blues origin 2015

[Joker's Wild]

Canberra fans. Forever victims

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Maloney > Reynolds

 

[MightyMoo]

Bag him all you like he has been outstanding for NSW every time basically. As a QLD'er I'm glad he isn't there.

Every time? And I'm not " baggin" him champ. Report could only be game one. If the Blues get up first game, imagine the momentum for the second if he comes back into the side

 

[Hutty1986]

You would think that if mugs like us can see that, why can't so called rugby league experts?

Seriously we won last year because of hayne. We could have picked mccrone and anasta in the halves for all the good that hodkinson and Reynolds did. Without Haynes ball playing we have nothing. If we had better halves id be all for Dugan cause he can play. But moylan is needed to make up for whatever rubbish we have at 6 & 7.

That's the most frustrating f*cking thing. Two competent, consistent halves and we have a heap of points in our backline. But we pick an ok first grader in Hokko & a glorified reserve grader in Reynolds, as a result our defence has to be absolutely outstanding so we can try and win a game by scoring 1-2 tries.

Our pack will be bloody good, and we should be looking at scoring 3-4 tries a game, but the current pair have the keys to a f*cking ferrari out wide in the likes of Jennings and co. but they're too ordinary to take advantage.

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

If they pick Reynolds why not consider Austin. He has probably been the most inform 5/8 (nsw based).

Statistically he has had a better season then Maloney and Reynolds. He would also take on the line more than any of them. He is quite a big guy for a 5/8 as and can tackle well enough without having a brain explosion like Reynolds.

 

[Tweed Titan]

Just for laughs

7. Pearce

14. Gidley (c)


Let's remember the good old days.

 

[some11]

Gallen out of game 1 reportedly

f**k.

No more offence stifling hit-ups on the 4th tackle.

 

[Sujskiez]

Lets just hope hayne doesn't make NFL and is back by next month

 

[Dutchy]

1. Josh Dugan
2. David Mead
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Alex Johnston (Brett Morris if fit)
6. James Maloney
7. Blake Austin
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah
10. Andrew Fifita (Paul Gallen if fit)
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Greg Bird
13. Trent Merrin/Luke Lewis

14. Luke Lewis/Trent Merrin
15. Ryan James
16. Paul Vaughan/James Tamou/Tariq Sims/David Klemmer (Fifita if Gallen is fit)
17. Jack Bird

 

[PhilGould]

After today

1. Josh Dugan
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Alex Johnston/Jack Wighton
6. Blake Austin
7. Trent Hodkinson
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah (C)
10. Andrew Fifita
11. Beau Scott
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Greg Bird

14. Trent Merrin
15. James Tamou
16. David Klemmer
17. Tariq Sims/Paul Vaughn

 

[Dicko1]

1- DUGAN
2 - Johnston
3 - Jennings
4 - Morris
5 - Tedesco
6 - Austin
7 - Hodkinson
13 - Gallen
12 - Hoffman
11 - Lewis
10 - Fifita
9 - Farrah
8 - Woods
14 - Frizzell
15 - Klemmer
16 - Merrin
17 - G. Bird

 

[Ladmate]

Will never happen, but

1. James Tedesco
2. Josh Dugan
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Jack Wighton
6. Jack Bird
7. James Maloney
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah (C)
10. Andrew Fifita
11. Luke Lewis
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Greg Bird

14. Blake Austin
15. Paul Vaughan
16. Tyson Frizell
17. Trent Merrin

 

[Spanner in the works]

With a view to succession planning, and considering the fact a team that still boasts Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Inglis and co is unlikely to go back-to-back in series losses, at the moment I'd go:

1. Dugan
2. Moylan
3. Jennings
4. Morris
5. Tedesco

6. Soward
7. Mullen

8. Woods
9. Farah
10. Fifita
11. Bird
12. Hoffman
13. Merrin

14. Vaughan
15. Klemmer
16. Jackson
17. Lewis

After that I'd have the following players in and around the squad, not necessarily to play, but to gain experience and become better players for it:

18. Keary
19. Sironen
20. Brooks
21. Evans
22. Peats
23. Mata'utia
24. Wighton
25. Bird

Some changes to the above after today, with Jackson starting, Sims coming on to the bench and Wighton as the utility. Also swapped Moylan and Dugan. Happy enough to bring Moylan in to the side even after today.

 

[MacDougall]

1. Tedesco
2. Morris
3. Jennings
4. Wighton
5. Johnson
6. Maloney
7. Pearce
8. Woods
9. Farah
10. Fifita
11. Bird
12. Hoffman
13. Merrin

14. Jackson
15. Klemmer
16. Vaughan
17. Austin

Austin is perfect 17. Can play absolutely anywhere on the field.

 

[Vic Mackey]

1- DUGAN
2 - Johnston
3 - Jennings
4 - Morris
5 - Tedesco
6 - Austin
7 - Hodkinson
13 - Gallen
12 - Hoffman
11 - Lewis
10 - Fifita
9 - Farrah
8 - Woods
14 - Frizzell
15 - Klemmer
16 - Merrin
17 - G. Bird

I'd be pretty happy with that. Maybe swap frizzell for sims. I think frizzell will get there but Simms has been knocking on the door for a few years now and played very well today.

As long as Tamou, Reynolds and cordner aren't there I'll be pretty happy

 

[Jason Maher]

After today's games, I'll name two teams: one I would pick, and one I expect to be picked.

My side:

1. Matt Moylan
2. Alex Johnston
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Dugan
5. James Tedesco
6. James Maloney
7. Trent Hodkinson
13. Trent Merrin
12. Ryan Hoffman
11. Paul Gallen (c)
10. James Tamou
9. Robbie Farah
8. Aaron Woods

14. Andrew Fifita
15. Tyson Frizell
16. David Klemmer
17. Jack Bird

Yes, I would absolutely dump Greg Bird and Luke Lewis. Gallen and Hoffman can be the token old farts. We need to start renewing our pack. I prefer Moylan at the back because of the playmaking ability he offers. Dugan will go fine at centre, as he has previously. Harsh on Josh Morris, but there's a big chance he won't be fully fit anyway. If Dugan is also not fit, I'd be perfectly happy to give one of Wighton or Croker a go. Or even James Roberts.

On the halves, Reynolds has to go, he is a liability with his lack of control. I have thought all along Hodkinson deserves another go, and I still think that. I was impressed with Maloney's game today (and can't for the life of me figure out why the rest of LU wasn't). He did what a half is supposed to do well: control the game, kick well, get the ball to his edge forwards and centres in good positions, set up tries. Thought he did well to link up with Bird after running all the play early on too. And crucially he has Origin experience.

Having said all that, I'd be perfectly happy if Blake Austin was given the nod. He is a good player in career best form.

Team I think they will name:

1. Josh Dugan
2. Alex Johnston
3. Michael Jennings
4. Josh Morris
5. Daniel Tupou
6. James Maloney
7. Trent Hodkinson
13. Paul Gallen
12. Ryan Hoffman
11. Greg Bird
10. James Tamou
9. Robbie Farah
8. Aaron Woods

14. Trent Merrin
15. Andrew Fifita
16. Luke Lewis
17. one of Cordner/Frizell/Klemmer/Jackson

If Dugan is unfit, Moylan will slot in.

Basically I think incumbency will count for much. I expect Reynolds will be suspended, and Maloney will get the gig over Austin and Bird due to Origin experience.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Sims outplayed Frizell today. Deserves a spot on the bench imo

 

[Dicko1]

Moylans goal line defence was ordinary. Pushed into row 1 of the stand for the Friz near try and then Sims ran over the top of him to score. Not up to Origin standard. Saving tries will be more important than any ball playing he might offer, which by the way was also non existent today. Not sold on this bloke going to the next level yet.

 

[Vic Mackey]

When is Beau Scott back?

 

[boonboon]

Moylan was horrible today and proved he should be nowhere Origin