QLD: Will Lockyer be moved to fullback?

[DeeGan]

QLD: Will Lockyer be moved to fullback?

After last night's 30 minutes at fullback, there was enough there from Lockyer to suggest that he could be up to taking the number one jersey for Queensland allowing Thurston and Prince to be in the halves. I guess this will depend on the form of Prince who is below par in 2006 in comparison to 2004/05.

Thoughts?

[Steelers]

After seeing him last night... I think he will get picked at fullback.

[Teegy]

He should be but you never know what selectors and coaches do

[Steelers]

He should be but you never know what selectors and coaches do

Well they did pick Karmichael Hunt :whatd:

[Kallan]

Depends if Prince is playing well, if he is then I think Lockyer will get moved to full back, other wise he will be five eighth with Bowen at fullback.

[Moejoe]

Lokyer in my opinion Played himself out of the no.6 and into the no.1.

Without a question of a doubt Lockyer was very quiet in the first 50 minutes of that game and when thurston came on, Lockyer really opened up.. He was floating in and around the line in offence, Which all good full backs should do.

If lockyer plays rep football in No. 6 again I will be very surprised.

[[BroncosGirl]]

Im not sure. Because where does that place Bowen and sorts? We don't want to play to many out of position. And Locky isnt out of position in either No.1 or No.6. I would be happy either way really.

[Teegy]

Bowen would be on the bench like the last few years as an impact player.

IMO this would be the best backline for QLD

1) D Lockyer (c)
2) G Inglis
3) Steve Bell
4) W Tonga or swap with Hodges
5) J Hodges or swap with Tonga
6) J Thurston
7) S Prince
14) M Bowen

[Coaster]

I agree with Tegee
For qld i think it would be a good idea to pick a side with

1. Lockyer
6. Thurston
7. Prince
14. Bowen

After 20 min, Bring Bowen into fullback moving Lockyer into the line, You could leave Prince at half, and maybe move Thurston into Lock.

Lockyer looked awesome at Fullback last night, im not saying move him there fulltime, but he is defenitly more of a hole runner than a tactician.

I watched Johns last night at the game, and he barely moves, he strides around like Lewis did behind play, watching sceaming, and thinking 2 plays ahead. To try and make Locker this player eliminates his best asset, and thats seeing the play as it evolves and suming up the action on the run.


He watches the defence, counts there numbers and hits holes like no other fullback. But he needs the ability to become the extra man for it to be effective.

Lockyer is great at 5/8, but he is simply sensational as a fullback.

PS Teegy please never mention Hodges at wing again for SOO:roll:

[[BroncosGirl]]

PS Teegy please never mention Hodges at wing again for SOO:roll:

Agreed. Hodges should always be in the centres so S.O.O. Must be there ;)

[Teegy]

Hodges i should be their but what about Beel and Tong. bell would be a crap winger and hodges is a better winger than Tonga

[[BroncosGirl]]

Hodges i should be their but what about Beel and Tong. bell would be a crap winger and hodges is a better winger than Tonga

Bell in the centres true. Tonga is questionable, hasn't done as much as the other two. So in fairness HOdges shouldn't have to give up his centre spot for him, when we all knew HOdges would be much more value to the QLD team in centre then winger spot.

[Teegy]

well who for the other wing then. Slater in game 2 but QLD dont have many options

[[BroncosGirl]]

well who for the other wing then. Slater in game 2 but QLD dont have many options

Tonga can always still slot in there, it is a tough choice. Thaiday could slot in too, but we don't know how he would go there, having never seen him on the wing. Tate is always a option too, had a stint at winger before.

[Coaster]

Hopefully tate will be full fit

[[BroncosGirl]]

Hopefully tate will be full fit

Ig uess we'll see how he pulls up after this weekend then.

[Chaos]

Chaos' back line,

Lockyer
Wesser
Tonga
Hodges
Inglis
Thurston
Prince

Supersub: Bowen

[Teegy]

Chaos' back line,

Lockyer
Wesser
Tonga
Hodges
Inglis
Thurston
Prince

Supersub: Bowen
how could you leave Bell out for Wesser?

[Chaos]

how could you leave Bell out for Wesser?

Wesser has had the experience at fullback and will read the kicking game better.
He'll know when to drop back and his experience with the high ball will help defuse bombs in goal.

Oh...and he has more pace.

[Coaster]

Hopefully Tate is fit and playing good footy.
then the backline could even look like this

1. Lockyer
2. Tate
3. Bell
4. Hodges
5. Inglis
6. Thurston
7. Prince
8. Petro
9. Smith
10 Price
11 Crocker
12 Johnson
13 Harrison

After 15 i still want it to look like this

1. Bowen
2. Tate
3. Bell
4. Hodges
5. Inglis
6. Lockyer
7. Prince
8. Webb
9. Smith
10 Tronc
11 Harrison
12 Crocker
13 Thurston

[Coaster]

I dont rate Wesser, he is too short, lacks vision, and doesnt provide anything in defence

[Teegy]

Bell is the form centre of the whole comp. he has to be ther before Hodges, Tonga or wesser

[Chaos]

Bell is the form centre of the whole comp. he has to be ther before Hodges, Tonga or wesser

Tonga is my first choice centre even if he's not shining behind a side with no half back.

Hodges or Bell in the centres...it really doesn't worry me.

[Chaos]

I dont rate Wesser, he is too short, lacks vision, and doesnt provide anything in defence

We're talking about the wing position for Wesser, the vision he needs on the wing is less then what is needed in the fullback position he has been playing. He wont be making all that many tackles, so I don't think that will be a worry.

He has plenty of pace and is strong heading for the line.
The only downfall is his height when jumping for the ball but he is black, so he can jump.

[Supergoose]

I'm not sure about the Lockyer move to fullback, but the more I read about what Big Mal is saying then I get kind of nervous about it. I reckon Mal will use him there. I guess the argument comes down to which two players does Mal want in his side from Bowen, Hunt and Prince.

Thurston is a dead cert, so if Mal wants to use Prince then Lockyer will revert to fullback with either Hunt or Bowen on the bench and Mal has already espoused the virtues of Hunt's versatility so read into that what you will. If Mal would prefer Hunt and Bowen over Prince then he will go with Lockyer at 5/8.

My backline with apologies to the Bell supporters (you do know Orford plays for NSW?) is Bowen, Inglis, Hodges, Tonga, Wesser, Lockyer, Thurston with Hunt on the bench. Wesser is in excellent form at the moment and while Tonga is not in as good as form as Bell he is a better player IMO. Suspension might cost Tonga his place for Bell for SOO 1. Hoping that Cooper is stuck with for NSW so it won't matter but if they pick Tahu then Bell will have his work cut out. If Billy Slater was available I think he would be Wesser's biggest competition for a wing spot.

Whatever happens, I reckon it is Qld's SOO to lose this year and I think only the selectors and Big Mal can ruin it by stuffing up the selections. Qld definitely have the better cattle for this years series IMO.

[Chaos]

QLD has great depth in the backs but we lack quality props and second rowers.
Petro is one prop but although the others might be experienced, there not hard enough for Origin.
Webb was effective from the bench last year and I'm thinking of using him and Bowen from the bench.

[Supergoose]

Plenty of forwards are in good form for Qld although they are back rowers. It is a shame that Ben Ross got injured as he was starting to play really well. Shane Tronc, Petero Civoniceva and Carl Webb will have to take the majority or the front row responsibility with backup from Corey Parker or Steve Price.

[Chaos]

Plenty of forwards are in good form for Qld although they are back rowers. It is a shame that Ben Ross got injured as he was starting to play really well. Shane Tronc, Petero Civoniceva and Carl Webb will have to take the majority or the front row responsibility with backup from Corey Parker or Steve Price.

It is a shame Ben Ross is injured and now it looks like Crocker will be suspended, our forward pack is in trouble.

I'm not a fan of Parker and although Price is a smart prop, he gets taking backwards in Origin.
Thorn gets tackled before he can take two steps.

Webb, Petro, Smith and Harrison are penciled in.
If we can't get the grunt up front, we might need a mobile pack and play a different game.

[DeeGan]

My backline as of right now; Bowen, Inglis, Bell, Hodges, *Tate, Lockyer (c), Thurston

As for Corey Parker, he isn't Origin standard - Steve Price has to be included in the 17 as a starter or the third prop on the bench.

As for Cameron Smith being pencilled in, more than likely, the Payne from the Cowboys will contend if Thurston is halfback and Bowen retains the fullback spot. Those three as a combination would be dynamic for QLD. Hard to drop Smith, though this combo will be and should be considered.

[[BroncosGirl]]

I have no idea any more too many choices :p I think Tate pulled up ok after todays game, didn't do too badly, was abit restricted being cautious. But defensivley was pretty good, and returned kicks pretty well. Made some good runs, but the ball didn't get out his way as much today. I th ink he'd slot in nicely depening on how he goes in the next couple of games.

I'd like:

1. Bowen
2. Tate
3. Hodges
4. Bell
5. Inglis
6. Locky
7. Thurston

- But if Lockyer is going to go to FB, then Locky to FB, Bowen on bench.

AS for Parker, I think he would be up to Origin standards if he was an 80min player and not an impact player. He plays much better when hes on for the 80, he was fantastic today.

I would like to see Hunt there somewhere, but theres so many people who could fill the spots he could fill. I mean you coudl put him in FB with Bowen on the bench, but I think Bowen warrants the FB spot more then Hunt. Sticking H unt on the bench is also an option, but I guess that depends on wether Locky is 5/8 or FB.

[Chaos]

As for Cameron Smith being pencilled in, more than likely, the Payne from the Cowboys will contend if Thurston is halfback and Bowen retains the fullback spot. Those three as a combination would be dynamic for QLD.



Yeah...you raise a good argument for Payne...he's been playing well and there is the combination there but I honestly think we have a better chance with Prince at half back.
I can't wait to see Prince and Cameron Smith and Lockyer play together.
They will be one step ahead of the Blues no matter who we have in the forwards.

[Townsville Titan]

With the way Bowen, Hunt, and Wesser's playing i couldnt imagine any of them being overlooked to put lockyer at fullback...

[Teegy]

THE push for Queensland to accommodate their riches in the halves by switching Darren Lockyer to fullback is doomed to fail, with selectors set to choose the Brisbane player at five-eighth and Johnathan Thurston at halfback for State of Origin I.

That would leave halfback Scott Prince to hope the balance of other selections falls in his favour and allows him to gain a spot on the bench when the team for the May 24 game at Telstra Stadium is named on Monday.

The Herald has learned the selectors are firm in their belief that a Lockyer-Thurston combination is the way to go in the halves, but that they remain undecided between Karmichael Hunt and Matt Bowen for fullback.

Prince's best chance to survive will be if they go for North Queensland's Bowen at fullback ahead of Brisbane's Hunt, who was a surprise choice ahead of Bowen at fullback in the Australian team for the Test against New Zealand last Friday.

The selectors are likely to go with one back and three forwards on the bench and if Hunt is picked for number one, Bowen is likely to survive on the bench because of his ability to cover several back line positions and hooker.

But if Bowen is picked at fullback, the less versatile Hunt is likely to miss out altogether, strengthening Prince's chances to pick up a bench spot.

The fact the selectors have Lockyer, Thurston and Wests Tigers' Prince to pick from in the halves has led to speculation they will drop Lockyer back to his old position at fullback to fit all three stars into the run-on side.

Maroons greats Paul Vautin and Trevor Gillmeister are the latest to back that suggestion, with both picking Lockyer at fullback, Thurston at five-eighth and Prince at halfback in their suggested Queensland teams in this week's Rugby League Week magazine.

But it is understood Lockyer's form at five-eighth in recent matches for Brisbane and in the Test has convinced the selectors they should leave him where he is - even if it means Prince might have to miss out.

Brisbane, Queensland and Australian captain Lockyer has made it clear he doesn't want to be shifted from his favourite spot at five-eighth in representative football, and his wish was granted at Test level when he played at five-eighth against the Kiwis.

It is now set to be granted again at Origin level, and Lockyer could not have done more to ensure that than play the extraordinary game he did for a Broncos side narrowly beaten by Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium last Sunday.

Lockyer was sensational at five-eighth, finding reserves of energy despite backing up two days after the Test to touch the ball constantly and almost get Brisbane home with a tremendous display of playmaking.

Queensland, with the welcome problem of deciding who to leave out, are much better off in the halves than NSW selectors, who face the tough task of trying to find the right halves combination with so many star five-eighths and halfbacks either injured or unavailable.

Braith Anasta (Roosters) is the likely five-eighth, with Matt Orford (Manly) at halfback, but that is not set in stone, with Penrith halfback Craig Gower - who could also play five-eighth if necessary - still in the mix.

But the Blues have far greater depth in the forwards to pick from, particularly with the Queenslanders reeling from the nine-match suspension handed out to Melbourne second-rower Michael Crocker this week.

Queensland are looking hard for a forward who can provide attacking thrust off the bench, and Brisbane's Sam Thaiday could fit the bill. Thaiday has excelled off the bench this season and impressed the Maroons selectors.

Meanwhile, NRL match review committee boss Greg McCallum has refused to get into a slanging match with Crocker and Melbourne officials over comments they made about the hefty charge Crocker faced.

Crocker said: "It might have been interesting if I'd been wearing different [Origin] colours," while Storm coach Craig Bellamy said: "They [the committee] see Crocker as a bad bastard and they were just waiting for him to fall."

The NRL issued a $15,000 breach notice against the club on Tuesday.

Asked if he wished to comment, McCallum made it clear he didn't think there was any value in fanning the flames, saying simply: "I'm happy with the way the league has dealt with the situation and I'd prefer to leave it at that."

article from SMH.com

[Steelers]

Please please please do not let them pick Karmichael Hunt at halfback just because he was picked for Australia!