brainofmike
31-05-2006, 11:25 PM
http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/murray-tries-to-take-mystery-out-of-lockys-role/2006/05/31/1148956410698.html
Murray tries to take mystery out of Locky's role
May 31, 2006 - 7:39PM
The man himself is sick of being asked where Queensland selectors will name him, but NSW coach Graham Murray has no doubt Darren Lockyer will again wear the Maroon No.6 jumper in the second State of Origin clash.
Weighing into the debate over whether the Maroons skipper should be moved to his old position of fullback for the Suncorp Stadium re-match, Murray said he expected Lockyer to remain at five-eighth.
But Murray did forecast a couple of changes in the Maroons line, most notably in the No.1 jumper, predicting Test fullback Karmichael Hunt will be brought into the side at the expense of Matt Bowen.
"I'd probably lean a bit towards Karmichael Hunt coming in, that's only the street corner whisper," Murray said at a NSW Origin luncheon today.
"I'm thinking they won't move him (Lockyer) because what I'm hearing is (Johnathan) Thurston and Lockyer at seven and six and Karmichael Hunt at fullback."
That would give the Maroons more size at the back, while also raising the possibility of having Bowen play off the bench, where he was so dynamic in the opening two games of last year's series.
Murray also expects Origin veterans Tonie Carroll and Chris Flannery to be brought in to bolster what was an inexperienced back row in the series opener, which NSW won 17-16 on the back of a Brett Finch field goal.
Whether Finch will get an opportunity to repeat his game one heroics remains to be seen, with the race for NSW halfback spot back on after Craig Gower was declared a likely starter in Penrith's clash with Manly on Sunday.
Gower, who underwent surgery on his knee on the eve of Origin 1 following a training mishap, will have his first run with the Panthers tomorrow.
He is favoured to regain the jumper so cruelly taken away from him before the Telstra Stadium clash, provided he shows selectors he has made a full recovery.
Asked what Gower had to do to be picked, Murray said:
"Play well I guess.
"He's just got to prove his fitness and probably prove to the selectors that he's a better option than Brett Finch.
"He'll come in to consideration there but if Brett Finch was picked again I'd be happy with that as well."
One of those selectors is Laurie Daley, who said he couldn't split Finch and Gower. Daley, who also doubles as Blues assistant coach, said it would be a tough call on whoever misses out.
"There's loyalty both ways and there's trust both ways. Someone will be disappointed, put it that way," Daley said.
"It's going to be tough because one kid played and played so well and the other guy got injured, and he was our first choice.
"You're going to feel sorry at the end of it for someone, but our responsibility is to be the best possible team."
Despite Gower being limited to only light duties so far this week, Panthers club doctor James Harrison said he was confident the 28-year-old playmaker would be right to tackle the Sea Eagles.
"Everything's gone well with him, he's going to run tomorrow, that was the plan all along to hold off running," Harrison said.
"The other determining thing is if those wounds have healed well. One of the main worries with blokes coming back too soon from that kind of thing is a few of them have had infections.
"It goes right through to the knee and if you get an infection in the joint it can be bad news, it can damage your joint."
Murray tries to take mystery out of Locky's role
May 31, 2006 - 7:39PM
The man himself is sick of being asked where Queensland selectors will name him, but NSW coach Graham Murray has no doubt Darren Lockyer will again wear the Maroon No.6 jumper in the second State of Origin clash.
Weighing into the debate over whether the Maroons skipper should be moved to his old position of fullback for the Suncorp Stadium re-match, Murray said he expected Lockyer to remain at five-eighth.
But Murray did forecast a couple of changes in the Maroons line, most notably in the No.1 jumper, predicting Test fullback Karmichael Hunt will be brought into the side at the expense of Matt Bowen.
"I'd probably lean a bit towards Karmichael Hunt coming in, that's only the street corner whisper," Murray said at a NSW Origin luncheon today.
"I'm thinking they won't move him (Lockyer) because what I'm hearing is (Johnathan) Thurston and Lockyer at seven and six and Karmichael Hunt at fullback."
That would give the Maroons more size at the back, while also raising the possibility of having Bowen play off the bench, where he was so dynamic in the opening two games of last year's series.
Murray also expects Origin veterans Tonie Carroll and Chris Flannery to be brought in to bolster what was an inexperienced back row in the series opener, which NSW won 17-16 on the back of a Brett Finch field goal.
Whether Finch will get an opportunity to repeat his game one heroics remains to be seen, with the race for NSW halfback spot back on after Craig Gower was declared a likely starter in Penrith's clash with Manly on Sunday.
Gower, who underwent surgery on his knee on the eve of Origin 1 following a training mishap, will have his first run with the Panthers tomorrow.
He is favoured to regain the jumper so cruelly taken away from him before the Telstra Stadium clash, provided he shows selectors he has made a full recovery.
Asked what Gower had to do to be picked, Murray said:
"Play well I guess.
"He's just got to prove his fitness and probably prove to the selectors that he's a better option than Brett Finch.
"He'll come in to consideration there but if Brett Finch was picked again I'd be happy with that as well."
One of those selectors is Laurie Daley, who said he couldn't split Finch and Gower. Daley, who also doubles as Blues assistant coach, said it would be a tough call on whoever misses out.
"There's loyalty both ways and there's trust both ways. Someone will be disappointed, put it that way," Daley said.
"It's going to be tough because one kid played and played so well and the other guy got injured, and he was our first choice.
"You're going to feel sorry at the end of it for someone, but our responsibility is to be the best possible team."
Despite Gower being limited to only light duties so far this week, Panthers club doctor James Harrison said he was confident the 28-year-old playmaker would be right to tackle the Sea Eagles.
"Everything's gone well with him, he's going to run tomorrow, that was the plan all along to hold off running," Harrison said.
"The other determining thing is if those wounds have healed well. One of the main worries with blokes coming back too soon from that kind of thing is a few of them have had infections.
"It goes right through to the knee and if you get an infection in the joint it can be bad news, it can damage your joint."