State of Origin Game 1

[Cartman88]

Only a week away until State of Origin Game 1 which is being played at Stadium Australia.

This is how the teams shape up (some players remain in doubt):

Fullback Brett Hodgson
Wing Timana Tahu
Centre Jamie Lyon
Centre Shaun Timmins
Wing Jason Moodie
Five Eighth Trent Barrett
Half Back Andrew Johns (C)
Lock Forward Luke Ricketson
Second Row Steve Simpson
Second Row Ben Kennedy
Prop Forward Robbie Kearns
Hooker Danny Buderus
Prop Forward Mark O'Meley

Interchange Braith Anasta
Interchange Bryan Fletcher
Interchange Nathan Hindmarsh
Interchange Michael Vella

Coach Phil Gould

Fullback Darren Lockyer
Wing Lote Tuqiri
Centre Chris Walker
Centre Darren Smith
Wing Clinton Schifcofske
Five Eighth Shaun Berrigan
Half Back Allan Langer
Lock Forward Kevin Campion
Second Row Petero Civoniceva
Second Row Gorden Tallis (C)
Prop Forward John Buttigieg
Hooker John Doyle
Prop Forward Shane Webcke

Interchange Daniel Wagon
Interchange Dane Carlaw
Interchange Carl Webb
Interchange Andrew Gee

Coach Wayne Bennett

 

[Cartman88]

Early betting is as follows:

New South Wales $1.75
Queensland $2.05

I had expected New South Wales to start slightly shorter than this but I still can't see any great value in either team.

There will be plenty of other betting options leading up to the game and I will have a look at these once the lines come out.

 

[Cartman88]

Just one bet for me at this stage:

NSW vs Queensland Under 42.5 (1.5 units)

I am still hoping for some further betting options to become available closer to game time. If they do I might have another look but it is likely I will just stick with the above and cheer for a match dominated by defence.

 

[jotster]

hey cartman
early look/opinion is on the broncos, oops should have said queensland !!
seeing as tho qld is made up of majority of broncos players, they should blend better as a team, with better/bigger forwards, will be interesting tho to see if alfie will be playing, berrigan is still very capable with the talant he has outside him

theres a big barbie at my place wednesday night for anyone else that wants to come !!!! :toast: moon1 :spotting:

will look closer as the wednesday gets here, will be lookin for your in sights cartman!!

jotster

 

[ageecee]

New South Wales -2 over Queensland

Any opinions anyone..

ML is Wales -145

 

[Anders]

Expect Bennett to have a few tricks up his sleeve to play yet. Seeing the Maroons' big advantage should be the size of the pack _ as it was last year _ look for him to play this factor strongly. I expect the Cane Toads to play Kevin Campion at hooker for a big part of game one and use John Doyle from the bench late in each half.
Campion isn't a dummy half darter but is a good passer to provide the service for Alfie and Berrigan and a physical presence running wide of the ruck. Berrigan may also spend some time at dummy half and is an elusive runner with a good fend.
Chris McKenna may also play a lot earlier than planned as Bennett expects to keep things tight in the centres and not expose Chris Walker's defensive weaknesses. Walker should also be used as an impact player late in each half.
It's hard to back against a home side led by a determined Joey Johns but I think he will struggle to get the "go-forward" needed to dominate tonight. The visitors, who have a terrible record at the venue and a huge disadvantage in playing away in game on of Origin, have a huge gap in terms of experience over their opponents.
There's certainly plenty of quality about the NSW back three debutants Hodgson, Tahu and Moodie. But it's a tough arena to star in first up. Shaun Timmins' illness yesterday adds to the question mark over the Blues backline.
Talk that the Cockroaches could expose the gaps late in the Qld defence when they tire doesn't take into account the Broncos v Newcastle game, when the Broncos came home with a wet sail despite playing with 13 men for 10 mins in the 2nd half with Tallis in the bin.

PLAY QUEENSLAND +2

GL

Ageecee - not trying to put you off mate; just my take, GL

 

[Mr.]

also on Qld.....+100

cheers

 

[ageecee]

Anders i just put the line at Wales -2 over Queensland i wasnt liking the wales. I just was stating the line and asking for opinions. I will take a home team geting points any day of the week..

Queensland is the play for me-Might play the ML +110

 

[jotster]

well my bet is on, queensland on the ml
queensland already play together vertually as a team, so better organisation
johns is very pumped to have a big game, but i still think qld will win this one

good luck guys

jotster

 

[beast2]

State of Origin Plays

Queensland ML d NSW (2 Units)
QLD/NSW Over 40.5

Craig

 

[Anders]

Firstly, apologies for the play on Qld - although I think Qld have plenty of apologies to give their backers after one of the most lacklustre displays in Origin history.
Yes they were outplayed but I was still angered by their lack of fire, spark and application.
The only thing I got right were the Qld team changes for the starting line-up. Unfortunately, neither had the desired effect. Campion was solid but Doyle added nothing and was defensively poor - I sense a call up coming for PJ Marsh for game two. McKenna was brave and defended well but with he and Smith in the centres Qld had no pace and Walker was left on the bench for far too long.
Hodgson did have a fine match but was given an armchair ride - Lockyer's long-kicking game was non-existent! Even when he had the ball on the 45m line he stab kicked directly thru to Hodgson on his 20m line to run the ball back to great field position.
Langer was a shadow of his best too - the Maroons looked best when Berrigan took over the reins far too late.
For the winners, Johns and Buderus were superb, their pack played with far more urgency and Lyons was always dangerous.
A comment on the ref - who didn't influence the result as the game was long over when Tallis was given 10.
Harrigan was awful - again. The sinbinning of Tallis was simply out of a presonal grudge - he did not warn Tallis that the next offence would be sinbinned (not that he has too) and the penalty was a piddling affair that Harrigan blew out of all proportion by his own desire to be the focus of attention.
He made a host of errors for both teams in certain areas and I'm still befuddled as to why he got the job. His form this season has been very poor and his display the previous Fri in the Knights/Warriors game was horrendous.
I'd hate to be the linemaker for Game Two - how on earth could u make the Cane Toads anything else but home dogs after that display. Then u open yourself up to huge hits on a home dog facing a series defeat. GL fellas.



Good call on the total Eric; have a pack of Cheesy Poofs

Ageecee - Down Under, the home team is always listed first

 

[ageecee]

Damn didnt know home team was listed first!! Still i would of played the same play..

 

[Cartman88]

Good call on the total Eric; have a pack of Cheesy Poofs

Double celebration for me with the "under" getting home but more importantly my beloved NSW team taking a 1-0 lead in the 3 match series.

I watched the match in a packed Queensland pub and the patrons were not happy.

Can't wait for Game 2 in a couple of weeks time. About 40 of the staff at work are hiring a bus and heading up to Brisbane to watch it live. It will be an interesting experience sitting in a stadium with 49500 Queensland supporters and 500 NSW supporters.

Go the Blues !!