Will Bird make NSW as lock??

[Megashark]

Billy Slater most likely lining up on the wing for the Maroons, which I can see the sense in

Kurt Gidley is a fullback who plays his best football at fullback. For him to be best utilized in Origin (or any game) they've got to pick him at fullback.

Cap - is it just me, or is there some inconsistency between these two statements? To my mind, Slater is an out and out fullback (and the form fullback in the comp by a country mile), whereas Gidley I see as predominantly a five-eighth whose ability to play at half and fullback gives him tremendous utility value. I do concede however that Qld appear to be better served for depth at both fullback and halfback than NSW are, and that factor will no doubt in part determine which players are selected in which positions.

 

[sharkstragic]

Easily. He may even be the 5/8

 

[biomech]

Lock is a given, a great performance on Friday might even see him as 5/8.

Agree..... Sutton is rubbish.

 

[scott17]

he will make it there easily

but sutton isnt ****

 

[biomech]

Yeah, maybe not ****, but not quite up to the grade yet IMO for rep footy.

Maybe it's because the Rabbits are so woeful this year - makes him look worse.

 

[sos]

I'm 100% with you chunk.

Gidley at #7 to partner Bird..

i disagree if bird is 5/8th for nsw i believe that they will pick finch at halfback and gidley on the bench

 

[Capital_Shark]

Im not saying I want Mateo to come on and play hooker????

Anasta isn't a lock he's a 5/8, and if Bird gets picked over Anasta at 5/8, they are not going to select Anasta to come off the bench to play in the backrow.

I think we must see the game a bit differently, cos Mateo can play second row, you could put him on the left or right fringe (where second rowers normally position themselves) and he's bound to create something. Also about his utililty value???? He can play IMO in the backrow, 5/8 & and if need be in the centres. It doesn't mean you are a utility cos you play a certain position, though you are also capable of playing hooker.

The reason cap I said I think he should be in the 17, is because he creates things in attack and has the x-factor. I think he's a very talented footballer who could handle SOA and would be more of an asset then others picked. I'd have him over Gallen (just being honest), Tupou (just being honest), Laffranchi, Thaiday, O'Donnell, Hindmarsh, Ryan, Fitzy, Watmough, Simpson, Heighington and Creagh.

This would be my forward pack as of now:

8. Bailey (if unfit Mase)
9. Buderus
10. Kite
11. Gallen
12. Hoffman
13. Bird
14. Gidley
15. Mateo
16. Mason (if starting, Cross/O'Meley)
17. Tupou/Laffranchi

Remember just my opinion. :cheers

I know you didn't say you wanted him as a replacement hooker, I just pointing out that I don't see him playing that role, and thats usually what they do with the 'utility'.

Anasta is a 5/8, your right. But I don't think you can say he isn't a lock. He's very capable at both positions. For instance if the Chooks picked up a Lockyer, Anasta would move to lock.

I can't agree that Mateo would be better value in the 2nd row than a bloke like Laffranchi. I didn't say he wouldn't be any good, I just think he's best served at 6 or 13 and if he's not picked at either of those places, I see more value in a specialty 2nd rower.

Cap - is it just me, or is there some inconsistency between these two statements? To my mind, Slater is an out and out fullback (and the form fullback in the comp by a country mile), whereas Gidley I see as predominantly a five-eighth whose ability to play at half and fullback gives him tremendous utility value. I do concede however that Qld appear to be better served for depth at both fullback and halfback than NSW are, and that factor will no doubt in part determine which players are selected in which positions.

I can see how you'd see some inconsistency there. But my reasoning for me seeing sense in putting Hunt at fullback and Slater to the wing is it allows to put more quality in the QLD back line. Slater can play wing, Hunt can't. Basically I think this:

1. Hunt
2. Slater
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Folau

looks a lot better than this:

1. Slater
2. Inglis
3. Tate
4. Hodges
5. Folau

Yes Slater is the better fullback, but he's still capable on the wing, and putting him there guarantees Inglis is at centre, Tate doesn't get a sniff and Hunt isn't made redundant.

 

[Megashark]

I can see how you'd see some inconsistency there. But my reasoning for me seeing sense in putting Hunt at fullback and Slater to the wing is it allows to put more quality in the QLD back line. Slater can play wing, Hunt can't. Basically I think this:

1. Hunt
2. Slater
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Folau

looks a lot better than this:

1. Slater
2. Inglis
3. Tate
4. Hodges
5. Folau

Yes Slater is the better fullback, but he's still capable on the wing, and putting him there guarantees Inglis is at centre, Tate doesn't get a sniff and Hunt isn't made redundant.

Tate is equally at home on the wing as he is in the centres; I would be inclined to leave Hunt out of the equation altogether and play Slater in his rightful position, hence:

1. Slater
2. Tate
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Folau

As Pomeroy, would say, "just my opinion :cheers"

 

[chunk67]

Tate is equally at home on the wing as he is in the centres; I would be inclined to leave Hunt out of the equation altogether and play Slater in his rightful position, hence:

1. Slater
2. Tate
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Folau

As Pomeroy, would say, "just my opinion :cheers"

so would most ppl but meninga said that he will most likely take hunt

mine would look like this:

1. Hunt
2. Inglis
3. Folau
4. Hodges
5. Slater

 

[Capital_Shark]

Tate is equally at home on the wing as he is in the centres; I would be inclined to leave Hunt out of the equation altogether and play Slater in his rightful position, hence:

1. Slater
2. Tate
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Folau

As Pomeroy, would say, "just my opinion :cheers"

Basically its Tate or Hunt who has to miss out. I'd prefer it be Tate. For that to happen, Slater can't be fullback. Doesn't mean he and Hunt can't share the role through out the match. In fact that'd be great. It'd devastate the NSW kick chase; one set they've gotta line up against a hard kick-returning Hunt, the next set they've got an evasive, slippery little bugger like Slater weaving in and around 'em.

 

[Megashark]

Hard to believe that Matty Bowen's name hasn't even come up in this discussion...

 

[Great White]

I think if Bird played well tonight, he would of got the nod for blues 5/8, but I am not sure he did enough tonight though, I know he played outside Thurston, but still very quiet. I would like to see him as Blues 5/8 though.

 

[Shark68]

FU*K Kite does anyone rate him?

 

[zakspiders]

FU*K Kite does anyone rate him?

he used to be alright when he was at the goons.
gone downhill since then.

 

[chunk67]

yeh hes sh*t but he does a lot of unnoticed work..........the front row for NSW should look like this:
8. Bailey
10. White
14. Cross
15. Mason

 

[Megashark]

FU*K Kite does anyone rate him?

No, he's not great but neither are a lot of the alternatives for the NSW/Australia front row; the usual suspects such as Bailey and O'Meley have struggled with injury and/or form, Mason is best suited as an interchange forward, and personally I don't rate White - he was very ordinary for NSW last year. All the more reason to give Dougie a shot, I reckon he would thrive at that level and there is no way he would let anyone down.

 

[Capital_Shark]

Hard to believe that Matty Bowen's name hasn't even come up in this discussion...

Not really. Probably only had one quality game this year, the rest were quiet performances in a terrible Cowboys team losing the first 4 or 5 games, then the one he didn't play in they broke the duck.

And if history is anything to go by, it wouldn't matter how he played, he still wouldn't get a gig. He was amazing last year and it did him no favours as far as rep selection goes.

FU*K Kite does anyone rate him?

Obviously Des Hasler and the Aussie selectors do. But as others have said there aren't really any props setting the bar overly high for Australia. Bailey would have to have been the benchmark this year, but he's not available. Outside of him its a fairly mediocre bunch. O'Meley is way past his best too and I think its turned out good for the Bulldogs not being able to keep him.

Luckily though the quality back rower stocks are busting at the seams, and they're making up for the hopeless pricks upfront, doing enough for the amazing back line to work their magic. Unfortunately for NSW though, that back line has a mortgage on QLD jerseys.

 

[peachey]

ashton sims and ben hannant should be the forwards for NSW..both have shown up the usual suspects for NSW..and the rest are completely ordinary or injured

 

[scott17]

****ing hell peachey get over sims, hes useless

 

[peachey]

better then kite,o'meley,mason,white..hell the bloody lot of them!