I think they should go with the same team.
The debutants were just overawed. from the first hitup they played in slow motion. It is a miracle that Qld got within a point. Still, they eventually wore out the big and slow NSW pack, who were not all that much better. This was probably the worst Origin game (standard wise) of all time.
Consider this, Tate was as rusty as they come, he got better in the second half and caused NSW major problems as he got used to the pace of the game. Had he not played so poorly in the first half, Queensland win the game.
Inglis was all at sea in the first half, absolutely woeful. He finally settled down and ended up playing reasonably well. Without the uncharacteristic bad start Qld win the game. He will be much better next week.
Bell wascaught out of position a couple of times due to not being a winger. Again, he improved in the second half and will learn from his mistakes. Other than positional errors he looked reasonably strong defensively. He will better next game (assuming they dont bring in Slater to replace him).
Hodges, started very nervously (probably because of his previous origin experience). He improved markedly and will be better.
Lockyer, no matter what happens he will not play any worse. If he played even half as good as he is capable of, Queensland have won the game. Personally, i'd like him at fullback for most of the game, but no matter what happens he will be better next time.
Thaiday, will not be kept on the bench until the 60th minute and he seemed to make a pretty big difference to the side when he came on.
The backrow is much maligned, but they were all on debut, and despite NSW running roughshod they seemed to tackle the forwards all day and didnt tire, eventually allowing Qld to finish on top. They deserve a second chance and none of them will play worse than their debut.
The kicking game, surely couldnt be any worse than it was. This is the major problem with Qld since Wally Lewis retired and the main reason why Queensland no longer dominate. If there was an average player in the Qld Cup, Country football or anywhere else, who could kick the ball consistently long and where they want it, I would play him at 5/8, because qlds kickers are woeful. Still, thurston, Smith and Lockyer cannot kick as poorly as they did last night.
In my opinion there should be no more than one or two changes. This was supposedly the best side that could be chosen before last night and still is. They only lost by a point and the selectors must have knew that some of the debutants would struggle a bit on debut in NSW.
