Tuesday 17 May 2011

Queensland Maroons State of Origin Team - Game 1, 2011 (Named May 17)

STATE OF ORIGIN 2011
QUEENSLAND TEAM GAME ONE
GAME TWO TEAMS HERE
ORIGIN BLOG | Edition 1 May 17 | Edition 2 May 18 |

Right Click + Save Target As - above picture to
download this week's Podcast as an MP3
NOT The Footy Show State of Origin Game 1 Preview 
Podcast Released May 24



 THE GAME ONE VIDEO PREVIEW 
VIDEO PREVIEW filmed Friday May 20 for Wednesday's Game on May 25, 2011
Queensland Maroons State of Origin Team Game 1
Queensland Named an 18 Man Squad on Tuesday to much fan fare in Brisbane.
GAME ONE, 2011
FULLBACK: Billy SLATER (Storm)
WINGER: Darius BOYD (Dragons)
CENTRE: Dane NIELSEN (Storm)
CENTRE: Willie TONGA (Cowboys)
WINGER: Jharal Yow Yeh (Broncos)
FIVE-EIGHTH: Darren LOCKYER (Broncos)
HALFBACK: Johnathan THURSTON (Cowboys)
PROP: Matthew SCOTT (Cowboys)
HOOKER: Cameron SMITH (Storm)
PROP: Petero CIVONICEVA (Panthers)
SECOND ROW: Nate MYLES (Roosters)
SECOND ROW: Sam THAIDAY (Broncos)
LOCK: Ashley HARRISON (Titans)
BENCH: Cooper CRONK (Storm)
BENCH: Corey PARKER (Broncos)
BENCH: Jacob LILLYMAN (Warriors)
BENCH: Ben HANNANT (Broncos)
18th MAN: Dave TAYLOR (Rabbitohs)
COACH: Mal MENINGA
FIRST THOUGHTS 1:15pm May 17:
No Greg Inglis or Justin Hodges - huge omissions for the Maroons.
Inglis was ruled out with a hip injury by his club doctor and Hodges tore his troublesome hammy on Friday Night - they have been replaced by veteran Willie Tonga and rookie Dane Nielsen from the Melbourne Storm.
Billy Slater is the fullback and Queensland made room for another gun #1 with Darius Boyd on the wing. Australian débutant Jharal Yow Yeh was also selected on the right wing.
Darren Lockyer is the five-eighth and skipper for his final Origin Series and is partnered in the halves by Johnathan Thurston who has been in wonderful form this year to lead the @NRLTweet Player of the Year Award by quite a margin after 10 rounds.
Ashley Harrison has quite rightly held the lock forward spot ahead of Dallas Johnson and Sam Thaiday and Nate Myles (or Nate MILES as this photo from the official team unveiling suggests) are in the second row.
Matthew Scott and Petero Civoniceva are easy choices to start in the front row with David Shillington unavailable through injury.
Cameron Smith is the hooker - no shocks there.
The bench is interesting however. Cooper Cronk keeps his utility spot ahead of Matthew Bowen and Ben Barba, but Corey Parker, Jacob Lillyman and Ben Hannant have pushed past 18th Man Dave Taylor and the omitted Neville Costigan to make the bench. Both Taylor and Costigan were on the bench for Queensland in last year's series.
So the sum up the Big SNUBS are: Taylor, Costigan and possibly Johnson. But in truth Queensland were pretty set coming into the naming of the team - only the bolter Dane Nielsen is a shock and when you consider how little there was to pick at centre for Queensland behind Inglis, Hodges and Tonga - no other player can feel hard done by missing out.
What are your thoughts on the QLD Side for Game One? 
Type them in the Comments below.
Make sure you get your Footy Fix every week with NOT The Footy Show's Podcasts and Videos.
C'MON NEW SOUTH WALES - IT'S ABOUT TIME WE BEAT THOSE ANNOYING CANE TOADS!!!