....don't know about anyone else, but I can't wait.

to quote Big Kev....

Should be great. NSW will stick with the same side if there's no injuries but they seem to have no luck when it comes to picking the same team, they always have a few injured.
Hopoate is out already i think which is a shame but hopefully Jennings is fit and he'll come straight back in as he played well in game one anyway. Even if B Moz is fit he wont get back in, Hayne didn't get much ball but is still better than Morris.
Why did Trent Merrin only get 12 minutes? He came from the bench and had 3 carries for 18m, 12 tackles and missed the one on Cam Smith for the QLD try along with Bird. He didn't get injured so why did he only get 12 minutes when NSW only went with 2 props? If he's not getting any minutes then why not pick someone else on the bench, like Idris who will offer impact because Merrin playing 12 minutes is a waste of a bench spot. In game one he only got about 20 minutes.
Ennis did a job at hooker but i thought NSW looked better when Gidley came on, QLD did score as soon as Gidley came on but they looked more lively around the ruck i thought with Gidley but Ennis will play game 3. He did give a couple of dumb penalties away like when he got Parker high and then near the end when he took out a chaser for a bomb that could have cost NSW the game and everyone would of been saying it's his fault, never pick him again etc etc.
But NSW were worthy winners, they outplayed QLD for alot of the game and stopped the QLD forwards dominating. There was only Nate Myles who made 100m out of their forwards and that was it.
Minichiello was great at the back, he took the bombs with ease, brought the ball back with purpose, he was popping up everywhere and was busy, busted tackles and deserved to get the sealer.
Uate was the best winger on the field and is the best in the NRL, he runs the ball strongly with speed, when he gets the ball your expecting something to happen. I thought Watmough and Lewis from the bench were great and totally justified their selections. Soward's kicking game was pretty poor again early on and some of his attacking kicks were just wasteful but he improved as the game went on and did well in the end, he's good at running the ball later on when the forwards are tiring and that sealed the game. Pearce was solid in defence and set up 2 tries. Still not sure about Gasnier, he's looked good for the Dragons but in game one he was quiet without getting much ball, but again he didn't do much wrong but doesn't offer a great deal to say he's one of the games premier centres. His defence is solid but Idris would surely offer more threat in attack than Gasnier although his defence is suspect.
Anyway, same team for game three apart from Jennings in for Hopoate because of injury.

Just thinking out loud here. The idea would not be necessarily to have only played him for only 12 mins. You don't go into a game with such a notion. With Stuart however, if he thinks you've messed up, he'll cut you and leave you there. A few years ago at Cronulla, a prop I know went to the Sharks, called Eddie Sua. Eddie made his debut, played a few minutes, made mistakes, was dragged off, not only did he not get back on, he NEVER played another first grade game again. He's now a prison guard. I suspect that Stuart may be of the ilk that, if you mess up, you're gone, end of. Let's see if Merrin's selected again.

Also, the trainers are out there continually (illegally actually in Origin, Langer in yellow is NOT allowed on unless the Orange is out there treating another injury, or there is break in play, or time has been called by the ref) checking up on players. As NSW were buzzing they'd have come back with an OK report for the coach often as no-one would have wanted a break. This may be another reason why Merrin wasn't brought back on.

I dont know what minute he came on but the QLD try by Smith was scored on 24 minutes and Merrin along with Bird missed the tackle on him for the try. I'd imagine Merrin had only just come on around the 20 minute mark and one of his first tackles was to miss the one on Smith for a try. I wonder if Stuart decided to hook him for that and nnot give him anymore gametime. It'll be interesting to see if Merrin gets picked for game 3, if he isn't playing many minutes then then they may aswell go with someone else but we'll see.

No idea why Merrin was picked in the first place, but i'd say his place in Game III is pretty tentative.

I've been pretty disappointed with Gaz too, but think he should stay based on his defence and lack of a standout replacement. I don't want Idris as I fear he'd get turned inside out in defence. The other alternative i've heard thrown around is putting Lewis there, which is a huge no-no for me.

Uate is amazing though. The way he can beat a defender is unreal. It's like they've got him, bend down to make the tackle and he's gone. Kinda half hurdles them. After watching Boyd own Gaz in Game I, it was awesome watching him look like a muppet trying to tackle Uate.

It should be a cracker with the confidence NSW have with their excellent win.

I will still go for Queensland though being on their own turf.

I thought the same regarding Gasnier, he has been very disappointing in both games, his defence has been good and that will keep him in the side for game 3 but in attack he's been dire even when he's got early ball with space. He's also made a few errors which shouldn't be happening at that level.
I was surprised when Merrin got picked but he was going great for the Dragons this year, racking up over 100m plus every game but he's not looked the same in Origin and i think he'll keep his place but wouldn't be surprised if he got dropped for someone else.
Hopoate is out for 6 weeks so hopefully Jennings will be fit but he's doubtful aswell, god knows who they'll go with if Jennings is out, probably Josh Morris as he's one of the only options for NSW that plays left centre at club level. Luke Lewis would be staying in the forwards for me. Creagh and Scott are in some doubt so if either are out then Lewis will come in to start.

Thurston could be ruled out for upto 3 weeks meaning he could miss Origin III all because he knocked the ref over during the Warriors game when he was running back to after the Warriors had made a break and they scored a try from it but JT knocked the ref over while he was running back.
What a joke that is, he didn't mean to do it but he's still been charged and will miss 2 games if he takes the early plea or will miss 3 games if he fights it and loses. An Origin decider, Lockyer's last Origin game, JT has played 20 games for QLD on the trot and he could miss all that for accidentally running into a ref who was in his path. Something needs to change, it's embarrasing.

from the foxsports website)

[iAt start of the season, NRL amended the contrary conduct rule to say "it's the responsibility of the player to avoid contact with match officals at all time".[/i

...I thought it was 100% accidental and the referee even joked about it just before he blew for the restart. Farce if he gets even one game for it IMO. Mal Maninga reckons it's a conspiracy

Greatest sporting worldwide 2011 for me, cannot wait. Going to be brutal. Landed lucky with shifts this year too, off for the first two and on lates for game 3! Get in!

Soward has done his hamstring against Manly today and will be in doubt for Game 3. That's all the Blues need, aswell as Gidley and Scott being in doubt and now this.
I really hope Jennings pulls through okay because moving Hayne to centre and bringing B Moz back in is just terrible IMO, B Moz does not deserve to play Origin, he nevers does anything and shouldn't play for what happened in game one with the Yow Yeh try.

Shoud be a great game, we are heading to the Paddo pub to catch it live and will be packed out I reckon.

Yeah that'd be right. A host of injury concerns just as we look like we can take a series again.

Meanwhile, the QLD team named looks very, very good.

Queensland Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Ash Harrison.

Interchange Cooper Cronk, Ben Hannant, Jacob Lillyman, Dane Nielsen, Corey Parker (one to be omitted)

The b*stards.