Here is the side that I personally would pick, and i think SHOULD be picked, but unfortunately won't be
1. Bowen
2. Slater
3. Rogers
4. Hodges
5. Inglis
6. Lockyer
7. Thurston
8. Civoniceva
9. Smith
10. Price
11. Webb
12. Thaiday
13. Johnson
14. Payne
15. Carroll
16. Lillyman
17. Scott
Bowen is a far superior player to Hunt in most aspects of the game. You can argue all you want that Hunt is a better talker, combo with locky etc etc but at the end of the day i think qld are better off with bowen there, and hunt's form has not been great this year.
With Rogers, he's been steadily improving this year after coming back from yawnion and had his best game against the cows on monday night. What's impressed me is his defense, which is a lot more solid than Inglis's, hence I've put Rogers in the centres and Inglis wing. If Rogers is unavailable i'll go with Tate, for lack of any better options.
Halves and front row pick themselves.
I've gone for a back-row that will get us metres early on and make a dent in the line, and they can come back later and relieve the props. This is also the reason i've gone for a second-row-heavy bench. Price and Civo are durable and will play at least 60 mins. Lillyman and Scott are in terrific form and will not be overawed now that they have some origin experience.
I've selected Payne because Berrigan has done nothing this year, imo Payne is a lot more dangerous and creative at dummy-half. Some will say Berrigan is a better option due to his utility value. Well i disagree because our backline is able to chop and change positions easily if one goes down, and Carroll can play centres if need be. Also Payne is a ready-made halves replacement if thurston or locky happen to get injured.
Unfortunately, the above team won't be selected, as the qld selectors look like they'll "go with the blokes that did the job for us last year". So this is probably the team they will pick:
1. Hunt
2. Tate
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Slater
6. Lockyer
7. Thurston
8. Civoniceva
9. Smith
10. Price
11. Thorn
12. Carroll
13. Johnson
14. Berrigan
15. Myles/Carlaw/Crocker
16. Thaiday
17. Webb
IMO qld should go with the first team, the in-form team. Too often rep selectors have been caught in the trap of picking incumbents (think tri-nations 2005).
Mal and his selectors took a fresh approach last year and picked a team of young, in-form players and look what happened. I think it's the way to go, but it probably won't happen.
In either case I still think we'll beat NSW.
