State of Origin preview

The Blues will be strong defensively and can clearly win this game in the final 20 minutes as they have an outstanding spine in Hayne, Barrett, Pearce and Ennis, who will be looking to exploit their left with the Dragon combination of Creagh, Cooper and try scoring freak Brett Morris. They will think they are a chance against Willie Tonga, who normally plays on the other side, and big Izzy Folau who is often caught out with his lateral defence. For this to work Pearce and Barrett will have to combine well and they only met for the first time last week and have had an interrupted preparation as Mrs Barrett dropped a future number 6 last Friday. It will be interesting to see how Barrett handles the calls as he will have to be a “part time” Dragon again.
As good as the Blues spine is, and it is vastly superior to game one, it is still not as good as the Maroons who boast arguably the best spine in the history of the game.

I cannot recall ever rating any spine with a rating of 36 out of a possible 40 points, and that is discounting Greg Inglis.

Billy Slater (9)  Will be remembered alongside of Clive Churchill and Graeme Langlands.
Darren Lockyer (9) Peak rating has been 9.5 and he is a genuine “Living Legend”.
Jonathan Thurston (9.5) Could be the second best halfback ever behind Andrew Johns, and the best player in the world at present.
Cam Smith (9.5) The best hooker of all time and regarded by Craig Bellamy as the best player he has coached.

The Maroons have three tactical kickers including the advantage of Lockyer (having his last rep game in Bris) and Smith who kick left footed, and along with Thurston, will be looking to pin Hayne into his right corner pocket to minimize his left step.

(PLAYER RATING OUT OF 10)
QUEENSLAND
1. Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm) 9
2. Darius Boyd (St George Illawarra Dragons) 7
3. Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm) 9
4. Willie Tonga (North Queensland Cowboys) 7
5. Israel Folau (Brisbane Broncos) 8
6. Darren Lockyer (c) (Brisbane Broncos) 9
7. Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys) 9.5
8. Matthew Scott (North Queensland Cowboys) 6.5
9. Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm) 9.5
10. Dave Shillington (Canberra Raiders) 7
11. Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters) 8
12. Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos) 8
13. Ashley Harrison (Gold Coast Titans) 6.5
14. Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm) 7.5
15. Ben Hannant (Canterbury Bulldogs) 7.5
16. Neville Costigan (St George Illawarra Dragons) 7
17. Dave Taylor (South Sydney Rabbitohs) 7.5
NSW RATING 1 – 13     =    104
BENCH                            =    29.5
TOTAL                              =    133.5

NEW SOUTH WALES
1. Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels) 8.5
2. Brett Morris (St George Illawarra Dragons) 8.5
3. Matt Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons) 7
4. Beau Scott (St George Illawarra Dragons) 6.5
5. Joel Monaghan (Canberra Raiders) 7
6. Trent Barrett (vc) (Cronulla Sharks) 7.5
7. Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters) 8
8. Michael Weyman (St George Illawarra Dragons) 7
9. Michael Ennis (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) 7
10. Brett White (Melbourne Storm) 6
11. Trent Waterhouse (Penrith Panthers) 6.5
12. Ben Creagh (St George Illawarra Dragons) 8
13 Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks) 8.5
14. Kurt Gidley © (Newcastle Knights) 7
15. Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta Eels) 7
16. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Canberra Raiders) 6.5
17. Luke O’Donnell (Nth Qld Cowboys) 7
NSW RATING 1 – 13     =    96
BENCH                            =    27.5
TOTAL                              =    123.5

Note: Gidley, Hindmarsh and O’Donnell are not considered as an impact bench player.

It is certainly a good feeling to have a live series ticket on the Maroons at $1.90 when they are now $1.18.Members are advised that there is no right or wrong here in what to do. Clearly you can back NSW now at $4.75 to save your initial 5 unit stake or even hedge so you are in a win/win position.
It is always ideal to have these options, but the other argument is that you have just backed a $1.18 chance at $1.90 and if you continue to get huge “overs” like simple math will dictate that you will have a very big 12 months. In other words, you have got great value so stick solid and cheer the Maroons.

Subscribers enjoyed two winners from two bets (Warriors and Broncos) over the weekend and if you’d like to join our NRL package for the rest of the season you will also get a free $200 bet as a special bonus.

Compiled by our NRL Analyst Scott Woodward.

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