State of Origin 2025

[Beavers Headgear]

Robson has been very good for a few years now, there isn’t anybody absolutely shooting the lights out over the top of him to unseat him. And as said above it would probably be Api if they were worried about a bit of extra attack

 

[Blair]

Luai (and his dad!) might blame being at the Tigers for missing out. Origin selection is always tough on the unfancied clubs.

 

[JJ]

Robson has been very good for a few years now, there isn’t anybody absolutely shooting the lights out over the top of him to unseat him. And as said above it would probably be Api if they were worried about a bit of extra attack

And Api has obviously played a lot with Cleary, Edwards and Yeo… surprised he’s not been mentioned much in what I’ve seen

 

[ColdWetPanther]

And Api has obviously played a lot with Cleary, Edwards and Yeo… surprised he’s not been mentioned much in what I’ve seen

Effectively blacklisted after his indiscretion in camp a few years ago?

I know he has played since then, but never felt like he has been ingrained in the squad

 

[JJ]

Effectively blacklisted after his indiscretion in camp a few years ago?

I know he has played since then, but never felt like he has been ingrained in the squad

Was wondering that, he’s such a ln obvious omission

 

[Meth]

You saying that because of the minutes? Haas obviously the first picked... no other props close tbh

yes. And exactly- that’s why May isn’t there

 

[Blair]

I remember the university dorm common room being packed for Origin circa '89. Maybe there was nothing else to do on a wintry, Wednesday night in Palmerston North? Anyway, it was a phenomenon. All the girls were there too, it wasn't a boys club.

I was only 19. You see, Origin, for all its faults, has been part of our lives for so long.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I remember the university dorm common room being packed for Origin circa '89. Maybe there was nothing else to do on a wintry, Wednesday night in Palmerston North? Anyway, it was a phenomenon. All the girls were there too, it wasn't a boys club.

I was only 19. You see, Origin, for all its faults, has been part of our lives for so long.

I agree mate. I remember way back when I chose QLD because Dad was NSW.

I remember watching the Geyer v Wally fight, Benny Elias' mum getting a face full of her son's blood after the game, Coyne's miracle try, all of it.

I also have memories like that for the Kiwis but as discussed, I think 2017 killed it.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Finefeuiaki, Arthars, Toia = all born in Auckland. And that's just the debutants. Any danger of Queenland finding some players from Queensland?

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

I wonder how much Egan was in the debate?
I might be bias, but I think he's done more than enough to warrant an Origin selection
(selfishly a bit relieved he's playing for us though!)

 

[Meth]

A lot of talk about May being overlooked due to issues with his lateral movement on defence and teams (particularly Melbourne) targeting that.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

A lot of talk about May being overlooked due to issues with his lateral movement on defence and teams (particularly Melbourne) targeting that.

Yea seen a lot of that too. That's not something that's measured in the usual metrics, but if there's another stat that supports that assessment, even indirectly, it'd be good to uncover it.

Not only for Laurie so people stop questioning his decision, but May as well... something that categorically proves a weakness in his game might stop some of continued speculation on his character.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Sounds a bit easier to piece together if you look at Craig Bellamy being the advisor to Daley in this current setup, Bellamy spotted some flaws, implemented a game plan, and ruthlessly exposed them in a 64-0 drubbing, then said to Laurie he can’t defend

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Sounds a bit easier to piece together if you look at Craig Bellamy being the advisor to Daley in this current setup, Bellamy spotted some flaws, implemented a game plan, and ruthlessly exposed them in a 64-0 drubbing, then said to Laurie he can’t defend

Oh yea totally. I went back and watched some of that game after the talk about his defensive weaknesses surfaced. While he certainly wasn't the only one to be badly exposed, he definitely got caught out a number of times especially when at marker or A defender.

But is that endemic in his game, or was it simply a bad day which everyone will have at some point? Without rewatching all his games, it's hard to know/prove without some kind of metric.

In the meantime, the metrics that are available say he made 52 tackles in that game while only missing 3. They say he's averaging 42 tackles a game, and has only missed 11 tackles all year.

Anyone with an ounce of objectivity knows isn't the whole story but anyone with an axe to grind is looving that shit right now.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I wonder how much Egan was in the debate?
I might be bias, but I think he's done more than enough to warrant an Origin selection
(selfishly a bit relieved he's playing for us though!)

I don't imagine he was at all. Egan is one tough mother f**ker but you have to think Robson, Api, Mitch Kenny, probably even Connor Watson are ahead of him.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Sounds a bit easier to piece together if you look at Craig Bellamy being the advisor to Daley in this current setup, Bellamy spotted some flaws, implemented a game plan, and ruthlessly exposed them in a 64-0 drubbing, then said to Laurie he can’t defend

See this is why I'm going off Levels. Willie spent 10 minutes yesterday basically saying it was a racist, kinda 'his face doesn't fit' thing with May, but not quite saying it (but saying it).

Willie has been shit on Levels this year. Far too emotive.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

See this is why I'm going off Levels. Willie spent 10 minutes yesterday basically saying it was a racist, kinda 'his face doesn't fit' thing with May, but not quite saying it (but saying it).

Willie has been shit on Levels this year. Far too emotive.

I didn’t really pick up on that vibe from Willie, he hasn’t been picking May for weeks though. I tune out Willie’s Bulldogs chat these days lol

Have you listened to Sixes and Sevens ? Pretty good analysis on there

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I didn’t really pick up on that vibe from Willie, he hasn’t been picking May for weeks though. I tune out Willie’s Bulldogs chat these days lol

Have you listened to Sixes and Sevens ? Pretty good analysis on there

I'll have a listen

I tend to listen to the Levels game previews and reviews, then listen to Six Tackles with Gus in entirety. Used to listen to all Levels but as I say, Willie seems to just say everything is dog shit or the best of all time, bumpers up, front loading, 3 and 4 man, iron sharpens iron etc on repeat

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Jacob Preston and Adam Douiehi seen checking into Blues camp, must be there to hang around and gain some experience

 

[Blair]

See this is why I'm going off Levels. Willie spent 10 minutes yesterday basically saying it was a racist, kinda 'his face doesn't fit' thing with May, but not quite saying it (but saying it).

Willie has been shit on Levels this year. Far too emotive.

On that it sounds like Willie took his cue from Choc Mundine. However, just on Mundine, I was always perplexed as to why he was often overlooked for Origin. The same with Nathan Blacklock.