Your SOO sides for 2008

[Grimmace]

With Gasnier likely to be out who is everyones replacement centre, selectors will probably pick jaimie lyon but id have a younger playe like Phil Graham or Monagahn from the raiders.

Jamie Lyon shouldnt be picked in the side at all, he is nothing like he used to be. Perhaps Luke Lewis comes into contention, Delaney theres quite a few out there.

[TITAN PETE]

If he's out pick someone who's in Awesome form in Delaney

[Steel Dragon]

Hayne into the centres, Monaghan onto the wing. The other option would be Chris Lawrence.

Jason

[jenwood]

If he's out pick someone who's in Awesome form in Delaney

Delaney played city/country and his form is good so he would be the obvious choice wouldnt he? But this is origin and anything can happen!

[curly_11]

I agree i think that Delaney should get picked he is in some good form . Not that i really should be encouraging NSW to pick decent players as IM A QUEENSLANDER!!!

There is some possibile good news for QLD as either Lockyer or Prince could be called in to the team for game two with the selectors admitting Thurston isnt in form at the moment. IMO Prince should get picked based on his amazing form over the last two seasons where as Lockyer has been injured and wont be match fit, but we'll see how he plays this weekend.

Heres the article of the NRL site:

No Gaz for Blues, Prince chances rising
By Steve Jancetic, Wayne Heming and David Beniuk
AAP
NSW are contemplating State of Origin II without Mark Gasnier, while Queensland selectors have admitted star halfback Johnathan Thurston's form is down and Scott Prince has come into their calculations.

The Blues are on the lookout for a new centre after game one hero Gasnier was virtually ruled out of Origin II on June 11 with a hamstring injury.

The St George Illawarra skipper went down at training on Thursday, with scans confirming he would be out for 2-3 weeks due to a slight tear in his left hamstring.

The Suncorp Stadium return clash is less than two weeks away, meaning Gasnier is next to no chance of taking his place in a NSW side looking to wrap up its first series win since 2005.

Gasnier would have been an automatic selection in the centres alongside club team-mate Matt Cooper for game two after tearing the Maroons to shreds in NSW's 18-10 series-opening win at ANZ Stadium.

"It's a massive blow if he is out - he's the best centre in the world," NSW selector Bob McCarthy said.

"We'll just wait until Monday (when we get a medical report), there's no use speculating over who could come in."

Gasnier's unavailability opens the door for an Origin recall for out-of-favour Manly centre Jamie Lyon, while winger Jarryd Hayne could also move to the centres.

Meanwhile, Queensland chairman of selectors Des Morris has refused to rule Prince out of the Origin picture, admitting Thurston's form was down in Origin I and that the Cowboys' captain could be struggling for confidence.

The competition's leading point-scorer and chief line-breaker, Prince was overlooked for game one in Sydney to give Thurston total control.

Selectors will probably stick with Thurston at No.7 because of his past deeds and decide if his partner will be Darren Lockyer or Prince after watching Lockyer's return from a knee injury on Friday night.

They could also consider Lockyer or Prince for a bench position.

"Thurston was down on form for him but for any other player it was probably a reasonable effort," Morris told AAP.

"The side he is playing for (Cowboys) aren't going well and all that compounds on him."

Morris said no player was protected from the Origin axe.

"Until you get into the class of the Lewis's and the Lockyers and that ilk, everyone's performance is reviewed," he said.

"Obviously with a guy like Thurston who's the current Australian halfback and a top player at that level for the last two or three years, you cut him a bit of slack.

"The problem is, we've got a player like Scott Prince who is in such tremendous form.

"It's one those things we'll all have to sit down and confer over."

In NRL news, the Bulldogs' horror injury run has worsened with the club ruling out four more first-graders, including superstar Sonny Bill Williams, until round 15.

Williams has a knee injury, while props Jarrad Hickey (hamstring) and Chris Armit (knee) and winger Matt Utai (ribs) have also been sidelined.

The Dogs now have 10 regular first-graders unavailable and five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth (leg) in doubt for Saturday's clash with Melbourne at Olympic Park.

[Supergoose]

Picking Delaney as the replacement centre would be just deserts for a fine season and he has the size and strength to handle the monster Qld centres. They'll pick Lyon - but that's good for Qld. I hope Qld don't throw Lockyer into the hot seat - he needs some games to blow the cobwebs out. He generally takes a few to get going in a season and his form (accept that his knee hasn't been all that good) isn't flash. Steve Price is another interesting one and I'll be watching him closely this weekend. Brad Meyers must be close.

Also interesting to see what NSW do with Gidley and their forward pack, O'Donnell is a good option but they really lack props. Maybe Laffranchi will get pushed into the front row and maybe they'll pick O'Meley.

Let's just hope the Qld selectors pick Hunt in his rightful position.

[Hoppy2007Dragons]

Also interesting to see what NSW do with Gidley and their forward pack, O'Donnell is a good option but they really lack props. Maybe Laffranchi will get pushed into the front row and maybe they'll pick O'Meley

Kite, Ryles, O'Meley, Gibbs anyone.

[Supergoose]

Exactly - and none of them were in the first NSW side.

New question - seeing as it is more than likely that Hodges will be out of origin - who will the selectors plump for? Likely Hunt to fullback, Slater to wing and Tate to the centres?

[Hoppy2007Dragons]

Exactly - and none of them were in the first NSW side.

Wern't needed because u had cross, white and fitzgibbon playing, but if one drops why move Laffranchi (who is in fine form at second row) when u can just pluck a expirenced prop from a number of nrl clubs.

So i would dare say NSW isnt short on props.

[TITAN PETE]

There is no way odonnell would or should get a look in ahead of Minnichello,Bailey,Cuthbertson,Mateo,Hindmarsh, Heighnington etc

Darren Lockyer just put The Prince out of Origin 2 unless they drop the very "Overrated" Thurston :dizzy:

[Supergoose]

O'Donnell is pure Origin. If he's fit and playing well, he should be in. He was one of NSW best players a couple of years ago before getting injured. He's a far better SOO player than any of the players Titan Pete has mentioned.

I wouldn't rate Fitzgibbon as a prop, even though he has played there. The point is that they have heaps of props, just none as good as the wealth of 2nd rowers that they have.

[TITAN PETE]

Gasnier has declared himself available for Origin but Hayne will need replacing for this game.

[kwigibo]

Evidently Prince will be picked on the bench to cover for Lockyer not playing 80. So the Titans lose him for 80 mins monday night to play maybe 20 on wednesday. The titans have become such a 1 man team I can still see them losing to 2nd string Storm without the general.

[TITAN PETE]

Evidently Prince will be picked on the bench to cover for Lockyer not playing 80. So the Titans lose him for 80 mins monday night to play maybe 20 on wednesday. The titans have become such a 1 man team I can still see them losing to 2nd string Storm without the general.

The "Late Mail" is he'll be picked at 7 with Thurston off the bench but i'm definatley with your thinking that we'll struggle to beat a B grade Storm side but i'll be out there to cheer my ass off for probably a Presto/Lewis halves pair

[Paul]

we won't have problems beating Melbournes "b" side at Robina,It'll just be a touch harder if Prince isn't there