Granty
18-05-2006, 07:13 AM
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19170346-5003409,00.html
Stats say Maroons
Steve Ricketts
May 18, 2006
http://thecouriermail.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5155353,00.jpg
READY . . . Maroons, from left, Justin Hodges, Darren Lockyer and
Johnathan Thurston set out for training under Mal Meninga.
Picture: David Kapernick
NRL statistics give Queensland a big edge over NSW in strike power for State of Origin I but Maroons legend Kevin Walters says it will be another thing translating that to the next level of football.
Walters, part of Queensland's coaching staff, said yesterday he believed the team picked for Wednesday's match against the Blues in Sydney was one of the best attacking outfits in years.
He said coach Mal Meninga and the selectors had set out to pick form players and statistics provided this week by Ian Collis from NRL Stats showed they had things right.
"It's an exciting team with plenty of tries in it," Walters said. "But it's one thing to look at the statistics on paper and be impressed. It's another thing altogether for the players to deliver the same results at Origin level. I think we can do it but New South Wales have a virtually all-international line-up so you can understand why we're underdogs."
Queensland's backline has three of the NRL's top seven tryscorers – Steve Bell, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis – while NSW has none.
Thurston, Bell, Inglis and Justin Hodges are in the top 10 for line breaks while Queensland prop Petero Civoniceva is top of the list for running metres with co prop Steve Price third.
Willie Mason is the only NSW player in either category. He is fourth in top running metres behind Civoniceva, Wade McKinnon (Parramatta) and Price. "The great thing about this team is the fact all 17 are in fantastic form," Civoniceva said.
"I'm sure our rookies are a bit nervous and apprehensive but I know we're going to work really hard for the rest of the camp and put a finish on everything and be ready to go."
Civoniceva acknowledged NSW held an advantage in experience in the back row with three internationals, Nathan Hindmarsh, Steve Simpson and Luke O'Donnell, while Queensland had three Origin rookies – Matthew Scott, David Stagg and Dallas Johnson.
"It's going to be a huge task for us as a pack," Civoniceva said. "When you look at their guys on paper it's an awesome pack we're coming up against."
Centre Brent Tate missed the sprint and endurance work at training for treatment from the team physiotherapist but participated in ball work at the end of the session.
Tate, who has been battling an ankle problem, played only two NRL matches for the Broncos before his Origin selection.
But Queensland media manager Ben Ikin said Tate was improving every day and there was no suggestion he was in doubt for the match.
Stats say Maroons
Steve Ricketts
May 18, 2006
http://thecouriermail.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5155353,00.jpg
READY . . . Maroons, from left, Justin Hodges, Darren Lockyer and
Johnathan Thurston set out for training under Mal Meninga.
Picture: David Kapernick
NRL statistics give Queensland a big edge over NSW in strike power for State of Origin I but Maroons legend Kevin Walters says it will be another thing translating that to the next level of football.
Walters, part of Queensland's coaching staff, said yesterday he believed the team picked for Wednesday's match against the Blues in Sydney was one of the best attacking outfits in years.
He said coach Mal Meninga and the selectors had set out to pick form players and statistics provided this week by Ian Collis from NRL Stats showed they had things right.
"It's an exciting team with plenty of tries in it," Walters said. "But it's one thing to look at the statistics on paper and be impressed. It's another thing altogether for the players to deliver the same results at Origin level. I think we can do it but New South Wales have a virtually all-international line-up so you can understand why we're underdogs."
Queensland's backline has three of the NRL's top seven tryscorers – Steve Bell, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis – while NSW has none.
Thurston, Bell, Inglis and Justin Hodges are in the top 10 for line breaks while Queensland prop Petero Civoniceva is top of the list for running metres with co prop Steve Price third.
Willie Mason is the only NSW player in either category. He is fourth in top running metres behind Civoniceva, Wade McKinnon (Parramatta) and Price. "The great thing about this team is the fact all 17 are in fantastic form," Civoniceva said.
"I'm sure our rookies are a bit nervous and apprehensive but I know we're going to work really hard for the rest of the camp and put a finish on everything and be ready to go."
Civoniceva acknowledged NSW held an advantage in experience in the back row with three internationals, Nathan Hindmarsh, Steve Simpson and Luke O'Donnell, while Queensland had three Origin rookies – Matthew Scott, David Stagg and Dallas Johnson.
"It's going to be a huge task for us as a pack," Civoniceva said. "When you look at their guys on paper it's an awesome pack we're coming up against."
Centre Brent Tate missed the sprint and endurance work at training for treatment from the team physiotherapist but participated in ball work at the end of the session.
Tate, who has been battling an ankle problem, played only two NRL matches for the Broncos before his Origin selection.
But Queensland media manager Ben Ikin said Tate was improving every day and there was no suggestion he was in doubt for the match.