Queensland 2014 Line-Ups

[Big Pete]

Who would be in your line up?

1. Billy Slater
2. Edrick Lee
3. Brent Tate
4. Greg Inglis
5. Darius Boyd
6. Johnathan Thurston
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Mat Scott
9. Cam Smith
10. Nate Myles
11. Chris McQueen
12. Sam Thaiday
13. Corey Parker

14. Daly Cherry-Evans
15. Ben Hannant
16. Ben Te'o
17. Josh Papalii

The wing spot could have been anybody but I've opted for Lee who seems like a more natural fit than Gagai or other potential options.

Not comfortable with the backrow situation, but can't think of good defensive left fringe player and keeping Thaiday in there for the time being.

Again, not a fan of the utility type role, but fat chance taking it off DCE at this point in time.

 

[Charmamba]

Not sure this early, however I'd move Inglis to the #1 and DCE to the #7. Gillette possibly on the bench form pending and blood a winger who who really kicks on as the season starts.

 

[Alec]

One thing I hate about Mal's loyalty is that he'll likely pick Chris McQueen again. He's not even very good, and him not being able to do anything in attack will just allow NSW to gang up on Inglis once again.

So McQueen out, McGuire in, one of Te'o/Papalii to start. Too bad Papalii plays on the right, but I'd still put him there over McQueen.

 

[Sproj]

McQueen was great for us, Brad Thornesque in a lot of ways.
[MENTION=2299]Charmamba[/MENTION], GREAT picture. Man she is the hottest actress in the world.

 

[Porthoz]

Don't understand what people see in McQueen at this level... With Te'o, Papalii and Gillett available besides Thaiday, Myles and Corey Parker, he shouldn't even be 18th man imo.

 

[Alec]

McQueen was great for us, Brad Thornesque in a lot of ways.
@Charmamba, GREAT picture. Man she is the hottest actress in the world.

His performance was just "solid". But that's if you just look at him, not the side as a whole. He doesn't run good lines and he doesn't promote the ball. He is basically no threat, and the defence has been marking up on Inglis because of it.

Now if you had a strong runner like Te'o or Papalii, if NSW keeps marking up on Inglis, it'll just create big enough holes for these guys to make something of it. Or you pick someone with a passing/offloading game, to try to create room for Inglis. I don't think we have a player like that though (the closest is Papalii, but he's no SBW or Mateo in that area or anything).

 

[Unbreakable]

1. Billy Slater
2. Brent Tate
3. Dane Gagai
4. Greg Inglis
5. Darius Boyd
6. Johnathan Thurston
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Matt Scott
9. Cameron Smith
10. Ben Hannant
11. Nate Myles
12. Sam Thaiday
13. Corey Parker

14. Daly Cherry-Evans
15. Josh Papalii
16. Josh McGuire
17. Ben T'eo

 

[CaptainHook]

Don't understand what people see in McQueen at this level...

I think he played the entire 80 minutes in the decider this year and gets through a tonne of defensive work. A player like that who doesn't need a spell allows Mal more options when using the bench.

Gagai is a must as well, next year. He was outstanding this year for the Knights and would've gained a lot of experience during the finals series. He is ready to take the next step.

 

[Culhwch]

I really hope Josh McGuire gets a run off the bench this year, but I think he'll have to play consistently great to break in. But I think he'd lift at that level and provide some awesome punch off the bench.

 

[Porthoz]

I think he played the entire 80 minutes in the decider this year and gets through a tonne of defensive work. A player like that who doesn't need a spell allows Mal more options when using the bench.

Gagai is a must as well, next year. He was outstanding this year for the Knights and would've gained a lot of experience during the finals series. He is ready to take the next step.

The defensive work load is not the main task from a fringe second rower. We need players capable of worrying the NSWankers on the fringes and McQueen doesn't. Te'o, Papalii and Gillett are all players that will punish you if you don't contain them, and with them in the team/bench alongside Thaiday & Parker, and with Myles in the prop rotation, you have the right balance.

Don't get me wrong, not bagging McQueen at all, just saying that at this level, Qld has better players!

Gagai will undoubtedly come into consideration at some point if he continues to deliver and improve. Moving to the Knights was the best thing that happened to him, but I'd definitely welcome him back to the Broncos, now that he has matured and got his head straight!

 

[Big Pete]

McQueen is like the J. Morris selection for me in that we could do better, but it's hard to think of players right off the top of my head who could do his role. I don't think you can underestimate how vital a defensive workhorse is to the Queensland structure and it has worked wonders for us ever since we began our streak. McQueen wasn't necessarily coming up with the same numbers but he definitely provided the same quality by the second and third game.

Both Papalii and Te'o are noted right fringers and I believe that makes a huge difference.

Gillett can play both but has a different role altogether and he needs to take it up another notch if he wants a starting spot.

On Gagai, the reason I didn't include him is that I don't know if he's a better winger than Edrick Lee. I don't think he's ready for a centre spot either but if an injury does occur he'd definitely be first drop. I'd take him over Chambers who quite frankly is just a solid player, no more, no less. The one thing that concerns me about Dane at this stage is his defence, naturally that should pick up over time but it's definitely something that needs work.

 

[Porthoz]

I'd have Gillett over McQueen every day of the week and twice on Sunday (or Wednesday in this case)...
Same thing goes for Te'o and Papalii even if they are used to play on the right fringe (although both have had stints on the left side as well). As to the defensive workload... pretty sure McQueen's stats weren't that flash, and both Papalii and Gillett actually did more tackles than him, despite playing less minutes.

Can't find the stats at the moment though...

 

[Alec]

I don't think defensive workload really applies to McQueen's games. He played on the edges - it's not like Dallas Johnson, who played in the middle where all the action is.

Agree with the rest of Pete's post though. Edrick Lee is awesome, though he's also a left side player. I think he's good enough to play on the right too though. Gagai is my first choice centre after Hodges and Tate retire. He just needs to work on his defence. I think he's a lot more talented than Chambers, a lot classier in attack, and Chamber's defence is almost just as bad at the moment.

 

[Big Pete]

My point wasn't that they played the exact same role, but Mal has always had at least one player who's a defensive specialist and has made a point of giving JT a minder since Harrison came into the side.

 

[Alec]

Harrison offered a bit more than just defence though...and his defence was better too.

 

[Big Pete]

I'm not arguing that point, just that Mal has opted to go for the defensive left hand specialist and out of those options, I don't think anybody else on the surface would be able to perform as good a job for the reasons given.

 

[Alec]

How about having Parker in the second row, Myles back at lock where he belongs, and McGuire off the bench.

Parker's superb offloading could go really well with Inglis and Thurston.

 

[Big Pete]

It's an option but there are question marks over Parker's ability on the left.

He played well there in the 2012 decider but there was an element of luck and he very nearly butchered some golden opportunities. It isn't really a role he's played in since 2008 and I think he's just better in the middle where he can pop offloads in traffic.

Ideally, Gillett fixes a few technical issues in his defence, guns it down the left feeding off good face balls and gets the spot but at this stage, it remains to be seen and Mal likes to reward success.