in 2011 were been fed those stats and that's why he was given his debut so young. Woods and McGuire probably topped those kind of stats this year and hopefully get selected this year.

Some good young props deserve their shot and Merrin certainly deserved his and in what little game time he's been given he probably topped all those stats i mentioned above.

 

[RABK]

Also TLL origin performances are vastly overated. Sure he wound up and ran hard with his knees to his chin a few times but QLD easily contained him - he made 100m+ once in four Origins?

QLD eat hard runners for breakfast. As much honor as their is in the kamikaze running into the ruck in Origin really doesn't cut it. It's footwork and line running that gets QLD on the back foot. Lewis, Watmough and Merrin all have games that i can recall where there footwork or line running turned the game and got NSW some momentum - well in watmoughs case he basically won the game.
(Watmoughs game 3 09, Lewis and Watmough in game 2 2011 and Merrin in game 1 2012) If you don't believe me about Merrins performance go watch it again. He was making 5 metres everytime he hit the QLD defensive line using late footwork and strength to beat defenders. I recall a few really good runs eitherside of half time that gave NSW some run of play.

If He was developed right and given his game time i'm sure he could produce that kind of quality at rep level consistently.

 

[aqua_duck]

Yeh I don't really see it as an alarming issue. Myles is a top front rower, Mcguire & Kennedy two of the more promising young props and Lillyman's performances at origin level have been very good.

Throw in options like Parker & Papalii at lock and you're more than covered for go forward in the foreseeable future.

Kennedy and McGuire are decent but not in the same class as guys like Tamou, Woods, etc. Myles is 27, Lillyman 28 and Parker 30 so they're not long term fixes. NSW has a plethora of young props coming through in the likes of Grant, Tamou, Tolman, Mannah, Merrin, Fifita, Woods, Ryan James, David Klemmer (NYC player of the year), Kane Evans (motm in the under 20s origin).

 

[timka4]

I'd say McGuire is better than James, Mannah, Fifita

 

[aqua_duck]

I'd say McGuire is better than James, Mannah, Fifita

I don't disagree with you but he'll be up against Tamou and Grant, after they come off they'll be replaced by guys like Woods and Merrin. I guess the point in trying to make is Qld might be struggling for front row depth in a few years. Btw I actually rate Klemmer and Evans as better future prospects than most of the guys I named, both 6'7, pushing 120kg monsters

 

[Big Pete]

What hate? He's a promising youngster who got a origin spot well before he deserved it, has nothing to do with hate.

Is pretty much my sentiment too. Merrin was exposed in both series and didn't live up to his reputation.

That's not to write him off completely, he can easily bounce back and his stats. were pretty solid for Game 1 this year but as it stands he hasn't repaid the selectors faith in him.

 

[RWB]

Merrin was identified and selected for Origin based on detailed stats i recall. Yes he was young and selected ahead of a few props who were a bit more seasoned but Merrin for a 20 year old was topping the comp for props who make the most metres over the advantage line, runs per minute on the field and successful offload rate amongst others. Basically he produced a lot of quality that NRL stats don't track but in-house NRL coaching staff track.

Ricky Stuart and even Tim Sheens for the anzac test in 2011 were been fed those stats and that's why he was given his debut so young. Woods and McGuire probably topped those kind of stats this year and hopefully get selected this year.

Some good young props deserve their shot and Merrin certainly deserved his and in what little game time he's been given he probably topped all those stats i mentioned above.

No prop deserves an origin position after one season, doesn't matter if you're the second coming of Artie Beetson. He's still got so much to learn, origin is the best of the best and he got found out. Experience is everything in these big matches.

It's unfair on these kids to stick them in there at a young age, most props don't mature till their mid 20's and you're not only saying they deserve their selection but it's justified?

There'll be a question mark over Merrins ability to pefrorm at origin level from here on in when in reality these performances mean nothing because he should have never been put in that position to begin with. It's unfair on Merrin and surely is no help to his development.

Mcguire has played 80 matches and proven himself as a starter late 2011 and during the middle part of 2012. If a conversation is brought up about a possible position on the bench then it's well earnt, he's proven himself over a decent enough period of time, as a starter and has gained valuable experience. It's nothing like the Trent Merrin situation.

 

[RWB]

Kennedy and McGuire are decent but not in the same class as guys like Tamou, Woods, etc. Myles is 27, Lillyman 28 and Parker 30 so they're not long term fixes. NSW has a plethora of young props coming through in the likes of Grant, Tamou, Tolman, Mannah, Merrin, Fifita, Woods, Ryan James, David Klemmer (NYC player of the year), Kane Evans (motm in the under 20s origin).

I think Kennedy & Mcguire are in a similar class to Woods, I just don't think they've been as lucky so far in their careers. Mcguire's been unlucky to be stuck behind some good props & Kennedy with his foot injury over the past 18 months, I'm tipping both these blokes will have massive seasons in 2013. You'd have to think they'll both be starting for their club sides and getting decent minutes like Woods did this year.

In saying that I don't mean to take anything away from Woods who had a pretty serious injury in 2010 and has done well to battle back from that.

 

[aqua_duck]

Is pretty much my sentiment too. Merrin was exposed in both series and didn't live up to his reputation.

That's not to write him off completely, he can easily bounce back and his stats. were pretty solid for Game 1 this year but as it stands he hasn't repaid the selectors faith in him.

The guy never had the chance to show anything in origin because Ricky Stuart has a f**king Ben Creagh fetish

 

[Big Pete]

The guy never had the chance to show anything in origin because Ricky Stuart has a f**king Ben Creagh fetish

He had as much chance as any other bench forward and barely made an impression.

Can't blame it on Creagh.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Cuthbertson.

/ Thread.

 

[Nezzo]

Matt Scott