State of Origin 2022

andrew's_sharks

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Angus can play 80 and Wighton could do 20 in the second row/lock and there's guys who can do it in the front or back rows in a pinch. Paulo can punch out more minutes, too. Not sure if Api can cover 13? I don't see it as that big an issue to make you leave out Wighton, game 1's best player and Freddie's certified leave pass.

We are talking Origin with no Hass (who can play big minutes). Would be a terrible move to go into it with two utilities off the bench. NSW one game 2 due to momentum and space created through the forwards. would be a terrible terrible move.
 

bort

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We are talking Origin with no Hass (who can play big minutes). Would be a terrible move to go into it with two utilities off the bench. NSW one game 2 due to momentum and space created through the forwards. would be a terrible terrible move.
But at the same time Talakai wasn't really one of the forwards who contributed to that.

Wonder how close someone like Klemmer was instead of McLean, in a **** Knights side he's been going well and has SOO experience. Needed to shave head again to get noticed I think.
 

Sparkles

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Yeo ideally plays most of game at 13, played 66 straight in game 2
Yeo probably plays it out in a tighter game I’d think, but depending on flow and state of the game Api could probably jump in for last 14 or whoever really, as long as they keep D tight in the middle and drive good leg speed on both sides of the ball, bonus if they can throw a pass or two.

If Yeo went down for an extended period you use Murray I’d think, although Wighton if you had him.
Yep, so 13's no problem. Edge definitely covered with Angus and several others who could get in there if two went down
We are talking Origin with no Hass (who can play big minutes). Would be a terrible move to go into it with two utilities off the bench. NSW one game 2 due to momentum and space created through the forwards. would be a terrible terrible move.
Can't McLean play bigger minutes? He''s getting up to 55 minutes a game recently, so not a huge leap compared to Haas who's been playing slightly more for half this season. Would seem a bad idea to replace a big minute player with a shorter minute player, for sure. And it's not like Talakai is replacing him.

If Wighton is on the bench and Sifa isn't, who's the other utility?
 

bort

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Can't McLean play bigger minutes? He''s getting up to 55 minutes a game recently, so not a huge leap compared to Haas who's been playing slightly more for half this season. Would seem a bad idea to replace a big minute player with a shorter minute player, for sure. And it's not like Talakai is replacing him.

If Wighton is on the bench and Sifa isn't, who's the other utility?
He's counting Cook although technically I guess he is just a sub for hooker rather than a 'utility'
 

BurgoShark

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Easy solution. You can have Hess. Qld renounces our claim on him.

Play him for 80 and save money by only having to swap over 2 letters on the back of the jersey.
 

bort

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C0FD52F0-A866-4263-A6DE-8DE7A4502C7C.jpeg
Would be more interesting if it has at least queenslands stats for comparison if not access to all players numbers.

Sifa slow ptb stat very nice
 

andrew's_sharks

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But at the same time Talakai wasn't really one of the forwards who contributed to that.

Wonder how close someone like Klemmer was instead of McLean, in a **** Knights side he's been going well and has SOO experience. Needed to shave head again to get noticed I think.
No but NSW also had all of the ball and no injuries. If Haas Turbo or Paulo got injured no doubt Talaki would have played longer minutes and helped in the middle. Wighton ain't doing that.
 

HaroldBishop

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No but NSW also had all of the ball and no injuries. If Haas Turbo or Paulo got injured no doubt Talaki would have played longer minutes and helped in the middle. Wighton ain't doing that.
Yep your first sentence is the most important bit.
 

bort

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No but NSW also had all of the ball and no injuries. If Haas Turbo or Paulo got injured no doubt Talaki would have played longer minutes and helped in the middle. Wighton ain't doing that.
Agree in diff circumstances Talakai comes in earlier but in this instance he wasn’t even needed.

Wighton could bring some speed and aggression in the middle (13) or an edge.

But I prefer Talakai and happy Freddie’s love wasn’t too much
 
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I'm with Gus 100% here. It's time to stop nitpicking and let the international game grow. It is genuinely close to having 4 competitive teams, and people want to kill it off to continue Australia's dominance.

Also his knock-out blow to Gal at the end is incredible.
 

HaroldBishop

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I'm with Gus 100% here. It's time to stop nitpicking and let the international game grow. It is genuinely close to having 4 competitive teams, and people want to kill it off to continue Australia's dominance.

Also his knock-out blow to Gal at the end is incredible.
I'll have to watch it on the way home. Is he talking about the scrapping of the rep weekend when SOO2 was played this year?
 

BurgoShark

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I'm with Gus 100% here. It's time to stop nitpicking and let the international game grow. It is genuinely close to having 4 competitive teams, and people want to kill it off to continue Australia's dominance.

Also his knock-out blow to Gal at the end is incredible.
Haha - click-baiters eat your hearts out.
 
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I'll have to watch it on the way home. Is he talking about the scrapping of the rep weekend when SOO2 was played this year?
Talking about the calls for To'o etc to have to choose between Origin and playing for Tonga.

Gal says Tonga is practically a T1 nation, and as such asks, if the origin criteria should be expanded to include NZ and ENG. Gould pretty much says yes, do whatever you can do to expand the international game.
 

MrDravid

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I'm with Gus 100% here. It's time to stop nitpicking and let the international game grow. It is genuinely close to having 4 competitive teams, and people want to kill it off to continue Australia's dominance.
If the way to let the international game grow is to sort out the eligibility side of things, you're going to do more harm than good to the vast majority of teams out there.

If you make Samoa subject to the same eligibility rules as Australia, Brian To'o (who was born in Australia and has lived here all his life) has to pretty much choose today if he wants to represent Samoa or Australia (and throw in forgoing State of Origin) for the rest of his career.

The current rules have made international rugby league stronger, not weaker.
 

Sparkles

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If the way to let the international game grow is to sort out the eligibility side of things, you're going to do more harm than good to the vast majority of teams out there.

If you make Samoa subject to the same eligibility rules as Australia, Brian To'o (who was born in Australia and has lived here all his life) has to pretty much choose today if he wants to represent Samoa or Australia (and throw in forgoing State of Origin) for the rest of his career.

The current rules have made international rugby league stronger, not weaker.
The more you think about State of Origin now and where it's going, it just feel dumb to rule guys out based on playing for their national side.
Makes sense if you're having the game played at the same time of year within the season, as you can't ask players to have club, Origin and National duties within weeks of each other, but otherwise what's the point?
#istandwithronnie
 

Sevshark

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I'm with Gus 100% here. It's time to stop nitpicking and let the international game grow. It is genuinely close to having 4 competitive teams, and people want to kill it off to continue Australia's dominance.

Also his knock-out blow to Gal at the end is incredible.

Not sure if anyone watched channel 9s coverage on Sunday but the best moment of the whole game was Gal complaining to Gus how pointless being on the sideline was.

Gus told him to sit down and shut up.
 
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If the way to let the international game grow is to sort out the eligibility side of things, you're going to do more harm than good to the vast majority of teams out there.

If you make Samoa subject to the same eligibility rules as Australia, Brian To'o (who was born in Australia and has lived here all his life) has to pretty much choose today if he wants to represent Samoa or Australia (and throw in forgoing State of Origin) for the rest of his career.

The current rules have made international rugby league stronger, not weaker.
Oh we are on the same page, I may have just explained it poorly.

There has been a lot of noise in the media saying To'o can't have his cake and eat it to'o (haha). People are saying if he wants to be playing for the Blues, then he must be available for Australia first. In which circumstance he can only play for Samoa if he isn't picked for Aus. Which is complete bullshit.

The extension made in this video though is the same should apply for NZ/Eng internationals. Origin should have no bearing on which country you play for providing you fit the other selection criteria for your state i.e. being there before 13 years old etc.

This will allow for a better product through SOO, plus strengthen the international game as players who may have opted to play for Australia in order to qualify for origin, could spread to other nations.
 

bort

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I personally don't love the idea you skip the midseason tests for SOO but then wouldn't prioritise Australia for International eligibility.
How can someone be more NSW than Samoan, but more Samoan than Australia?

You either

Have SOO and mid season internationals but if you play SOO you are available for Australia first and permitted other options if not selected for Aus, and this extends to out of seasons tests and events

OR

SOO is opened up for all comers (lived in state from <13 or whatever) but you have no internationals at the same time. To'o can't be expected to play three SOO games and a test for Samoa mid season. If Internationals are same week as SOO it diminishes them by having players play SOO instead. Should they have diminished mid seasons tests if International game is so important?

I have no issue with any SOO players not making Aus squad playing for another Nation, and I would want them to.

I think when Gus says there is only one National anthem you respond to as an argument that is actually quite dubious... why then do we play Aus anthem before Origin? But also why can players ever switch allegiance? Players can and do respect more than one part of their life and heritage.
But to me an odd fit you can prioritise NSW over Samoa but Samoa over Australia.
 
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