STATE OF ORIGIN 2012
CONTENDERS FOR SELECTION
By W D Nicolson, April 30, 2012
Time to break down the real contenders for State of Origin spots with Game One to be played in Melbourne on May 23.
Check out our Quick Hit Positional Analysis for the Official Game 1 NSW Team right here.
NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES - Official Game 1 Squad - likely starting team below.
B Stewart, J Hayne, M Jennings, J Morris, A Uate, T Carney, M Pearce, J Tamou, R Farah, P Gallen (c), G Bird, L Lewis, G Stewart.
Bench: J Buhrer, B Creagh, T Merrin, T Williams.
Check out our Quick Hit Positional Analysis for the Official Game 1 QLD Team right here.
QUEENSLAND MAROONS - Official Game 1 Team.
B Slater, D Boyd, G Inglis, J Hodges, B Tate, J Thurston, C Cronk, M Scott, C Smith (c), P Civoniceva, N Myles, S Thaiday, A Harrison.
Bench: M Gillett, D Shillington, B Hannant, D Taylor. D Cherry-Evans/D Nielsen (18th/19th men).
NSW AND QLD PREDICTED SELECTIONS UPDATED on May 13
NSW: J Dugan/B Stewart, J Hayne/B Morris, M Jennings/J Hayne, C Lawrence, A Uate, T Carney, M Pearce, J Tamou, R Farah, P Gallen (c), L Lewis, G Bird, G Stewart.
Bench: R Hinchcliffe, T Sims, A Watmough/B Creagh, T Williams. A Woods/T Mannah (18th man)
Missed: Lawrence, Sims and Hinchcliffe. Dugan/Stewart and Watmough/Creagh was a toss up, Josh Morris and Trent Merrin force their way in and somehow so did Jamie Buhrer.
QLD: B Slater, D Boyd, G Inglis, J Hodges, B Tate, J Thurston, C Cronk, M Scott, C Smith (c), P Civoniceva, N Myles, S Thaiday, A Harrison.
Bench: M Gillett, D Shillington, B Hannant, D Taylor. D Cherry-Evans/C Parker (18th man).
Missed: None - DING DING DING DING!
All players listed are generally considered healthy - an * indicates that they picked up an injury in Round 8, 9 or 10 and may be in serious doubt for Game One.
Given the amount of injuries that were picked up in the final game of Round 8 (Newcastle v Penrith) - the NSW side in particular might undergo some drastic changes by the time Ricky Stuart picks his Blues 17 for Game One. As for QLD - you know about 14 of the 17 are locked in, but there's still a couple of spots open for discussion.
If you've got a view - let us know in the comments below or via @NRLTweet
Check out our Quick Hit Positional Analysis for the Official Game 1 NSW Team right here.
NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES - Official Game 1 Squad - likely starting team below.B Stewart, J Hayne, M Jennings, J Morris, A Uate, T Carney, M Pearce, J Tamou, R Farah, P Gallen (c), G Bird, L Lewis, G Stewart.
Bench: J Buhrer, B Creagh, T Merrin, T Williams.
Check out our Quick Hit Positional Analysis for the Official Game 1 QLD Team right here.
B Slater, D Boyd, G Inglis, J Hodges, B Tate, J Thurston, C Cronk, M Scott, C Smith (c), P Civoniceva, N Myles, S Thaiday, A Harrison.
Bench: M Gillett, D Shillington, B Hannant, D Taylor. D Cherry-Evans/D Nielsen (18th/19th men).
NSW AND QLD PREDICTED SELECTIONS UPDATED on May 13
NSW: J Dugan/B Stewart, J Hayne/B Morris, M Jennings/J Hayne, C Lawrence, A Uate, T Carney, M Pearce, J Tamou, R Farah, P Gallen (c), L Lewis, G Bird, G Stewart.Bench: R Hinchcliffe, T Sims, A Watmough/B Creagh, T Williams. A Woods/T Mannah (18th man)
Missed: Lawrence, Sims and Hinchcliffe. Dugan/Stewart and Watmough/Creagh was a toss up, Josh Morris and Trent Merrin force their way in and somehow so did Jamie Buhrer.
QLD: B Slater, D Boyd, G Inglis, J Hodges, B Tate, J Thurston, C Cronk, M Scott, C Smith (c), P Civoniceva, N Myles, S Thaiday, A Harrison.Bench: M Gillett, D Shillington, B Hannant, D Taylor. D Cherry-Evans/C Parker (18th man).
Missed: None - DING DING DING DING!
If you've got a view - let us know in the comments below or via @NRLTweet
BACKSFavourite: Josh Dugan.
Contenders: Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne, Anthony Minichiello, Kurt Gidley*.
Survey Says: This is Dugan's job if he can get through the next couple of weeks injury free. Ricky Stuart hitched his wagon to the Canberra fullback last year and although Minichiello did a decent job he won't be called on this year. Stewart's knees are dodgy and Gidley (if fit) is only being considered for a utility role. That leaves Hayne as option two on the depth chart.
Update after Round 9: Stewart is ahead according to the Telegraph but Dugan has proved his fitness with two good weeks back. Hard to tell what Stuart is thinking given he hasn't publicly supported Dugan since he returned.
Update after Round 9: Stewart is ahead according to the Telegraph but Dugan has proved his fitness with two good weeks back. Hard to tell what Stuart is thinking given he hasn't publicly supported Dugan since he returned.
Favourite: Billy Slater.
Contenders: Greg Inglis, Darius Boyd, Matthew Bowen, Ben Barba.
Survey Says: Slater will be the fullback, Inglis will be in the centres and Boyd on the wing. Bowen and Barba's only hope of a run is on the bench.
Update after Round 9: Slater is the goods clearly, but gee can't Inglis play?
Update after Round 9: Slater is the goods clearly, but gee can't Inglis play?
