State of Origin 2026

[tig_prmz]

Surely you conclusion contradicts your main point.

I dont think I had a main point, just chucked random observations in there.

 

[batboy]

What are free metres?

Panthers are very good at playing the game down the other end of the park - teams kicking well inside their own half don’t round the returning wingers up as quick.
To’o more often than not has plenty of grass in front of him returning kicks…

Our wingers haven’t had that luxury often, maybe ever.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Yeah - extras isn’t how he rolls, always just does enough.
I remember them making a big deal of it when he bought some exercise equipment for his house - I’m like really? A professional athlete bought himself athletic equipment (wouldn’t that be what they all do?)

I can’t imagine a mechanic that doesn’t have a socket set at home 😂😂

As he gets older, he's managed to get some of the grubbiness out of his game as well, still rears its ugly head now and again but not as bad as previous years.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Moses too but I wouldn’t be dropping Strange

I'd put Moses 6, Strange bench.
NSW missed Moses kicking game. Strange isn't a strong distance kicker.

 

[tig_prmz]

Mate if you’re a lead runner and you run into the defensive line , especially into someone covering , it’s obstruction all day . It’s been clearly that for a long time .Olakuatu has to do a better job pushing through the line .
You’re off your head if you think sending off a teams fullback , balanced out the game . It was a sin bin for sure .

That was not obstruction, he ran the inside shoulder and Harry was covering. When you're covering, you run sideways, Harry stopped for Ola, and made a defensive decision. You cant take a still frame or slo mo and call it black and white that he was obstructed. Harry made a defensive decision to stop his run for Ola.

NSW scored one, had a legit chance denied and scored another one within 10-15 minutes of Ponga being off. Even if it was a sin-bin, it would have been 3 tries apiece.

Qld was the better team for 50 minutes but as we have seen in NRL, posession always reverses and NSW played shit but QLD defended shit too.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Well we have confirmation the penalties are different for Origin...same charge in NRL sees him miss 2 games

Origin players no longer get suspensions for club games. Rules.

 

[tig_prmz]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a terrible decision turn a game like that. Definitely not a game on that stage. He was clearly being advised by the bunker, but Klein took the opportunity to have his Bill Harrigan “look at me look at me moment”. Shocking.

They still haven't released the audio of what Bunker said to Klein. What Klein said was definitely "yeh mate, but ...." There's no way Klein can overrule Bunker.

No journo so far has asked publicly for that audio.

I said it at the start. The reason Klein gets Origins is to make sure they stay close. They may retain him for Origin 2 to make sure QLD wins and then dump him in Origin 3 because by then it doesn't matter, they've already achieved the ratings.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Brailey 9, Robson 14
Haas to start, AFB Bench
Ford Bench, JSaf gone
McLean start, Koula bench
Latrell (if healthy) for Crichton

Api to replace Robson
McLean to start on wing.
Koula to replace Crichton
Moses to 6, Strange bench

Not sure Tedesco deserves to hold his place despite that winning try.

If Haas not available for game 2, NSW in trouble. The starting middles were dominated.

 

[mtd#2]

I have just a little reservation with May - he just doesn't run forward all the time, sometimes he wants to ball play as if he was the halfback. He needs to do one job and that's to go forward, Twal would've been better I reckon but if May cuts that bit on his play then ok.

It isnt like he gets the ball for when hes going to take a hit up and starts to crab sideways. The only time he looks to crab kr ballplay, he has been offloaded the ball and is standing still as a support player. Ive never once seen him get the ball in the position for taking a hit up and seen him try ball play.

 

[user118245]

Api to replace Robson
McLean to start on wing.
Koula to replace Crichton
Moses to 6, Strange bench

Not sure Tedesco deserves to hold his place despite that winning try.

If Haas not available for game 2, NSW in trouble. The starting middles were dominated.

Don’t think api will start, I’d have him 14 if he does play. Agree with teddy as well but daley the coach so who knows what he can pull out of his ass

 

[GNR4LIFE]

There’s a slow motion angle that shows clearly shoulder on shoulder and head on head.

 

[mtd#2]

There’s a slow motion angle that shows clearly shoulder on shoulder and head on head.

It isnt clear at all. You cant 100% say that there is absolutely no contact from the shoulder to the head, and thats in super slow mo.

 

[innsaneink]

I wonder what was going on in Clearys head that last conversion....almost psyching himself out of it...pressures a funny thing...he wouldnt give that kick a 2nd thought usually

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I wonder what was going on in Clearys head that last conversion....almost psyching himself out of it...pressures a funny thing...he wouldnt give that kick a 2nd thought usually

When he balked, I was fearing the worst, a chocolate soldier moment lol.

 

[upthetigers]

Lol all these Queenslanders coming out saying NSW got lucky.

Murrays was a try and so was Strange's first one. Harry wasn't in the defensive line, he was cover tackling and ran into Olakuatu. Bs call.

If those two on technicality were no tries than KP was fair too.

It all balanced out at the end and NSW won the 50-50 contests and the clutch plays by Teddy and Cleary.

NSW scores or almost scored each time they were near the try line. Qld has a lot to work on.

But... Klein will get picked again to make sure Qld wins the second game, because NRL needs to make sure there is a decider.

You're kidding yourself, you must have been watching a different game if you don't think QLD were the better team

 

[upthetigers]

If Koula didn't go for the hero play and stepped inside to avoid the sideline, KP wouldn't have been sent off and QLD would have won

 

[mtd#2]

If Koula didn't make the hero play and stepped inside to avoid the sideline, KP wouldn't have been sent off and QLD would have won

Qlders dont get origin.

 

[upthetigers]

When he balked, I was fearing the worst, a chocolate soldier moment lol.

I was saying to myself, please dont slip please don't slip. The Ice Man is human.

 

[Tucker]

I’ll play fantasy coach.

Strange proved to us tonight that some players are just built for origin.

The QLD team on paper was a complete shambles, you had blokes playing in positions they dont even play at club level, other blokes not in the best form.... but they turn up, because they are origin type players.

Cleary didnt show shit until QLD were down to 12 men. He hasnt shown shit in most origins. Strange, even when the blues were down, still showed spark on his debut.

Id seriously shake things up.

1. Tedesco
2. To'o or McLean
3. Mitchell
4. Staggs
5. Mclean/Koula
6. Strange
7. Douhei

8. May
9. Brailey
10. Haas
11. Murray
12. Young
13. Yeo

A pack that can each make 30 runs and 60 tackles a game and not break a sweat. If three of these blokes take runs back to back, there is NO way that the blues dont make metres moving forward.

Braileys job is simple, go through the motions, feed the ball and wait for his moment. The edges then receive the ball on the back of momentum.

Then around 25 mins, take the workers off and bring on the impact in Hamole and Radley. Radley can give Terrell a spell. Hamole on for Murray.

Imagine the game slowing a bit, Radley has a quick play the ball and it shifts to one side:

-Douhei, Hamole (fresh), Staggs and To'o/McLean.

OR

- Strange, Young, Mitchell and Koula/McLean.

Teddy sniffing around both sides.

If Ponga wasnt sent off - nsw fans would be calling for daley to be sacked.

Strange and Douhei are big and strong ball runners - something Cleary is not.

Moses and Cleary can jog on, they've had their chances.

Edit - i am aware this is fantasy, but the team needs to land somewhere in the middle. If they try the same shit in game 2 qld will romp them.

First of all…getting rid of Cleary when he is fit is madness but we’ll move past that as I am well aware that for some really crazy reason, NSW fans hate him. Replacing hm with Doueihi rather than Moses is beyond the pale. That is an infinitely weaker side.

May is a stat padder. That works well most of the time at NRL level, but Origin needs more. He would disappear like Woods used to. Brailey will struggle at this stage. Perfect late sub as was Maclean. I’d leave them be.

NSW would be crazy to make changes. They hold on to the ball last night and QLD do not go up 20 blot.

 

[innsaneink]

If Koula didn't go for the hero play and stepped inside to avoid the sideline, KP wouldn't have been sent off and QLD would have won

So its Koulas fault?
Maybe if KP wrapped his arms he wouldnt have been sent...rightly or wrongly....as for what happens next no one will ever know