STATE OF ORIGIN 2012
OFFICIAL GAME 3 ORIGIN TEAMS
By W D Nicolson, June 26, 2012
Glenn Stewart is out for NSW, replaced in the starting team by either Beau Scott or Ben Creagh. Trent Merrin has already been cut.
Billy Slater is out for QLD, Greg Inglis to fullback and Dane Nielsen into the centres. Dave Taylor has been cut and Ben Te'o is on the bench. Matt Bowen is 18th man.
INITIAL TEAM NEWS 26/6
NSW Coach Ricky Stuart has made one unforced change to the Blues heading the deciding Game 3 of the 2012 State of Origin Series v Queensland. Akuila Uate has been dropped, with Brett Morris returning to the team he himself was dropped from last year. Also with Glenn Stewart and Greg Bird under injury clouds, Tony Williams and Beau Scott have been added in a 19 man squad.
Queensland Coach Mal Meninga has made one forced change with Ashley Harrison ruled out with a broken toe. Ben Te'o replaces him in the squad, while Billy Slater has been named despite a knee injury he suffered in Game 2.
To be played on Wednesday July 4 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane with kickoff at 8:10pm.
PODCAST PREVIEW HERE
OFFICIAL NSW and QLD TEAMS WITH ANALYSIS ARE BELOW
The official NSW Team for Game 3 was named at 5pm Sunday June 24.
- Official Game 3 Squad -
Likely starting team below.
FB: Brett STEWART
WI: Jarryd HAYNE
CE: Michael JENNINGS
CE: Josh MORRIS
WI: Brett MORRIS
FE: Todd CARNEY
HB: Mitchell PEARCE
PR: James TAMOU
HK: Robbie FARAH
PR: Tim GRANT
SR: Beau SCOTT
SR: Greg BIRD
LK: Paul GALLEN (c)
Bench:
Luke LEWIS
Anthony WATMOUGH
Tony WILLIAMS
Ben CREAGH
Trent MERRIN (19th Man)
Coach: Ricky STUART.
QUICK HIT POSITIONAL ANALYSIS:
Glenn Stewart is OUT, so Ricky Stuart must decide if Luke Lewis, Ben Creagh, Anthony Watmough or Beau Scott is his best starting right edge second rower. The decision could shape the outcome of the series because if he gets it wrong - NSW are in all sorts. Tony Williams will play, with Trent Merrin to miss out. Brett Morris is in for Akuila Uate but Stuart is dreaming if he thinks QLD won't just target Morris like they did Uate. Team is good enough to win, now do the players believe it?
The Official QLD team was named at 1:30pm Tuesday June 26.
QUEENSLAND MAROONS
- Official Game 3 Squad -
Likely starting team below.
FB: Greg INGLIS
WI: Darius BOYD
CE: Dane NIELSEN
CE: Justin HODGES
WI: Brent TATE
FE: Johnathan THURSTON
HB: Cooper CRONK
PR: Matthew SCOTT
HK: Cameron SMITH (c)
PR: Petero CIVONICEVA
SR: Nate MYLES
SR: Sam THAIDAY
LK: Corey PARKER
Bench:
Matt GILLETT
Ben TE'O
Ben HANNANT
David SHILLINGTON
Matthew BOWEN (18th Man)
Dave TAYLOR (19th Man)
Coach: Mal MENINGA.
QUICK HIT POSITIONAL ANALYSIS:
No Ben Barba which makes a lot of NSW fans happy... but even Matt Bowen who was picked ahead of Barba as cover for Billy Slater (who was then ruled out) didn't make the final team, with Dane Nielsen coming in. Ben Te'o has ridiculously replaced Dave Taylor and it doesn't make a lot of sense given he's a liability defensively. Dane Nielsen will play now Slater is out and Greg Inglis is picked at fullback. Now Slater and Taylor are out and Darren Lockyer retired, QLD look rattled for the first time in a few years... Ben Te'o? Please!
If you've got a view - let us know in the comments below or via @NRLTweet
NOT The Footy Show dissected both teams on Episode 113 Podcasted on Wednesday June 27.
