Queensland 2014 Line-Ups

[Financeguy]

What do people think of Aidan Guerra as an option?

I have a pretty big wrap on him, just seems to have that something about him in terms of just an extra bit of fight in the tackle, a bit faster and stronger than he seems.

I personally think he could add good value off the bench.

 

[Alec]

What do people think of Aidan Guerra as an option?

I have a pretty big wrap on him, just seems to have that something about him in terms of just an extra bit of fight in the tackle, a bit faster and stronger than he seems.

I personally think he could add good value off the bench.

I've never really rate him that highly, but he's had a great end to the season. I don't know if it's just playing for such a deadly side, or he's genuinely becoming a good player.

I do think we are using too many back rowers as it is though.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

Guerra was better in 2012 imo. Was great this year but was even better last

 

[CaptainHook]

I'd have Gillett over McQueen every day of the week and twice on Sunday (or Wednesday in this case)

Don't forget McQueen was playing in his first series this year. I thought he did better than Gillet did playing his first in 2012 and both players will undoubtedly improve the more games they play.

Gillett is a very skilful back rower but Origin is different. Not as many opportunities for the flashy stuff. I also think he has a tendency to shy away from the tough stuff - though he was a lot more dangerous in this year's series - running harder, chancing his arm etc.

Honestly, it's an embarrassment of riches for the Maroons. Tremendous depth. The only problem I can see is complacency. If Mal can step on that then 11 in a row wouldn't be out of the question.

 

[Alec]

Don't forget McQueen was playing in his first series this year. I thought he did better than Gillet did playing his first in 2012 and both players will undoubtedly improve the more games they play.

Gillett was playing a completely different role though. Gillett was actually playing in the middle, McQueen was on the edges. Also McQueen isn't exactly a great player in the NRL as it is, why would he improve in a tougher arena?

Honestly, it's an embarrassment of riches for the Maroons. Tremendous depth. The only problem I can see is complacency. If Mal can step on that then 11 in a row wouldn't be out of the question.

Hate to be that guy again, but I wouldn't really call our forwards depth "riches". NSW definitely has us beat in that rea. Papalii and McGuire are the only real world class forwards coming through, and hopefully Oates gets there too.

 

[Big Pete]

Gillett had a few stints down the left in the 2012 series and as everybody knows, didn't play that well.

Queensland's depth in the forwards isn't as dire as it's been made out to be either. NSW are always going to have superior numbers but as they've been finding out for years, it's a matter of quality > quantity. They're beginning to bridge that gap, but they're not there yet and Queensland have a few good players emerging on the horizon as evidenced by the Emerging Squad.

 

[CaptainHook]

Also McQueen isn't exactly a great player in the NRL as it is, why would he improve in a tougher arena?

Origin history is full of players who fall into that category. A good example would be Shaun Timmins. I don't consider him a great player at NRL level but more often than not, he was a real thorn in our side at Origin level. I think it was Phil Gould that said something along the lines of "some players play Origin and some players are Origin players." I think it's also a bit like how some players are automatic selections regardless of form.


I still think it's too early to write off McQueen. He deserves another chance.

Hate to be that guy again, but I wouldn't really call our forwards depth "riches". NSW definitely has us beat in that rea. Papalii and McGuire are the only real world class forwards coming through, and hopefully Oates gets there too.

Who are the world class forwards from the Blues? I think we easily match NSW in the forwards now and in the foreseeable future. The only one who really threatened this year was Fifita. I thought Gallen, Tamou, Bird etc were easily taken care of.

 

[1910]

Manly Sea Eagles forward Brenton Lawrence and Penrith hooker James Segeyaro have today been added to the QAS Emerging Origin squad.

QAS Emerging Origin squad:

Ben BARBA (Brisbane Broncos)
Justin O’NEILL (Melbourne Storm)
Will CHAMBERS (Melbourne Storm)
Dane GAGAI (Newcastle Knights)
Edrick LEE (Canberra Raiders)
Anthony MILFORD (Canberra Raiders)
Martin KENNEDY (Brisbane Broncos)
Jake FRIEND (Sydney Roosters)
Dylan NAPA (Sydney Roosters)
Korbin SIMS (Newcastle Knights)
Aidan GUERRA (Sydney Roosters)
Michael MORGAN (North Queensland Cowboys)
Brenton LAWRENCE (Manly Sea Eagles)
James SEGEYARO (Penrith Panthers)

Camp starts tomorrow night.

 

[Rhys van Beurden]

No Cookies | The Courier-Mail

LUKE Keary was born and raised in Ipswich but will be forced against his will to represent NSW in State of Origin.
The South Sydney halfback idolised Allan Langer and Darren Lockyer as a youngster and was a member of Queensland's Emerging Origin squad last year, but will be absent when the young stars gather in Brisbane on Friday because NRL officials have ruled he must play for the Blues.
Keary told The Courier-Mail last year he wanted to play for Queensland, but desperate Blues officials have successfully claimed him as one of their own.
The Blues complained to the ARL Commission who ruled the 21-year-old was a New South Welshman because four of the six eligibility questions came up Blue, with only his place of birth being Maroon.
Keary was born in Ipswich but moved to Sydney when he was 10 and completed the majority of his schooling and junior football down south.


He played for the NSW Combined Independent Schools team in 2010 but he returned to Queensland in 2011 to make his senior football debut with the Burleigh Bears before joining the Rabbitohs.
Keary is such a prodigious talent that Souths extended his deal until the end of 2015 last year. He is likely to secure a permanent first-grade position ahead of Adam Reynolds and John Sutton.
Maroons coach Mal Meninga said Queensland would continue to support Keary's push to have his status returned to the Maroons.
"It's disappointing for Luke and for us,'' Meninga said. "I know Luke wanted to play for Queensland and we won't give up on him.


"Luke is a passionate Queenslander and wants to play for Queensland. He played his junior footy at Ipswich before moving to Sydney with his parents.
"I don't know if there is any way we can appeal it, I guess we will look at it and see where we can take it from here."
Queensland had two eligibility victories, with Manly prop Brenton Lawrence and Penrith hooker James Segeyaro both declared Maroons. They will join Friday's camp, taking the squad to 14.
Segeyaro was born in Papua New Guinea but qualifies for the Maroons after moving to Cairns as a child.
Lawrence was born in Mackay but played all of his junior league in Adelaide.
Even though he moved to Canberra in his late teens, Lawrence failed to register a single answer for NSW under the criteria and therefore remained a Queenslander.


It is an enormous boost for Lawrence, who at 29 is the oldest member of the Emerging squad and continues a remarkable career rise since he joined the Sea Eagles last season after two years battling to make first-grade on the Gold Coast.
"I think he deserves it. His last couple of years have been pretty impressive,'' Meninga said.
"I just want to see him in with the other guys and see how he handles it all.
"He is up there and deserves an opportunity in the Emerging squad.''
Meanwhile, Queensland great Kevin Walters is set to become a fulltime Maroons assistant coach this year, with Meninga seeking board approval to add another staffer to his team in their quest for nine straight titles.

Disappointing. I just feel as though this is less about gaining a player for NSW, and more about forcing Queensland to lose a player. I mean, I would rather wrestle a bear than play for NSW in Origin, and I'd imagine Keary would be the same. Obviously players have a choice in playing Origin, so he can tell NSW to piss off just as Jamie Lyon, but is still ineligible for Qld. Disappointing.

 

[Alec]

I hate it when Origin isn't about who YOU want to play for.

 

[Unbreakable]

Keary is gonna be a gun, that could hurt us in a few years if he's playing for the Blues.

 

[Harry Sack]

Who are the world class forwards from the Blues? I think we easily match NSW in the forwards now and in the foreseeable future. The only one who really threatened this year was Fifita. I thought Gallen, Tamou, Bird etc were easily taken care of.

That's not generally the case though....

Tamou had an off year and no doubt Gallen had a lot on his mind. I thought Bird was fairly solid this year tbh.

 

[Big Pete]

I wonder how much longer Fifita will be allowed to drop the ball?

 

[Harry Sack]

I wonder how much longer Fifita will be allowed to drop the ball?

Thought his series was a little overrated personally.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Hate to be that guy again, but I wouldn't really call our forwards depth "riches". NSW definitely has us beat in that rea. Papalii and McGuire are the only real world class forwards coming through

NSW....world class forwards? Pfftt !!!

The only reason the Australian national team has any NSW player in it is to stop the cry baby's down south having a complete melt down. If such a travesty were to happen, what you'd find in 2-3 yrs time, is the NRL would be changing the rules of origin to make QLD play with no reserves.

oh and

also the fact that the Aus coach and most of the National selection committee, hail form NSW.

Put in any QLD forward and he will do the same job as the current NSW forwards in the Aus team.

 

[Alec]

I was talking about depth and young forwards. NSW has us beat in those areas at the moment.

 

[Big Pete]

That's always been the case - in the end it's always come down to quality > quantity.

Don't know if I agree with Fourex's assertion either...

Let's see...

10. James Tamou vs. Nate Myles

I can see a fair argument for Myles.

11. Greg Bird vs. Chris McQueen

No contest, Bird everyday.

12. Luke Lewis vs. Ben Te'o
Would say Lewis has the edge at this stage and also deserved to start in-front of Sammy. Benny had a quiet season for Souths I thought, hope he turns it on a bit this season.

13. Paul Gallen vs. Matt Gillett

Different sort of players, Gillett is just usually thrown into the middle at rep which doesn't really suit him. Gal at this stage. Now, would Gal start in-front of Parker - can see a fair argument for Parker on form.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Took the young bloke to the fan day yesterday - Barba and Kennedy weren't there because they were in the Emerging Origin camp. Interesting that Macca wasn't there because he was in the camp as well. I thought that was strange as he wasn't picked in the original squad, was he?