Origin III: Gallen out, Woods In, Farah captain

[madunit]

NSW captain Paul Gallen has been ruled out of State of Origin III in a huge blow to the team's chances of breaking Queensland's seven-year stranglehold on the series.
Gallen was hopeful of overcoming a foot injury in time to take his place but was ruled out by medical staff on Friday morning.
Hooker Robbie Farah is expected to take over as skipper, while Aaron Woods will take the Cronulla forward's place in the line-up.
The blow follows the withdrawal of Parramatta star Jarryd Hayne with a hamstring injury, while Greg Bird is tipped to be fit for the decider.
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The latest development is likely to have an effect on betting markets, with the Maroons expected to run onto ANZ Stadium as even firmer favourites.
NSW coach Laurie Daley called a team huddle at training where he broke the news to his players and Woods was hugged and high-fived by his Blues teammates following his promotion.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ies-decider-20130712-2pu7j.html#ixzz2YnM7fSHo

 

[BrotherJim05]

Woods honestly didn't play like himself in Game 2 and I hope it was just nerves.

This is a huge chance for Woods to step up and really show how much of a tough kid he is

 

[brooksy19]

He should get more game time now.

 

[macnaz]

All the best tonight Robbie and Woodsie

 

[Mr_Raditch]

As much as I hate to admit it Woods is out of his depth in Origin at this stage of his career. He & Tamou were both pretty average tonight.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Hope Woodsy treasures those two blue jumpers.

The third one might be some years away.

 

[Tiger05]

I thought they were both poor. Woods doesn't look up to it. Farah is definitely up to it but he needs some help because he still comes up with poor options.

Pearce was terrible.

 

[dumpy]

Woods unfortunately only ambles the ball up, the same as he does at WT. Not up to original level yet.

 

[madunit]

I thought they were both poor. Woods doesn't look up to it. Farah is definitely up to it but he needs some help because he still comes up with poor options.

Pearce was terrible.

Farah fell into the same trap he always does at the Tigers. When the halves are doing nothing he decides he will try and get things happening there.

He's gotta be getting sick of carrying under performing rep players in the halves (Sironen not included)

I can't knock Farah tonight, if he had competent halves, he'd have far less pressure on him.

Woods was pedestrian tonight, but I don't think that means he's a shit player. I think he was overawed by Origin.

I think he'll come back to club footy and be a better player for it.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Woods needs to learn to hit the line at speed, with a run up. He seems to always get the ball standing still and that is a recipe for disaster in Origin.

Farah took some poor options but he really does not have much of a choice with those halves, does he? When the game is on the line how can your 6 and 7 just completely go missing? It's ridiculous.

 

[Ron's_Mate]

Woods is a good first grade prop but I haven't seen him as an origin player. Still, he's only 21 so plenty of time to develop, however he is not in the same class as Fifita. Robbie did some dumb kicks. The last one I can't blame him for as the game was as good as lost so probably worth a freak play. His earlier kick on the third tackle was pointless however. Anyway the main thing is they both made it through uninjured and can get back to playing for the Tigers.

 

[moller]

Woods needs to learn to hit the line at speed, with a run up. He seems to always get the ball standing still and that is a recipe for disaster in Origin.

Farah took some poor options but he really does not have much of a choice with those halves, does he? When the game is on the line how can your 6 and 7 just completely go missing? It's ridiculous.

Bang on re: Woods. He can amble up and muscle fwd for extra yards after contact on the weekend, but no one can really do that at origin level.
Defended very well, but was a bit flat footed for that first try.
Merrin was similar a few years back, and NSW have persisted with him, and he's been all the better for it.

Farah looked like he'd had a thousand knocks (I was at the game), was very lethargic second half. Would be surprised if he played 80 on Friday.
Thought he had a good game tbh. The 40/20 attempt was still a good kick, chase needed to be better, and they should have nailed Boyd on his own 10m line.
Kick right at the end was desperate and didn't come off.

 

[natheel]

Woods is your version of Mannah. Probably going to be a club legend in fans eyes but just not an origin is player.

Farah has shown he is origin worthy but tonight he tried to much. That last kick wasn't needed with a renewed set and a minute to go with qld on the back foot.

If we have a half who knows what he's doing then Robbie won't have to get involved so much. He ended up getting predictable. Run out of dummy half and pass etc then kick.

 

[Tiger05]

Woods is a good first grade prop but I haven't seen him as an origin player. Still, he's only 21 so plenty of time to develop, however he is not in the same class as Fifita. Robbie did some dumb kicks. The last one I can't blame him for as the game was as good as lost so probably worth a freak play. His earlier kick on the third tackle was pointless however. Anyway the main thing is they both made it through uninjured and can get back to playing for the Tigers.

This is about right. Farah simply has too many crud plays in him. The NSW halves were terrible. Maloney looks alright but Pearce is a waste of space.

Fifita though is some player. Basically the best prop in the game.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

I actually thought Farah's last kick was worth a shot. Lets face it, they had to try something as they were not going to score by hitting the ball up. There was 30 seconds left.

 

[madunit]

I thought he should've kicked long.

 

[moller]

I was sat on that side of the field, Qld had men dropping back to cover a long kick.
It wasn't a great option (though McManus should have done more with it), but he was on a hiding to nothing.
And it was still better than any kicking option Mitchell Pearce took last night.