Official Official Origin Game 3 Teams and Discussion

[Freakzilla]

State of Origin Game 3
Weds 10th July 8:10PM
BROADCAST: Ch9 / 9now.com.au streaming

QLD TEAM:

01. Cameron Munster
02. Corey Oates
14. Moses Mbye
04. Will Chambers
05. Dane Gagai
06. Corey Norman
07. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
08. Joe Ofahengaue
09. Ben Hunt
10. Josh Papalii
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Ethan Lowe
13. Josh McGuire

03. Michael Morgan
15. Christian Welch
16. Tim Glasby
17. David Fifita


NSW TEAM:

01 James Tedesco
02 Blake Ferguson
03 Tom Trbojevic
04 Jack Wighton
05 Josh Addo-Carr
06 James Maloney
07 Mitchell Pearce
08 Daniel Saifiti
09 Damien Cook
15 David Klemmer
11 Boyd Cordner (c)
12 Tyson Frizell
13 Jake Trbojevic

10 Paul Vaughan
14 Dale Finucane
16 Cameron Murray
17 Wade Graham

 

[berries67]

If Nathan Cleary isn't ready in time for State Of Origin 3 there is talk of the possibility of Mitchell Pearce as a replacement. Is Pearce the best option? In my opinion, no. He had several years as NSW half back and, even though up against the best Queensland teams, wasn't able to get the wins when needed. So many times poor options where taken and games that seemed winnable slipped away. If selected, is this going to play on his mind and adversely effect his game. How would it effect other players in the team? How would it effect their confidence in him? Maloney got NSW the win in origin 2 and deserves the role of dominant half. Would Pearce be able to fit in with this scenario? The talk before Origin 2 and Maloney was selected was that Pearce wanted to control the team. Pearce had some good games with the Knights before Origin 1, but since then his form has slipped. In his last game NRL Fantasy Coach lists him with 7 missed tackles. Pearce can be a very good player at times. He won one Premiership with the Roosters and played with Maloney there. However, so many times he seems to struggle in the big occasions. Wasn't this a major reason the Roosters bought Cooper Cronk?

Who are the alternatives? - Wade Graham did a good job when Cleary came off in Origin 2. Jack Wighton plays in the halves at the Raiders but only this season from my limited knowledge. He has potential but at present seems likely to come up with an error at a crucial time. Chad Townsend from the Sharks has played with Maloney and won a premiership with him. He always seems very calm and composed.

If Cleary can't play it will be very interesting to see who the selectors come up with as his replacement. It will also be crucial to NSW's chances of success in Origin 3. Lets hope Cleary is able to play or if not the selectors get it right with a replacement.

 

[Boxer]

If Pearce plays we lose.

 

[The_Chimpster]

State of origin and Mitchell pierce should never ever go in the same sentence again.


End of story

 

[Raysie]

I believe Pearce was always one of our best in those tough years. He was just an easy scape goat, which as a Halfback is fair enough.

In saying the above, I do believe NSW has to move on. Graham did a great job in the 5/8 role in Game II and Maloney seems to play his best when he's in charge.

 

[BankstownBulldog]

Pearce has been the form half of this years competition and streets ahead of Nathan Cleary.
A Pearce and Maloney combination would be dominant.
Joey Johns himself would not of won a series against the dominance of Queensland on his own so I don’t blame Pearce for that.
He has matured as a player and would compliment Maloney well.
Wade Graham is too valuable as a bench player.

 

[Wahesh]

Pearce has been the form half of this years competition and streets ahead of Nathan Cleary.
A Pearce and Maloney combination would be dominant.
Joey Johns himself would not of won a series against the dominance of Queensland on his own so I don’t blame Pearce for that.
He has matured as a player and would compliment Maloney well.
Wade Graham is too valuable as a bench player.

I dispute that. The Blues came so close on many occasions against the dominance of QLD. In 8 of those series, Mitchell Pearce played halfback in 4 of them. If it was a Joey-Johns-Like halfback playing, we would've won a few.

Cleary should be picked because of his form with Maloney - plane and simple.

 

[B-Train]

Pearce clearly doesn't want to play Origin anymore. He was essentially picked for games one and two but he declined because he had minor injuries which didn't prevent him from playing for Newcastle and any other would have played through if selected.

He obviously can't handle the scrutiny and pressure and doesn't want to deal with the backlash anymore.

 

[Wahesh]

Pearce clearly doesn't want to play Origin anymore. He was essentially picked for games one and two but he declined because he had minor injuries which didn't prevent him from playing for Newcastle and any other would have played through if selected.

He obviously can't handle the scrutiny and pressure and doesn't want to deal with the backlash anymore.

Sauce?

 

[COVENS]

I dispute that. The Blues came so close on many occasions against the dominance of QLD. In 8 of those series, Mitchell Pearce played halfback in 4 of them. If it was a Joey-Johns-Like halfback playing, we would've won a few.

Cleary should be picked because of his form with Maloney - plane and simple.

100% The whole blame can't and shouldn't be laid at Pearce's feet but the amount of times he came up with a dumb play can be - some players skills just don't convert to Origin.

I guess people expect Cleary to come out and break the game open... He's not that guy, but he is a high 80% goal kicker, potentially one of the better general play kickers and a strong defender. If he works on his playmaking and continue improving he could be our long term 7.

 

[Wahesh]

100% The whole blame can't and shouldn't be laid at Pearce's feet but the amount of times he came up with a dumb play can be - some players skills just don't convert to Origin.

I guess people expect Cleary to come out and break the game open... He's not that guy, but he is a high 80% goal kicker, potentially one of the better general play kickers and a strong defender. If he works on his playmaking and continue improving he could be our long term 7.

I also think a lot of people expected him to be a player like his father - they are nothing alike (acknowledging that Wayne was a lock).

 

[B-Train]

Sauce?

When Keary was ruled out for game one, Pearce was next in line. He said he couldn't play so they picked Walker. Same with gane two, they were going to pick Pearce but he pulled out so they picked Maloney. It was widely reported both times and Fittler confirmed as much.

 

[BankstownBulldog]

I dispute that. The Blues came so close on many occasions against the dominance of QLD. In 8 of those series, Mitchell Pearce played halfback in 4 of them. If it was a Joey-Johns-Like halfback playing, we would've won a few.

Cleary should be picked because of his form with Maloney - plane and simple.

For starters the OP was running with the scenario that Cleary wasn’t ready for game 3.
For what it’s worth if Cleary is in fact good to go then I would stick with him too.

Regarding your Joey Johns claim I think you are being a little optimistic there.
Out of 4 series of Mitchel Pearce playing halfback I don’t think one player would make such a difference as to entirely switch the series result on a few occasions.

 

[beastwood89]

Queensland squad for Origin III

Will Chambers, Daly Cherry-Evans (c), David Fifita, Dane Gagai, Matt Gillett, Tim Glasby, Ben Hunt, Felise Kaufusi, Moses Mbye, Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan,
Cameron Munster, Corey Norman, Corey Oates, Joe Ofahengaue, Josh Papalii, Christian Welch

 

[Alex Hunter]

Why would they pick DCE on the wing???

 

[Nexus]

Why would they pick DCE on the wing???

The names are in alphabetical order. They havent actually named a starting line up etc

 

[Wahesh]

For starters the OP was running with the scenario that Cleary wasn’t ready for game 3.
For what it’s worth if Cleary is in fact good to go then I would stick with him too.

Regarding your Joey Johns claim I think you are being a little optimistic there.
Out of 4 series of Mitchel Pearce playing halfback I don’t think one player would make such a difference as to entirely switch the series result on a few occasions.

Well the thing is that Pearce never was an Origin-type player. We gave him a few goes and lost every series. Then 2014 comes, we replace the halves and put a different pair in (Reynolds and Hokko) and bang! We win. Pearce returns in 2015… and we lose again!

 

[Haddaway]

Their forward pack sucks. It they can't get wrestlemania, they are in for another pumping LOL.

 

[B-Train]

If Fittler doesn't pick Klemmer it would be even more proof that all of the coke and pills have rotted his brain.

 

[B-Train]

That Queensland squad is pretty weak. They were up against it as it was and even more so with Ponga out. I'm glad Welch made it and Ofahengue makes a difference. They miss Arrow a lot though...

Norman will have to have a great debut for them to be any chance. Hunt defending for 80 minutes at hooker again though is a liability.