Prince snubbed?

[woodgers]

What do you all think of Prince not getting picked at halfback for QLD? I thought it was a poor selection to take Thurston ahead of him. Prince is a stronger defender and proved his worth at that level last year. He has led his side well in big matches this year, I am quite shocked that he missed out all together.

It shouldn't really bother me, I hope the Blues smash them good and proper.

 

[croydon Dog food]

I like Scotty and he does well behind a poor pack at the Tigers, at bigger clubs he would shine even more.

However he has flaws in his game, his tackling has improved this season but Thurston is surely stronger in this department. Scotty's kicking game also needs a bit of work, i think he is a bit unlucky though when it comes down to it.

 

[The_MaFeeLi_Tiger]

If he had form like he was in for the Doggies-Roosters games he would've been in.....It's a pity though. Hopefully Thurston has a shocker, and QLD go down (By even more than usual)

 

[Young Elias]

Yeah it's a pity but I can understand why the did pick Thurston.

Scotty is a brilliant player, but based on from JT has that explosiveness they talk about. Not that SP doesn't, but at the moment JT is showing it more, behind a good team, including in defence. He's a solid tackler.

At least we won't have Scott out for any games. And he can try his hardest to get back on the QLD teamin the process.

 

[croydon Dog food]

What do you all think of Prince not getting picked at halfback for QLD? I thought it was a poor selection to take Thurston ahead of him. Prince is a stronger defender and proved his worth at that level last year. He has led his side well in big matches this year, I am quite shocked that he missed out all together.

It shouldn't really bother me, I hope the Blues smash them good and proper.

I agree that Prince is a 'better defender' than Thurston but its akin to comparing Andy Courier and Tyran Smith (back in the souths days).
Defence is definitely not Prince's strong suite and he can get trampled on in the centres. Perhaps he needs a tonnie Carrol-like body guard to stand next to him in the line.
His organisation skills are questionable and he needs to improve his short kicking game.
Prince is undoubtedly one of the most talented halfbacks in the game- on natural talent alone he is amazing, however he needs to develop a consistency in attack/kicking game + continue to bolster his defense.

But Woodgers,these are probably areas that you wouldnt scrutinise as closely as a non-wests fan.
I have also been watching Linc play this year at canberra and its good to see that he is once again playing his preffered position. He has a great running game and his hits in defense are inspirational. I think he plays a good foil to jason smith.

 

[Darth Bobo]

I agree in most with croydon Dog Food. Prince is a good player with deficiencies in his game, particularly in leadership and he can sometimes lose his way and hence the teams suffers from it.

Prince can struggle without a decent number 6 beside him and I don't see that flaw in Thurston's game.

 

[woodgers]

I still think that Prince is a stronger defender. The Maroons have nippy players like Ty Williams, Matt Bowen and Slater. They needed someone to direct the forwards around and I believe this is where Prince is better than Thurston. They didn't really need another 'rabbit' around the ruck. Kicking is not really an issue - Lockyer will take charge of that and his back up will be Cameron Smith.

Thurston has played off the bench in a GF but like a lot of players before him, he may be overwhelmed by the occasion. That could be enough for the Blues to get a vital first up win and then come to Sydney to seal the series. Prince proved last series that he has the ability to take the pressure at the level, then he has taken it to a new level in the pressure games he won for the Tigers earlier in the year.

The better option again would have been Prince starting with Thurston on the bench. They don't need Bowen on the bench. Origin is the toughest of tough footy, QLD look a little light compared to NSW and wide running forwards like Ryan and Hindmarsh could reek havoc out wide as well. As it stands I don't like the chances of Ty Williams stopping Gasnier and King running at him on the right hand side.

 

[Farquhar]

It's sad for him he didn't get in, but I'm not sorry that he'll be playing for the team that matters this weekend!!!!
We would have missed him for sure.

 

[Lungman3]

What crap!!

How do you drop the incumbent when he's in better form than he was last time he played SoO?!!

Just face it, if he played for the BRONCOS he'd be playing halfback for QLD!

 

[Lungman3]

Oh, and Thurston did nothing special in SoO1 either.

I also notice that as soon as Hodgson came back to Wests Tigers he went to being the third-rung fullback for NSW behind another St. George poser in Hornby and some other bloke called Minichello or something-or-other ;-)

 

[Ghoulies]

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