Good thread
QLD
Advantages
*Darren Lockyer is a serial menace in origin for NSW fans, he'll always have an impact
*Combinations, not only because alot of the players play with each other but they also have a unique understanding, for example Thurston and Bowen and Lockyer and Berrigan
*Impact off the bench, Carl Webb in particular will be hard to contain if Price and Petero can establish early domination.
*Home ground advantage, there's no doubt QLD are a different team at Lang Park
Disadvantages
*The loss of Tonie Carroll will mean increase traffic at Darren Lockyer, expect the likes of Hindmarsh, Cooper, King, SImpson and Watmough to head straight for him, even if he doesn't miss any tackles the extra defence might hinder his attacking game
*Billy Slater at fullback is a potential problem, his defence is questionable at best and I don't see him stopping a Gasnier or a Barrett one on one in abit of space
*Mick Crocker, he's a liability, his lack of discipline and brain explosions could really cost the Maroons, also he's not in great form and hasn't played alot of footy this year
*Michael Hagan, Hagan is one of those coaches who can win a game with a masterstroke, but more often than not, tends to be abit blind to the obvious
*Goalkicking, Cam Smith is solid but not great, and Lockyer and Crocker aren't very good back ups
NSW
Advantages
*The halves, Barrett and Kimmorley are both in great form and are proven rep players, Kimmorley in test football and Barrett in SOO
*The backline, its a very big backline, King Gasnier, Cooper, Rooney, Barrett are all 90kg plus and lack no mobility, guys like King and Rooney especially can take alot of pressure off their forwards
*The forward pack, I think its better than the Maroon's pack, especially the backrow, Hindmarsh and Fitzgibbon are the best 2nd rowers in the game and Kennedy is a hardened rep player of the highest calibre
*The Buderus/Wing double act, these two have troubled QLD in the past, granted Wing isn't in great form but he's the sort of player who can lift for the occasion, and Buderus has been in great form this season despite the misfortunes of his team
*Goalkicking, Fitzgibbon is arguably the best goalkicker in the game outside El Masri
Disadvanatges
*Lack of a established front rower on the bench, although Simpson has played alot of front row this year he's still not origin standard as a front rower. Ryan hasn't played front row for a few seasons now and Watmough is too small
*Lack of hard running, big, mobile impact forward, thye really lack a Tupou or a Willie Mason, although Watmough is explosive at times he doesn't have the sheer size of Mason or Tupou
*Matt King on the wing, I haven't seen too much of him as a winger and was picked on his form as a centre
