Dude, you can't really expect internet posters to come up with a uninjured team AND game plan!!! Without the right game plan and tactics (something I think Ricky lacked last year) even the best team will struggle. Unless that team has Cronk, Smith, Thurston, Inglis, Slater, etc...
But I'll have a go!
Personally I would have started Lewis and Bird on the edges, sub Watmough in for one of them at the back end of each half as he adds a bit of extra punch after the initial slog. Merrin subs in for Gallen with 15 to go each half, and is given the role he currently plays at club level - make metres, look for offloads; seriously, 2 or 3 offloads from him could go a long way towards winning us the game...That way, all 3 starting backrowers have top aggression and can hurt the opposition, Watmough and Merrin come on for impact and attacking. It also covers all injury bases...
The rest of it comes down to the spine and how well they work together. With Pearce in the 7, Farah and Hayne take on the more creative roles...
I'm not concerned about forecasting injuries during the game. More concerned about the structure of his backrow. The only specialist right-sided player (Lewis) at the moment is on the bench, Gallen & Merrin are both middle players, Watmough is also a middle to left player at Manly, and Bird is a left-sided specialist these days. Folks may dismiss the importance of this, but it has great bearing on the way players slide and move in defence in particular.
You make a fair point. But I don't necessarily agree that the second rowers I picked can only predominantly play up the middle.
I personally would have Bird on his preferred edge, (I think its left?) Then Gallen up the middle and Watmough on the right edge.
I know Watmough has been playing more of a middle forward role for Manly this year, but he has also played on the edges before and I would consider him one of the more mobile second rowers in the game so in terms of mobility I don't think that's necessarily a problem either.
Merrin can substitute in as an impact forward. This is where mobility might become an issue as I believe he does play up the middle for St George. However if he is interchanged for Gallen who probably could use a short rest then it shouldn't be a problem.
Luke Lewis can cover the edge second rowers without any issues I think.
Cheers. Thanks for responding. I reckon it's interesting to give an insight into what someone is thinking with their squad when they post a team, rather than just listing a squad from 1 to 17.
we all have to remember that NSW have an advantage in one distinct area. They know what the QLD structure will be. It doesn't change.
As much as I'd like Merrin in the squad, how much of an impact is he really going to have with Gallen in there who will (realistically) play anywhere between 60-80 mins? Gallen isn't a team player. He will chuck a massive hissy if he's not on the field for 3/4 or more of the game. Merrin will be wasted if not used in the role he has been playing so well at with St George.
As I said, I reckon your team is great in terms of the names in there, and my preference is a 4-man real prop rotation with those players you've selected too. They should get 35-45 mins each and kept fresh to maintain the intensity through the middle for the whole game. Talk of playing Gallen here for 80 mins is absolutely giving an advantage to QLD.
My approach to the smaller forwards would be a little different, and this is very much with balance and structure in mind.
Start
MF Gallen
RF Lewis
LF Bird
Interchange
Watmough
Hinchcliffe
I know what you're thinking............did i fire six shots.........err I digress.
Yeah I know, Hinchcliffe doesn't sound as sexy or as much of an intimidating attacking threat as Merrin, but of major importance is how they can be used in this squad. I just think that with Gallen and Watmough in the squad, Merrin is surplus requirements. He shouldn't be used as a prop and the impact can deliver as he does with St George will be severely constrained to ineffective due to the presence of Gallen as I mentioned, and also, particularly with Farah on the field most of the time.
The way I see it, Hinchcliffe covers two areas. He's a specialist right forward at Melbourne when Smith is on the field and can interchange Lewis in that position. He also covers acting half when Smith is off the field and this can be invaluable to give Farah a breather for 5 or 10. Everyone says that Farah can play 80 mins, but remember this is a massive step up from club. He, as most acting halves, defends in the middle so he will get through a lot of work - physical work which is just crazy in Origin. It's here that QLD have historically wear down NSW in the past so it's absolutely essential to rotate players through the middle. And Hinchcliffe IMO is a very underrated small forward. In these roles, Daley can get a good 30 mins with him on the park.
As a spell for Gallen, I would replace him with Watmough in the middle for 20. Furthermore, Watmough can also cover Bird on the left for another 15-20, a role which also he plays at Manly, giving him some 35-to-40 min off the bench too.
using the interchange effectively will be so important in these games. It was what Stuart failed to do and he essentially played each game with 15 players rather than the 17 Meninga/Henry do.
