Granty
06-06-2006, 11:18 AM
http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200606/s1655920.htm
Maroons bank on bigger pack
Queensland selectors hope a bigger forward pack will give captain Darren Lockyer more room to move in next Wednesday's second State of Origin match against New South Wales at Lang Park in Brisbane.
Back rowers David Stagg and Matt Scott were yesterday dumped from the side that lost the series opener in Sydney, while full-back Matt Bowen was also omitted.
Veteran forward Tonie Carroll was called into the side, with Carl Webb moving from the bench to the starting line-up.
Chairman of selectors Des Morris said the new-look pack would need to lay a better platform for the backs in game two if the Maroons had any chance of victory.
"Well, we probably just needed to bulk up our forward pack with a bit of hitting power I suppose," he said.
"I think by putting Carl in the starting line-up he'll probably be of more value there than coming off the bench."
But injuries are threatening to disrupt Queensland's campaign, with Storm winger Greg Inglis expected to miss at least to weeks of football after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back.
Centre Justin Hodges has not played since injuring his hamstring in game one, while Carroll is also in doubt with a knee injury he sustained during the Broncos' victory over the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday.
But Morris said Carroll and would be given every chance to prove his fitness.
"The medical staff at the Broncos seem to think he could be OK or should be OK, otherwise we wouldn't have picked him," he said.
"He's got the same deadline - it'll be Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. If he's not right by then we'll name a replacement."
Blues
The Blues, meanwhile, will hold their first training session today in Sydney.
New South Wales made on change to the team that won game one, with St George Illawarra's Luke Bailey replacing the injured Luke O'Donnell.
Blues coach Graham Murray said he would be working hard over the next week to improve his side.
"I think in round one, winning by one point obviously is enough, but I think there is a lot of areas that we can improve," he said.
"We started strong and we didn't finish it off. Queensland came back too strong for us and we were probably lucky to hang on at the time, but grateful to get the win."
Blues prop Brent Kite admitted the team would have to keep an eye on Carroll should he be passed fit to play in next week's match.
Kite said Carroll would give the Maroons extra fire in both attack and defence.
"He's come out and said he wants to stiffen up the Queensland pack and I expect nothing less than that," Kite said.
"He's been know for his aggression and big hits over the years and he's definitely done it at every level, so we've just got to get ourselves up for that challenge."
Maroons bank on bigger pack
Queensland selectors hope a bigger forward pack will give captain Darren Lockyer more room to move in next Wednesday's second State of Origin match against New South Wales at Lang Park in Brisbane.
Back rowers David Stagg and Matt Scott were yesterday dumped from the side that lost the series opener in Sydney, while full-back Matt Bowen was also omitted.
Veteran forward Tonie Carroll was called into the side, with Carl Webb moving from the bench to the starting line-up.
Chairman of selectors Des Morris said the new-look pack would need to lay a better platform for the backs in game two if the Maroons had any chance of victory.
"Well, we probably just needed to bulk up our forward pack with a bit of hitting power I suppose," he said.
"I think by putting Carl in the starting line-up he'll probably be of more value there than coming off the bench."
But injuries are threatening to disrupt Queensland's campaign, with Storm winger Greg Inglis expected to miss at least to weeks of football after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back.
Centre Justin Hodges has not played since injuring his hamstring in game one, while Carroll is also in doubt with a knee injury he sustained during the Broncos' victory over the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday.
But Morris said Carroll and would be given every chance to prove his fitness.
"The medical staff at the Broncos seem to think he could be OK or should be OK, otherwise we wouldn't have picked him," he said.
"He's got the same deadline - it'll be Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. If he's not right by then we'll name a replacement."
Blues
The Blues, meanwhile, will hold their first training session today in Sydney.
New South Wales made on change to the team that won game one, with St George Illawarra's Luke Bailey replacing the injured Luke O'Donnell.
Blues coach Graham Murray said he would be working hard over the next week to improve his side.
"I think in round one, winning by one point obviously is enough, but I think there is a lot of areas that we can improve," he said.
"We started strong and we didn't finish it off. Queensland came back too strong for us and we were probably lucky to hang on at the time, but grateful to get the win."
Blues prop Brent Kite admitted the team would have to keep an eye on Carroll should he be passed fit to play in next week's match.
Kite said Carroll would give the Maroons extra fire in both attack and defence.
"He's come out and said he wants to stiffen up the Queensland pack and I expect nothing less than that," Kite said.
"He's been know for his aggression and big hits over the years and he's definitely done it at every level, so we've just got to get ourselves up for that challenge."