Parker in for Maroons, Carlaw and McGuire

[Broncodroid]

Parker in for Maroons, Carlaw and McGuire out
by Scott Dickson
Monday June 27, 2005
From www.broncos.com.au

BRONCOS utility forward Corey Parker has been recalled to the Queensland State of Origin team for the series decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday week.

Parker has been included as an impact forward off the bench and will play his third game for the Maroons since featuring in the final two games of 2004.

Casey McGuire and Dane Carlaw however have been left out of the Maroons squad after playing in game II at Sydney's Telstra Stadium. McGuire also took the field for the series opener.

Queensland selectors have taken the rare step of naming a 16-man squad and leaving one position vacant.

It seems as if selectors have left this last spot open for Broncos International lock Tonie Carroll, who is battling to overcome a calf-muscle strain.

As expected, Broncos skipper five-eighth Darren Lockyer, centre Shaun Berrigan, front-rower Petero Civoniceva and Brad Thorn have retained their Maroons spots from the opening two Origins.

Thorn will return to his preferred position in the second-row after playing at prop in Sydney.

In other changes for Queensland, Melbourne's Billy Slater has been dropped and will be replaced at fullback by Cowboys' Matt Bowen while Cronulla's Danny Nutley will partner Civoniceva in the front-row.

Former Broncos utility forward Ashley Harrison has been named on the Queensland bench and will join Nutley as the only debutants for the match.

Earlier in the day, NSW made two changes to the side victorious in Origin II with Penrith captain Craig Gower and Parramatta back Timana Tahu recalled to the Blues line-up. They will replace injured International duo of utility Craig Wing and winger Luke Rooney.

State of Origin III
Queensland Maroons vs NSW Blues
Wednesday, July 6, Suncorp Stadium
Kick-off: 8pm

Queensland: Matt Bowen; Ty Williams, Shaun Berrigan, Paul Bowman, Matt Sing; Darren Lockyer (c), Johnathan Thurston; Chris Flannery, Brad Thorn, Michael Crocker; Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith, Danny Nutley. Interchange: Ben Ross, Ashley Harrison, Corey Parker, TBA.
Coach: Michael Hagan

NSW: Anthony Minichiello; Matt King, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Timana Tahu; Braith Anasta, Andrew Johns; Ben Kennedy, Craig Fitzgibbon, Nathan Hindmarsh; Jason Ryles, Danny Buderus (c), Luke Bailey.
Interchange: Steve Simpson, Craig Gower, Andrew Ryan, Steve Menzies.
Coach: Ricky Stuart

 

[pennywisealfie]

as a queensland fan i love it! as a broncos fan, we will struggle without parker, instead we bring in "half a yard hitup" Carlaw.

 

[broncoman]

Parker has been outstanding in the last few weeks and really deserves this. McGuire looked out of place in Origin. perhaps if he was being used as a back and not a foward he would have done better.

If Carroll isnt fit for origin any ideas who will come in???

 

[Mr Saab]

parker thoroughly deserves his spot in origin. He has been on fire the past 5 weeks.

 

[Alan Shore]

I love how Harrison is a "former Bronco" rather than "Souths captain".

 

[Ghoulies]

It's the official Broncos website so ofcourse everything is going to be slanted towards the Broncos.

On topic - Parker thoroughly deserves his spot and will bring some much needed mobility to the pack, though it will be interesting to see who takes his spot in the 'Baby Broncos' next week.