parra pete said:
Try this Queensland team for size
1 Lockyer
2 Inglis
3 Bell
4 Hodges
5 (Sing)..scratched......
6 Thurston
7 Prince
8 Matt Scott
9 C Smith
10 Petero
11 Mick Crocker (certainty)
12 ?????
13 Dallas Johnson (certainty)
14 Bowen,
15 Webb
16 Ross
17 ??
Meninga issues Lockyer ultimatum
By Steve Ricketts
25apr06
QUEENSLAND coach Mal Meninga says he
cannot guarantee Australia captain Darren Lockyer the Maroons' five-eighth spot for this year's State of Origin series even if Lockyer plays there in Friday week's trans-Tasman Test in Brisbane.
Meninga warned that players could be selected out of position for Queensland, and they must be prepared to accept the challenge, as the Maroons look to regain the Origin title they surrendered in 2003.
Meninga's comment offers the strongest hint yet that he and the Queensland selectors are considering Scott Prince and Johnathan Thurston as the halves, with Lockyer at fullback.Lockyer reportedly has been assured by Australia coach Ricky Stuart he will play five-eighth against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium on Friday week, despite earlier speculation he would be switched to fullback, with Anthony Minichiello on the wing.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett made the big call to switch Lockyer from fullback to five-eighth in 2004, since when the player has enthusiastically embraced the challenge.
He has played nine Tests for Australia at five-eighth for eight wins, the highlight a stunning performance in the 2004 Tri-Nations final against Great Britain, which the Kangaroos won 44-4.
Lockyer missed last year's 24-0 loss to New Zealand in the Tri-Nations final because of injury.
The Australia team for the Brisbane Test will be named on Sunday night.
The Queensland and New South Wales teams for the Origin series opener in Sydney on May 24 will be named on May 15.
Meninga said yesterday the Queensland selectors would choose players they felt would come together as a strong unit to counter what shapes as a star-studded NSW side.
"I don't want to get into a debate about the make-up of the side and I've got an open mind about selections," he said.
"But wherever players are selected, I expect them to be happy to go out and do the job for Queensland.
"A lot of great players over the years have been chosen out of position.
"I'm not guaranteeing anyone a position. In the case of Darren Lockyer, he could be five-eighth or he might not be five-eighth."
Lockyer played five-eighth with North Queensland star Thurston at halfback in last year's Origin series, but there is a school of thought that Prince would offer more than the Broncos star in terms of organisation.
The thopught of having all three players in the starting 13 seems an attractive proposition, but such a scenario would
see Lockyer moving to fullback - a switch he would not enjoy after becoming settled at five-eighth.
Former Test centre Meninga meanwhile believes Broncos centre Justin Hodges should be chosen for Australia.
However, he acknowledged the possible difficulty associated with switching Hodges to the left side of the field because Mark Gasnier probably deserved to be right centre.
"Hodges, Gasnier, Matt Gidley, Steve Bell and Paul Bowman have been in great form," Meninga said.
Mal must read this forum. :lol:
