Your early 2025 SOO teams

[Moedogg]

1. Edwards
2. Lomax
3. Critta
4. Mitchell
5. To'o
6. Luai
7. Cleary
8. Haas
9. Robson
10.Barnett
11. Angus
12. Martin
13. Yeo

14. Watson
15. Leniu
16. King
17. Olokoatu

NSW are a bit thin on props. I can't see plodder Jurbo being picked at starting prop again. Max King is my bolter for NSW. Mitchell is a proven big game player and most definitely will be picked when he returns. In fact most of the players that I have picked are proven big game players except Olokoatu who hasn't shown much on the big stage but is in good form.

QLD

1. Ponga
2. Coates
3. Howarth
4. Gagai
5. Cobbo
6. Munster
7.DCE
8. Tino
9. Grant
10.Collins
11. Cotter
12. Loiero
13. Carrigan

14. Hunt
15. Gilbert
16. Horsburgh
17. Capewell

For QLD, Nanai and Fifita are out of form, Loiero from the Storm to make his debut as well as Howarth in the centres.

 

[Freakzilla]

01. Dylan Edwards
02. Zac Lomax
03. Stephen Crichton
04. Latrell Mitchell
05. Brian To'o
06. Nathan Cleary
07. Mitchell Moses
08. Mitchell Barnett
09. Reece Robson
10. Payne Haas
11. Liam Martin
12. Angus Crichton
13. Isaah Yeo

14. Conor Watson
15. Haumole Olakau'atu
16. Keaon Koloamatangi
17. Spencer Leniu

18. Ryan Papenhuyzen

01. Kalyn Ponga
02. Selwyn Cobbo
03. Valentine Holmes
04. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
05. Xavier Coates
06. Cameron Munster
07. Daly Cherry-Evans
08. Moeaki Fotuaika
09. Harry Grant
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. Reuben Cotter
12. Beau Fermor
13. Patrick Carrigan

14. Tom Dearden
15. Jeremiah Nanai
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Lindsay Collins

18. Kurt Mann

 

[Brendan7]

1. Edwards
2. Lomax
3. Critta
4. Mitchell
5. To'o
6. Luai
7. Cleary
8. Haas
9. Robson
10.Barnett
11. Angus
12. Martin
13. Yeo

14. Watson
15. Leniu
16. King
17. Olokoatu

NSW are a bit thin on props. I can't see plodder Jurbo being picked at starting prop again. Max King is my bolter for NSW. Mitchell is a proven big game player and most definitely will be picked when he returns. In fact most of the players that I have picked are proven big game players except Olokoatu who hasn't shown much on the big stage but is in good form.

QLD

1. Ponga
2. Coates
3. Howarth
4. Gagai
5. Cobbo
6. Munster
7.DCE
8. Tino
9. Grant
10.Collins
11. Cotter
12. Loiero
13. Carrigan

14. Hunt
15. Gilbert
16. Horsburgh
17. Capewell

For QLD, Nanai and Fifita are out of form, Loiero from the Storm to make his debut as well as Howarth in the centres.

I can't see QLD going in with a second string goalkicker as their no1 option that's beyond asking for trouble. I know Ponga is decent, but I'd actually take Holmes still, I know he'll make 4 into 6 most times, Origin games are always tight. I'd still gamble on Fifita on the bench over Capewell I know Kurt will do a job, that's about it though. I'd start Gilbert but that's whatever to be honest.

Really wish Sam Walker was available as I'd have made the change if he was to be honest.

 

[Raysie]

Based on recent Origin form and better run of injuries, I'd have Best over Latrell and Turbo.

 

[Brendan7]

Plenty of time between now & Origin for players to get into form or out of form.

Tommy T probably belongs somewhere in the backline but I don't know where right now.

01. Dylan Edwards
02. Zac Lomax
03. Stephen Crichton
04. Latrell Mitchell
05. Brian To'o
06. Nathan Cleary
07. Mitchell Moses
08. Terrell May
09. Reece Robson
10. Payne Haas
11. Liam Martin
12. Angus Crichton
13. Isaah Yeo

14. Jarome Luai
15. Haumole Olakau'atu
16. Mitchell Barnett
17. Spencer Leniu

01. Kalyn Ponga
02. Selwyn Cobbo
03. Jack Howarth
04. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
05. Xavier Coates
06. Cameron Munster
07. Daly Cherry-Evans
08. Patrick Carrigan
09. Harry Grant
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. Reuben Cotter
12. Beau Fermor
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Max Plath
15. David Fifita
16. Lindsay Collins
17. Moeaki Fotuaika

Good effort mate, think that's closer to what QLD pick, though Holmes plays for mine, it's a typical QLD selection. Can't see Plath getting picked yet, good shout though, maybe next year or the year after, Hunt still covers way more positions and backline coverage, there's no one on that bench that covers backs at all.

 

[Brendan7]

Based on recent Origin form and better run of injuries, I'd have Best over Latrell and Turbo.

QLD are celebrating if NSW are stupid to not pick Trell. Give you a hint they won't be stupid. Best is Kmart Trell. QLD would bite your hand off and say 'thank you very much'. Trell is a matchwinner at SOO level.

 

[Raysie]

QLD are celebrating if NSW are stupid to not pick Trell. Give you a hint they won't be stupid. Best is Kmart Trell. QLD would bite your hand off and say 'thank you very much'. Trell is a matchwinner at SOO level.

Best is 2/2 and scored 3 tries in those 2 games. Kmart Trell goes alright.

 

[Brendan7]

Best is 2/2 and scored 3 tries in those 2 games. Kmart Trell goes alright.

He goes fine, and he's a good backup. He's not Latrell Mitchell. Go on pick Best, he's fine if Mitchell is out or Crighton but he's not starting over them or Turbo for that matter. It will be 2 out of those 3, although I'd personally pick Turbo at FB if he's fit, they won't though, maybe he's on the wing, you don't need a GK if Cleary is there,

 

[Freakzilla]

Based on recent Origin form and better run of injuries, I'd have Best over Latrell and Turbo.

Latrell is literally the best Blues Origin player since Joey.

 

[Brendan7]

Latrell is literally the best Blues Origin player since Joey.

Yep and delivers every single time brings his winger into the game (likely To'to). As good as Best is, setting up other blokes isn't what he's known for.

What will be interesting is if Turbo is fit NSW would want him there but he's not playing centre over Trell/Crighton. It's been a while since he's played wing and Lomax was fantastic last year, Edwards was outstanding last year too. Going to be an unlucky player so we better hope Daley isn't like Freddy picking Queen Useless Gutho on the bench for goodness knows why.

Tell you what and I know they won't but I'd pick Wishart over Watson personally

 

[chemdog]

I'd have turbo at fullback instead of Edwards
luai will most likely be the 6 for game 1
latrell and critta centers

 

[Brendan7]

I'd have turbo at fullback instead of Edwards
luai will most likely be the 6 for game 1
latrell and critta centers

Yep I agree but I doubt they drop Edwards who was outstanding last year, you know what you get with him a 8 to 8.5/10 every game.

Be interesting to see what they do with the 5/8, is Galvin too much of a punt? He's the long term 6, and I actually hate this idea of Moses/Cleary anyway, two dominating 7's in the halves? This is just asking to fail. It is a shame Burton is injured as he'd have been a huge shot.

 

[chemdog]

Yep I agree but I doubt they drop Edwards who was outstanding last year, you know what you get with him a 8 to 8.5/10 every game.

Be interesting to see what they do with the 5/8, is Galvin too much of a punt? He's the long term 6, and I actually hate this idea of Moses/Cleary anyway, two dominating 7's in the halves? This is just asking to fail. It is a shame Burton is injured as he'd have been a huge shot.

Galvin isn't ready for Origin yet, would wait another year or 2, luai is pretty much the perfect 6 atm for the Blues.

other options for 6 is trindal or metcalf though I wouldn't be choosing them over luai

 

[LucasFitzo]

1. Turbo
2. Lomax
3. Critta
4. Mitchell
5. To'o
6. Moses
7. Cleary
8. Haas
9. Robson
10. May
11. Angus
12. Martin
13. Yeo

14. Burto/Watson
15. Leniu
16. Olakau'atu
17. Barnett

18.Burto/Watson

 

[Moedogg]

I can't see QLD going in with a second string goalkicker as their no1 option that's beyond asking for trouble. I know Ponga is decent, but I'd actually take Holmes still, I know he'll make 4 into 6 most times, Origin games are always tight. I'd still gamble on Fifita on the bench over Capewell I know Kurt will do a job, that's about it though. I'd start Gilbert but that's whatever to be honest.

Really wish Sam Walker was available as I'd have made the change if he was to be honest.

QLD don't have anyone to cover for the backs, that's why I picked Capewell with Ponga being promoted from the bench to starting FB.

 

[Freakzilla]

Galvin isn't ready for Origin yet, would wait another year or 2, luai is pretty much the perfect 6 atm for the Blues.

other options for 6 is trindal or metcalf though I wouldn't be choosing them over luai

If Moses is fit he should be the 7.

 

[chemdog]

If Moses is fit he should be the 7.

don't think he will be for game 1 but should be in the halves come game 2 and 3

 

[Ladiesman217]

1. Papenhuyzen*
2. Trbojevic*
3. Mitchell
4. S Crichton
5. To'o
6. Moses*
7. Cleary
8. May*
9. Koroisau*
10. Haas
11. Martin
12. Olakauatu*
13. Yeo
INTERCHANGE
14. Luai
15. Lenui
16. King
17. Crichton

 

[EHBulldog]

I don't think Gilbert makes the QLD team the way he's playing this year.

I probably wouldn't change much from the NSW winning team. I'd even be tempted to stick with Moses, as good as Nathan is.. Moses's pace is a real weapon at the back end.

 

[Isaac]

I wouldn't be surprised of Jacob Preston gets a nod in origin.