SOO 2007: Game One: Queensland vs New South Wales

[Queenslander]

State of Origin 2007: Game One

vs

Queensland Maroons vs New South Wales Blues
Wednesday 23rd May, 8:00pm; Suncorp Stadium

Referee:Paul Simpkins
Sideline Officials: Steve Carrall and Russell Turner
Video Referee's: Bill Harrigan & Tim Mander
Standby Referee: Shayne Hayne

Team Notes:

Queensland

2006 State of Origin Champions

Neville Costigan is primed to become the 161st man to enter Queensland State of Origin folklore, named to make his XXXX Maroons debut next Wednesday at Suncorp Stadium. Includes full XXXX Maroons team.

Costigan was the only new face when QRL Chairman John McDonald and Chairman of Selectors Des Morris announced the team for the opening game of this year's Harvey Norman State of Origin series in Brisbane.

The XXXX Maroons team, captained for the 11th time by Darren Lockyer, will enter camp immediately, spending the bulk of time between Enoggera Army Barracks, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast.

The head-to-head record in State of Origin matches presently stands at 38 wins to Queensland, 37 losses and two draws.Queensland holds the Origin shield after last year's dramatic 16-14 win in the third and deciding game, sealed by a freakish try to Lockyer.

Still boasting the record for the most appearances for his country, the iconic figure of Mal Meninga will again take the reins as head coach of the XXXX Maroons.

New South Wales

Newcastle hooker Danny Buderus has won hooker position ahead of Robbie Farah and been named NSW captain for the 4th successive year.

Parramatta winger Jarryd Hayne, Newcastle halfback Jarrod Mullen, Melbourne prop Brett White, Newcastle utility Kurt Gidley and Sydney Roosters back-rower Anthony Tupou will all make their State of Origin debuts.

Mullen has been handed the halfback position ahead of Brett Kimmorley, Matt Orford and the injured Craig Gower with Braith Anasta doing enough to be given another chance at five-eighth.

The forward pack picked itself following Australia's Test demolition of New Zealand, although Ryan Hoffman and Greg Bird can count themselves unlucky missing out to Andrew Ryan and Anthony Tupou. Hoffman who was 18th man for the Test match is expected to be named 18th man on the weekend for the Blues.

Blues goal kicker and centre Jamie Lyon is facing a one-match suspension for a dangerous throw following Manly's hard fought 22-12 win against Parramatta on Friday night and will go to the judiciary tomorrow night where he'll plead not guilty and attempt to get off the charge.

Teams:

1. Karmichael Hunt (Brisbane Broncos)
2. Brent Tate (Brisbane Broncos)
3. Steven Bell (Manly Sea Eagles)
4. Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos)
5. Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm)
6. Darren Lockyer (c) (Brisbane Broncos)
7. Johnathan Thurston (North QLD Cowboys)
8. Steve Price (New Zealand Warriors)
9. Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
10. Petero Civoniceva (Brisbane Broncos)
11. Tonie Carroll (Brisbane Broncos)
12. Carl Webb (North QLD Cowboys) ***Ruled Out & Replaced by Antonio Kaufusi***
13. Dallas Johnson (Melbourne Storm)

Interchange:

14. Shaun Berrigan (Brisbane Broncos)
15. Jacob Lillyman (North QLD Cowboys)
16. Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters)
17. Neville Costigan (Canberra Raiders)
18. Antonio Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm)

Coach: Mal Meninga

1. Anthony Minichiello (Sydney Roosters)
2. Matt King (Melbourne Storm)
3. Jamie Lyon (Manly Sea Eagles)
4. Matt Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons)
5. Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels)
6. Braith Anasta (Sydney Roosters)
7. Jarrod Mullen (Newcastle Knights)
8. Brent Kite (Manly Sea Eagles)
9. Danny Buderus (c) (Newcastle Knights)
10. Brett White (Melbourne Storm)
11. Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta Eels)
12. Willie Mason (Bulldogs)
13. Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs)

Interchange:

14. Luke Bailey (Gold Coast Titans)
15. Steve Simpson (Newcastle Knights)
16. Anthony Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
17. Kurt Gidley (Newcastle Knights)

Coach: Graham Murray

***Please use this thread for game day spoilers and general State of Origin: Game One information***

[Queenslander]

Jerseys:

Queensland: vs New South Wales:

vs

[Queenslander]

History:

2006:

Queensland defeated New South Wales 2-1

Total Games Won:

Queensland 38
New South Wales 37
Drawn 2

Series Wins:

New South Wales 12
Queensland 11
Drawn 2

[Tamwelg]

Source: www.nrl.com.au

Origin Teams Announced Next Tuesday

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 - 10:32 AM

The NSW Wizard Blues and XXXX Queensland Maroons teams for the 2007 Harvey Norman State Of Origin Series will be announced at 11am on Tuesday, May 15.

The NSW Wizard Blues team will be announced at the Wizard offices, 12 Castlereagh St, Sydney.

The XXXX Queensland Maroons team will be announced at the Royal On The Park Hotel, corner of Alice St and Albert St, Brisbane.

Schedules for both teams will be released later this week.

Source: NRL

[Robbie_Dee]

Cooome on Matt Bowen!

[Tamwelg]

Cooome on Matt Bowen!

Yeah I agree

[Tamwelg]

Source: www.nrl.com.au

Thaiday out of Origin opener

Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 11:11 AM

Queensland forward Sam Thaiday is expected to miss the opening State of Origin rugby league match against New South Wales after being diagnosed with a fractured eye socket.

Thaiday suffered a small fracture in his right eye socket in Brisbane's win over South Sydney last Friday and says he faces two to four weeks on the sidelines.

That would rule him out of selection for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday week.

He has been replaced in the Brisbane squad for Friday night's NRL match against the Sharks by Corey Parker.

Parker will be making his first appearance since dislocating his wrist in the opening game of the season against the Cowboys.

Crash-tackling lock Tonie Carroll failed to take any part in Thursday morning's final training session at Red Hill but coach Wayne Bennett declared him fit to play the Sharks at Sydney's Telstra Stadium.

Several of Brisbane's players are in the running for Origin selection with Queensland selectors to name their 17-man squad on Tuesday.

Bennett is expecting to lose Darren Lockyer, Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva and Tonie Carroll to Queensland Origin duty and said Brad Thorn and Dane Carlaw could also play their way into a maroons jumper.

Source: AAP

[Queenslander]

Thaiday still an Origin chance


May 10, 2007

QUEENSLAND selector Gene Miles believes Sam Thaiday remains in contention to play the opening State of Origin match against New South Wales despite a fractured eye socket.

Thaiday has been diagnosed with a small fracture in his right eye socket suffered in Brisbane's NRL win over South Sydney last Friday and the forward said he was likely to be out for two to four weeks.

Maroons selectors are expected to name Thaiday in their 17-man squad on Tuesday, with his progress to be monitored leading up to the series opener against New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday week.

That will be almost three weeks after he sustained the injury.

Miles said he had spoken to Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett and believed Thaiday would be fit in time to play Origin.

Thaiday has been replaced by Corey Parker in the Brisbane squad for tomorrow night's NRL match against the Sharks at Toyota Park.

Parker will be making his first appearance since dislocating his wrist in the opening game of the season against the Cowboys.

Crash-tackling lock Tonie Carroll failed to take any part in this morning's final training session at Red Hill but coach Wayne Bennett declared him fit to play the Sharks.

Many of Brisbane's players are in the running for Origin selection.

Bennett is expecting to lose Darren Lockyer, Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva,Tonie Carroll and Thaiday to Origin duty and said Brad Thorn and Dane Carlaw could also play their way into a maroons jumper.

AAP

[Darren Lockyer]

he'll play. he's a tough nut

[Rabbitohs-07]

QLD by 13+ Im going with 16

[Boofhead]

Go U Maroons!

[Queenslander]

Maroons have major selection woes

By Karl deKroo
May 14, 2007

PENRITH star Paul Aiton last night revealed that Queensland hardman Carl Webb may have been responsible for breaking his jaw as the Maroons began trying to douse their red-hot favouritism for the State of Origin series.

Webb was one of several players nominated by Queensland as being in doubt through suspension or injury for the interstate opener next Wednesday, after the North Queensland firebrand raised an elbow against Aiton during Penrith's win on Saturday night.

Webb will come under NRL scrutiny today but Aiton last night confirmed his possible hairline fracture of the jaw was a result.

"That was when it happened, yes," Aiton said.

"I don't remember too much. I just went into the tackle and came off second best. I'll leave it to what the referee says."

In a predictable move to reclaim underdog status, Queensland's chairman of selectors Des Morris said yesterday the Maroons could be forced to go against a policy of not picking injured players, with a string of frontline stars in doubt on the eve of the team announcement.

Skipper Darren Lockyer remains in doubt with an ankle injury which flared on Friday night, while the back-row issues have been exasperated with Webb and Jacob Lillyman on report and Cowboys player Matt Scott sidelined with a knee injury.

Brisbane's Sam Thaiday is in doubt with a fractured eye socket, while Melbourne hitman Michael Crocker is certain to miss tonight's game against the Bulldogs.

Even Queensland's golden backline stocks are allegedly thinning. Brisbane flyer Brent Tate faces a fitness test tomorrow on an injured hip, while teammates Karmichael Hunt (knee) and Justin Hodges (knee) will be closely assessed.

"They (injuries) always are a concern, but we'll have to wait and see what reports we get," Morris said. "It's just too early to get a final word on where we are at with some players. We had a policy last year where we didn't call any injured players into the squad.

"We'd like to stick with that but obviously with a player like Lockyer we'd also like to give him more time to recover."

The Courier Mail

[Queenslander]

Webb cleared for Origin

Barry Dick

May 14, 2007 02:10pm
Article from: The Courier-Mail

QUEENSLAND hardman Carl Webb has been cleared to play in next week's State of Origin series opener.
The NRL match review committee has decided not to charge the big Cowboy over a couple of elbowing incidents in North Queensland's loss to Penrith on Saturday night.

The Queensland team for the Suncorp Stadium Origin match will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday) and Webb's name is certain to be read out.

In a blow for NSW, Test centre Jamie Lyon was cited by the match review committee for a spear tackle in Manly's win over Parramatta last Friday night. He will cop a one-week suspension if he enters an early guilty plea.

Manly should also be without New Zealand Test centre Steve Matai for next Monday night's clash with Brisbane at Brookvale Oval after he was cited for a high tackle. He will serve a week if he pleads guilty.
Roosters forward Danny Nutley also was charged with a dangerous throw but will avoid suspension if he pleads guilty.

[Steelers]

In a blow for NSW, Test centre Jamie Lyon was cited by the match review committee for a spear tackle in Manly's win over Parramatta last Friday night. He will cop a one-week suspension if he enters an early guilty plea.

Well that certainly changes things for NSW. I think without Lyon and his goal-kicking abilities, the Blues might go for El Masri on the wing, which is kind of disappointing, as Jarrad Hayne has been on fire.

[Steelers]

Source: www.foxsports.com.au

Lyon in doubt for Origin

MANLY centre Jamie Lyon is in doubt for next week's State of Origin opener after being charged with a dangerous throw by the match review committee.

Lyon was considered a certainty for New South Wales selection, either at centre or five-eighth, but will be ruled out of the game through suspension unless he successfully fights the charge at the judiciary.

Even an early guilty plea will not save Lyon, with the Sea Eagles star still accruing enough points for a one-match ban.

He was charged with a grade one dangerous throw arising from a tackle in the 52nd minute of Friday's win over Parramatta at Brookvale Oval.

Lyon would have avoided suspension with an early guilty plea if it was not for loading from a prior offence while playing for St Helens in the English Super League last year.

Meanwhile, there was good news for Queensland Origin selectors with North Queensland duo Carl Webb and Jacob Lillyman both cleared over incidents from the Cowboys' loss to Penrith on Saturday.

Manly centre Steve Matai was also charged with a grade three careless high tackle for his high shot on Parramatta centre Ben Smith in the 36th minute of Friday's game.

Matai will miss one week with an early guilty plea, or risk a two-match ban if he goes to the judiciary.

Sydney Roosters prop Danny Nutley was also charged with a grade one dangerous throw in the sixth minute of Sunday's win over Gold Coast Titans, but will avoid suspension with an early guilty plea.