State of Origin 2025

Equaliser said:

NSW by 20
MoM - Haas
FTS - Lomax

QLD just don't have a halfback. Forwards also lacking depth.

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Phins Phan said:

DCE is a pretty good half-back - maybe they should give him a run

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Red said:

I'm really surprised by Hammer being selected to play fullback. I think he's one of the best centres in the competition but don't really rate him very highly as a fullback.

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Red said:

I'm really surprised by Hammer being selected to play fullback. I think he's one of the best centres in the competition but don't really rate him very highly as a fullback.

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Equaliser said:

I think Walsh is injured. Apart from Ponga and Walsh, who else will play fullback?

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Dolph said:

Walsh is 18th man.

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257Matt said:

They’re all essentially saying you can’t get through 18 but what a luxury if we need you for 20. In a backhanded way it’s good for his long term welfare as it gives him a much needed week off need them after return from knee injuries and we know Maguire runs injured players into the ground.

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Red said:

It's good for the Broncos. Not so much for QLD. Shibasaki has been good for the Broncos this year but honestly, is he good enough for Origin? I don't think so. Hammer should have been in the backline and Walsh fullback.

On a brighter note, NSW also have politics trumping form players by picking Utoikamanu and to a lesser extent, King over Koloamatangi who has been outperforming even Haas since he was moved to prop. Utoikamanu is so overrated. One of the few recruitment mistakes Bellamy makes. He runs too upright and keeps getting driven back.

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257Matt said:

Walsh having a week off is good for his long term not so good for Broncos or Queensland short term though. Broncos having a cry because they have 3 injuries and 4 origin players this week welcome to the Dolphins world and it's only for 1 week.

Stefano is a crazy selection he's added nothing to Melbourne and has proven when the going gets tough he doesn't dig in he hides one of the all time myths. King was very effective off the bench in game 1 and his form for the Bulldogs been outstanding this year he was immense on Thursday night last week. King is a typical Queensland selection and the first time NSW has picked a real worker, humble, no frills type of player.

I made a comment on another page that if Katoa and Donoghoe were Queensland eligible Slater would have had them in the squad. NSW are all tip toeing around Katoa scared to acknowledge he's now the real deal. I called for both to be in the NSW 18 last weekend but I can understand why Kiraz is the 18th although it could backfire if To'o passes his fitness test.

Just on Katoa and maybe better said in the game day thread and I'll put it there too watch how he exposes Campbell Graham in defence a player generally regarded as the second best defensive centre in the game and Katoa just makes him look foolish.

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Equaliser said:

If Katoa was eligible for QLD he'd be in for sure. He's behind 2 absolute gun halfbacks for NSW but is 3rd in line and he's only 21.

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257Matt said:

Correct. There's a bit of doubt over Luai and Cleary and if they were to withdraw I'm pretty certain they won't call up Katoa whereas Queensland wouldn't hesitate.

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Chris said:

If Cleary pulls out, Katoa will almost certainly be called up. That's why he's in the extended squad.

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257Matt said:

That extended squad has Brian Kelly, Teeg Wilton and Jack Williams to be in that group is actually an insult. They had Adam Doueihi in that recently and he got pumped at training by his own club coach who wasn't a noted defender even in his prime.

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