The burning issues Queensland must address before Perth
* WHAT DO QUEENSLAND DO WITH DALY CHERRY-EVANS?
Andrew Johns has led the calls for Queensland to drop their captain and halfback for Perth after the 18-6 loss in game one. The Maroons lost the game in the middle and had limited good ball in the series opener. But there is a push to put Tom Dearden in the No.7 with the Queenslanders having mustered just one try in the past two games.
* HOW DO THE MAROONS STOP PAYNE HAAS?
Haas has spent the past few State of Origins destroying any suggestion that he was yet to own the representative arena. The front-rower laid the platform for NSW in the series opener, despite barely training in the lead up due to a quad tear. Changes could come in the Maroons pack, with Corey Horsburgh, Josh Kerr and Jai Arrow options.
* DO QUEENSLAND HAVE TO START HARRY GRANT?
Grant had the worst Origin of his career in game one, after being targeted by the Blues pack early. Grant has previously come off the bench with Ben Hunt starting at hooker, but that is out of the question this year given the Brisbane playmaker's injury. One option could be the Maroons picking Max Plath to start at No.9 if fit.
* CAN QUEENSLAND SILENCE NSW'S BACK THREE?
The Blues' territorial dominance was again set up by Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o and Zac Lomax, just as it was in their two wins last year. The trio prove near impossible to stop coming out of their own end, but the Maroons must find a way. Murray Taulagi could also come in to provide Queensland their own early-set firepower, if he recovers from a calf tear.
* HAVE THE BLUES FOUND THEIR PERFECT MATCH?
There were plenty of questions around how Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary would combine in the series opener, but they were answered in the first 40 minutes. The pair linked up regularly in attack, Moses was free to run and Cleary still had the most touches. The Maroons must find a way to limit the duo's time.
THE FIVE KEY ISSUES THAT WILL DECIDE STATE OF ORIGIN II IN PERTH
* WHAT DO QUEENSLAND DO WITH DALY CHERRY-EVANS?
Andrew Johns has led the calls for Queensland to drop their captain and halfback for Perth after the 18-6 loss in game one. The Maroons lost the game in the middle and had limited good ball in the series opener. But there is a push to put Tom Dearden in the No.7 with the Queenslanders having mustered just one try in the past two games.
* HOW DO THE MAROONS STOP PAYNE HAAS?
Haas has spent the past few State of Origins destroying any suggestion that he was yet to own the representative arena. The front-rower laid the platform for NSW in the series opener, despite barely training in the lead up due to a quad tear. Changes could come in the Maroons pack, with Corey Horsburgh, Josh Kerr and Jai Arrow options.
* DO QUEENSLAND HAVE TO START HARRY GRANT?
Grant had the worst Origin of his career in game one, after being targeted by the Blues pack early. Grant has previously come off the bench with Ben Hunt starting at hooker, but that is out of the question this year given the Brisbane playmaker's injury. One option could be the Maroons picking Max Plath to start at No.9 if fit.
* CAN QUEENSLAND SILENCE NSW'S BACK THREE?
The Blues' territorial dominance was again set up by Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o and Zac Lomax, just as it was in their two wins last year. The trio prove near impossible to stop coming out of their own end, but the Maroons must find a way. Murray Taulagi could also come in to provide Queensland their own early-set firepower, if he recovers from a calf tear.
* HAVE THE BLUES FOUND THEIR PERFECT MATCH?
There were plenty of questions around how Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary would combine in the series opener, but they were answered in the first 40 minutes. The pair linked up regularly in attack, Moses was free to run and Cleary still had the most touches. The Maroons must find a way to limit the duo's time.
THE FIVE KEY ISSUES THAT WILL DECIDE STATE OF ORIGIN II IN PERTH
* WHAT DO QUEENSLAND DO WITH DALY CHERRY-EVANS?
Andrew Johns has led the calls for Queensland to drop their captain and halfback for Perth after the 18-6 loss in game one. The Maroons lost the game in the middle and had limited good ball in the series opener. But there is a push to put Tom Dearden in the No.7 with the Queenslanders having mustered just one try in the past two games.
* HOW DO THE MAROONS STOP PAYNE HAAS?
Haas has spent the past few State of Origins destroying any suggestion that he was yet to own the representative arena. The front-rower laid the platform for NSW in the series opener, despite barely training in the lead up due to a quad tear. Changes could come in the Maroons pack, with Corey Horsburgh, Josh Kerr and Jai Arrow options.
* DO QUEENSLAND HAVE TO START HARRY GRANT?
Grant had the worst Origin of his career in game one, after being targeted by the Blues pack early. Grant has previously come off the bench with Ben Hunt starting at hooker, but that is out of the question this year given the Brisbane playmaker's injury. One option could be the Maroons picking Max Plath to start at No.9 if fit.
* CAN QUEENSLAND SILENCE NSW'S BACK THREE?
The Blues' territorial dominance was again set up by Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o and Zac Lomax, just as it was in their two wins last year. The trio prove near impossible to stop coming out of their own end, but the Maroons must find a way. Murray Taulagi could also come in to provide Queensland their own early-set firepower, if he recovers from a calf tear.
* HAVE THE BLUES FOUND THEIR PERFECT MATCH?
There were plenty of questions around how Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary would combine in the series opener, but they were answered in the first 40 minutes. The pair linked up regularly in attack, Moses was free to run and Cleary still had the most touches. The Maroons must find a way to limit the duo's time.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
43 minutes ago
- ABC News
Brisbane Broncos name Ben Hunt and Billy Walters in halves to face Dolphins NRL round 24
The Brisbane Broncos have named a new halves pairing for this weekend's crucial derby against the Dolphins, after injury chaos hit the club last weekend. The Broncos lost halfback Adam Reynolds and five-eighth Ezra Mam on the same play during the club's 22-2 loss away to the Melbourne Storm last Thursday. Both men were chasing Storm winger Xavier Coates when they pulled up with hamstring injuries and limped off the field. Ben Hunt and Billy Walters will suit up in the halves for the Broncos this Saturday against the Dolphins, as the club attempts to reset and push for the finals. Hunt has played the majority of his 348 NRL matches in the halves, including the first 10 rounds of this season. Hunt was Brisbane's halfback in their 2015 grand final defeat to the North Queensland Cowboys. Despite spending most of his career at Brisbane as a hooker, Walters — the son of former coach Kevin Walters — has experience in the halves for both the Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers. Walters and Hunt have been Maguire's first and second choice number nine. Their move to the halves has opened the door for Cory Paix to be named the starting hooker. The Broncos are sixth on the NRL ladder, but are only one win better off than the Sydney Roosters, who sit ninth. Brisbane could end next weekend as high as fifth on the NRL ladder with a win over the eighth-placed Dolphins. But a loss on Saturday, and other results going against them, could drop the Broncos down to ninth with three matches remaining before the finals. Reynolds and Mam both injured their hamstrings while chasing Melbourne winger Xavier Coates last Thursday. Late in the same match, Brisbane's night worsened when outside back Selwyn Cobbo also limped off with a hamstring injury. In a statement released by the club, 35-year-old Reynolds was said to be hopeful of returning before the finals, but the season could be over for Mam and Cobbo. "Adam Reynolds suffered a hamstring injury in last night's game against the Storm and will not return to play for a period of four weeks," the club said in a statement. "Scans have confirmed Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo each suffered more significant hamstring injuries during the Storm game and are not likely to return to play for a period in excess of six weeks." Josiah Karapani will come back into the Broncos' starting side as a straight swap for Cobbo on the wing. Brisbane's triple injury blow against Melbourne came one week after the Broncos lost prop Xavier Willison, who fractured his right forearm during the round 22 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
State of Origin AFL: Players' teenage years to determine eligibility
AFL players born interstate who did their schooling in Victoria could qualify to play for the Big V after league boss Andrew Dillon declared place of birth wouldn't be the qualifying rule when State of Origin football returns in 2026. A revamped State of Origin game is all but certain to take place next February following the successful pre-season match between Fremantle and the Indigenous All Stars. It's likely to be played in Perth, with Western Australia taking on Victoria. On Tuesday, Dillon confirmed the criteria for players to qualify for respective states would follow a historic trend. 'I think it will be about where you spent the most substantial part of your teenage years, which is what it has been historically,' he said. It could mean players who have grown up boarding at some of Victoria's football-heavy schools or moved during their adolescence would be eligible to represent the Big V. Under Dillon's clarification, the Queensland-born Ashcroft brothers – Will and Levi – would be eligible for Victoria having grown up in Melbourne's southeast. Brisbane Lion Zac Bailey – born in Northern Territory but educated in South Australia – would also represent SA. Dillon said there would be an announcement confirming the matches and all the details surrounding them in the not-too-distant future. 'It's a conversation in progress with state governments and also our players and our clubs,' he said. 'I am really keen to see our best players on the ground at the same time. I think the All Stars game at the start of this year showed there's a real appetite for seeing that. 'Hopefully, there will be an announcement soon.' Originally published as AFL CEO Andrew Dillon on State of Origin qualification ahead of impending 2026 return
The Australian
2 hours ago
- The Australian
NRL Round 24 SuperCoach trades: Walker emerges as Drinkwater replacement
There are four rounds to go which means many overall players are down to their last trades (or like me have none!), but for the head-to-head studs this is their time to shine. I'm a bit under the weather and so as a treat to you and me both I'll be keeping the Buy/Sell analysis brief and instead put the work into the Q&A (as always, hit me up via the comments section at the bottom of the article and we can talk trades, team line-ups, captaincy options (and for Dave I can deny his plea to make the bye team visible on SC landing page). NRL Round 24: Teams and SC Q&A. Scott Drinkwater: Has fallen away of late. Reportedly dealing with a groin injury, has lost the goalkicking and the Cowboys attack spluttering. The Cows have a round 27 bye too so if you have the trade spare I'd be selling. If you don't (like me) then you'll have to hope that a home match against the Knights then away against the Tigers can see some half decent scores over the next fortnight. I'm not so sure, and if injuries/suspensions elsewhere in my squad allow I'm tempted to make Drinky a NPR. SELL. Cameron Munster: With no Jahrome Hughes to overcall him it's the Cam Munster show at the Storm for the remainder of the regular season. Scored 92 against the Broncos last week - though that was a Brisbane outfit with three of their key backline players riding the pine after tearing their hamstrings. The Panthers then Bulldogs over the next fortnight will prove a stiffer test of Munster's worth. Still a BUY, but I'm expecting scores in the 60-70 range against those two teams not 80+. Harry Grant: Taking a more dominant role in attack with Hughes out is a win, though it does mean less tackless Melbourne look to hide Grant a little on the defensive side when they know they need more from him in attack. As per Munster above, I expect the next fortnight to be tougher scoring for the Storm spine - but still have Grant as a BUY. Sam Walker: Looking to ditch Drinky and have a spot at flex to fill? Sam Walker could be your guy. After returns of 50 and 66 in his first fortnight back following his 2024 ACL injury, Walker has punched out scores of 80 (Storm), 93 (Manly) and 119 (Dolphins). The little maestro is calling all the shots at the Roosters and while the remaining draw is mixed (Dogs, Eels, Storm, Souths) he's shown he can score against anyone. BUY. Beau Fermor: Last week I suggested that Fermor may be the safest CTW option around for those looking for a Herbie Farnworth replacement and he duly delivered 78 points (50 in base, plus a try/LB). The Gold Coast have arguably the most productive draw remaining for any team (Sharks/Warriors/Dolphins/Tigers) and it would not shock if Fermor manages to score in at least two of those match-ups. BUY. Mark Nawaqanitawase: After a very quiet four weeks Marky Mark bounced back with a hat-trick against the Dolphins last round. The Dogs this week, and Storm in round 26 are not games I'd expect him to go large in. But the Eels in round 25 and Souths in round 27 look juicy. A BUY, but the guy above (safer) and below (due) are preferred. Brian To'o: Is Bizza back? Seemingly banged up and carrying leg niggles all season, To'o made 17 runs and busted nine tackles (and three linebreaks plus a try) as a ruthless Panthers dominated the Knights. The Storm this week will be tougher. The Raiders then Dogs the fortnight after no easier. But no team is hotter than the Panthers at the moment. And if To'o is fit and healthy then he's a steal at $517K. Under 12% ownership makes him a useful H2H POD too. BUY. That's it, I've run out of steam, hit me up via the comments and we can chat. Rob Sutherland Sports Journalist and Digital Producer Rob Sutherland has never won SuperCoach NRL but he always has an opinion on how you might. Renowned as much for his deep collection of Hawaiian shirts as he is for his depth of statistical SuperCoach analysis, our podcast regular is here to fix your team - and hopefully keep you entertained along the way. @rob_sutherland3 Rob Sutherland
