Form the main criterion in Origin Squad

[leesee]

http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18062887%255E10389,00.html

Form the main criterion for Maroon selection
Steve Ricketts, Rugby league
07feb06
QUEENSLAND'S State of Origin selectors yesterday sent out a clear message only form players would get the nod in 2006 as the Maroons try to avoid an unprecedented fourth straight series loss to NSW.

Eight players from last year's Queensland campaign missed out on a 26-strong Maroons preliminary squad named yesterday, five of them Broncos. Tonie Carroll, Brad Thorn, Corey Parker, Dane Carlaw and Casey McGuire have paid the price for Brisbane's poor finish to the season, while Chris Flannery (Roosters) is a casualty of his club's failure to make the finals.

Prop Danny Nutley (England) was not considered, while veteran Cowboys winger Matt Sing has indicated he will retire from representative football.

Chairman of selectors Des Morris said yesterday the preliminary squad was picked largely on form at the end of 2005. Morris said the onus was on those players to carry that form into this year's series, while players who missed out still could force their way in by lifting their act.

"We are desperate to get back in the winner's circle and we need players who will go the extra yard for Queensland," he said.

"As selectors, we have to be loyal to Queensland first and the bottom line is form. We've basically picked two teams and there is plenty of variety."

The "teams" will have an opposed training session when they go into camp under new coach Mal Meninga in Brisbane on March 1-2.

Grand finalists North Queensland have six players in the squad while the Broncos and Storm provide five each.

Storm youngster Greg Inglis is the bolter given he has played only 13 NRL matches, while Steven Bell, Neville Costigan, Dallas Johnson, Nate Myles and Tim Smith also have yet to taste Origin football.

The Broncos have submitted names of the club's 25 highest-paid players to the NRL for inclusion in the 2006 media guide.

The Brisbane players are as follows: Darius Boyd, Barry Berrigan, Shaun Berrigan, Leon Bott, Dane Carlaw, Tonie Carroll, Petero Civoniceva, Neville Costigan, Greg Eastwood, Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Nick Kenny, Darren Lockyer, Casey McGuire, Scott Minto, Corey Parker, Brett Seymour, David Stagg, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Brad Thorn, Tame Tupou and Shane Webcke.

Hooker Barry Berrigan's playing career remains in limbo because of a neck complaint with the 30-year-old set to have an injection tomorrow aimed at easing the pain he has been experiencing.

Thaiday (knee) is set to be ruled out of Saturday's trial against North Queensland in Rockhampton, while fellow forward Joe Clarke is unavailable after fracturing his sternum in a trial last weekend.

MAROONS SQUAD: Darius Boyd, Barry Berrigan, Shaun Berrigan, Leon Bott, Dane Carlaw, Tonie Carroll, Petero Civoniceva, Neville Costigan, Greg Eastwood, Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Nick Kenny, Darren Lockyer, Casey McGuire, Scott Minto, Corey Parker, Brett Seymour, David Stagg, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Brad Thorn, Tame Tupou, Shane Webcke.


[/i]

[Granty]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/maroons-turn-to-rookies-in-hope-of-an-origin-revival/2006/02/06/1139074167378.html

Maroons turn to rookies in hope of an Origin revival

By Brad Walter
February 7, 2006

NEW Queensland Origin coach Mal Meninga is set to oversee a changing of the guard after the Maroons yesterday named a preliminary squad featuring star youngsters Tim Smith and Greg Inglis - but missing eight players from last season's campaign.

Stung by NSW's three-year domination of the interstate series, the Queensland selectors have opted to introduce a number of fresh faces at next month's State of Origin camp in Brisbane in a clear indication major changes are planned to this year's side.

Aside from Smith, the boom Parramatta halfback, and 18-year-old Inglis, who scored seven tries in just nine appearances at either fullback or centre for Melbourne last season, Brisbane forward Neville Costigan and rookie Bulldogs prop Nate Myles are also in the 26-man squad.

Other players with no previous Origin experience who will assemble in Brisbane on March 1 for the two-day camp include Manly centre Steve Bell and his former Storm teammate Dallas Johnson, while Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga has been chosen after recovering from a knee injury sustained early last year.

Among the incumbent players to miss out were Sydney Roosters utility Chris Flannery, North Queensland winger Matt Sing and Broncos Tonie Carroll, Dane Carlaw, Brad Thorn, Casey McGuire and Corey Parker, while former Cronulla prop Danny Nutley has moved to England to captain Castleford.

Australia captain Darren Lockyer will attend the camp, despite having been ruled out of Brisbane's pre-season fixtures due to the foot injury he sustained in France last November.

Meanwhile, Penrith officials expect Test halfback Craig Gower to resume training with the club later in the week and play in the Panthers' opening trial against Newcastle in Alice Springs on February 18.

Gower is expected to meet Panthers management after returning from his honeymoon in Vietnam on Thursday to discuss his unhappiness with the board's decision to strip him from the captaincy and fine him $30,000 over a drunken incident late last year but Penrith general manager Mick Leary said he remained central to the club's plans.

"I haven't received anything to say that Craig isn't going to play in Alice Springs so at this stage I'd be expecting that he will," Leary said.

Leary said he was unconcerned about speculation linking Gower with a move to Melbourne.

The Storm, Parramatta, Canberra and the Warriors will today name teams for trial matches this weekend. Eels hooker Mark Riddell and John Morris are unavailable for the hit-out in Ballina on Saturday night against Melbourne due to injury, while prop Fui Fui Moi Moi and utility PJ Marsh are suspended but the 2005 minor premiers are otherwise near full strength.

Canberra coach Matthew Elliott will rest veteran five-eighth Jason Smith, lock Jason Croker and prop Troy Thompson from the match against the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday but fullback Clinton Schifcofske will make his first appearance as captain, while hooker Simon Woolford returns from an eight match suspension that prematurely ended his 2005 season.

Elliott, who is reportedly on a short list to replace Parramatta-bound Michael Hagan as Newcastle coach in 2007, indicated he was likely to stay in Canberra. "I've got an offer from Canberra and I'm considering that," Elliott said.

Raiders chief executive Simon Hawkins said negotiations with Elliott had only begun two weeks ago. "I think we'll be able to work something out in the near future," Hawkins said.

QUEENSLAND SQUAD

Shaun Berrigan, Steve Bell, Matt Bowen, Paul Bowman, Petero Civoniceva, Neville Costigan, Michael Crocker, Josh Hannay, Ashley Harrison, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis, Dallas Johnson, Darren Lockyer, Nate Myles, Steve Price, Scott Prince, Ben Ross, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Tim Smith, Brent Tate, Willie Tonga, Johnathan Thurston, Carl Webb, Rhys Wesser, Ty Williams.

[Granty]

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18066673-23214,00.html

Maroons selectors wield axe

By Steve Ricketts
February 7, 2006

QUEENSLAND's State of Origin selectors sent out a clear message yesterday that only form players would get the nod in 2006 as the Maroons try to avoid an unprecedented fourth straight series loss to New South Wales.

Eight players from the 2005 Queensland campaign missed selection in a 26-strong preliminary squad named yesterday, five of them Broncos.

Tonie Carroll, Brad Thorn, Corey Parker, Dane Carlaw and Casey McGuire have paid the price for Brisbane's poor finish to the season, while Chris Flannery (Sydney Roosters) is a casualty of his club's failure to make the finals.

Prop Danny Nutley (Castleford) was not considered, while veteran North Queensland wing Matt Sing has indicated he will retire from representative football.

Chairman of selectors Des Morris said yesterday the preliminary squad had been picked largely on form at the end of 2005.

Morris said the onus was on those players to carry that form into this year's series, while players who missed out still could force their way in by lifting their act.

"We are desperate to get back in the winner's circle and we need players who will go the extra yard for Queensland," he said.

"As selectors, we have to be loyal to Queensland first and the bottom line is form. We've basically picked two teams and there is plenty of variety."

The "teams" will have an opposed training session when they go into camp under new coach Mal Meninga in Brisbane on March 1-2.

Grand finalist North Queensland has six players in the squad, while the Broncos and Storm provide five each.

Storm youngster Greg Inglis is the bolter, given he has played only 13 NRL matches, while Steven Bell, Neville Costigan, Dallas Johnson, Nate Myles and Tim Smith also have yet to taste Origin football.

The Courier-Mail

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A couple of interesting comments in this story :-).


Eight players from the 2005 Queensland campaign missed selection in a 26-strong preliminary squad named yesterday, five of them Broncos.

Tonie Carroll, Brad Thorn, Corey Parker, Dane Carlaw and Casey McGuire have paid the price for Brisbane's poor finish to the season, while Chris Flannery (Sydney Roosters) is a casualty of his club's failure to make the finals.
No guarantee they won't come back into the selectors considerations though :tongue:


Prop Danny Nutley (Castleford) was not considered, while veteran North Queensland wing Matt Sing has indicated he will retire from representative football.
They'll miss you Matt :salute:


Grand finalist North Queensland has six players in the squad, while the Broncos and Storm provide five each.
hehe - more Cowboys in the squad than Broncos :thumbright:. Who of thunk it? :scratch: (besides us that is :clown:).

[nq_gurl]

http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18062887%255E10389,00.html

The Brisbane players are as follows: Darius Boyd, Barry Berrigan, Shaun Berrigan, Leon Bott, Dane Carlaw, Tonie Carroll, Petero Civoniceva, Neville Costigan, Greg Eastwood, Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Nick Kenny, Darren Lockyer, Casey McGuire, Scott Minto, Corey Parker, Brett Seymour, David Stagg, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Brad Thorn, Tame Tupou and Shane Webcke.


MAROONS SQUAD: Darius Boyd, Barry Berrigan, Shaun Berrigan, Leon Bott, Dane Carlaw, Tonie Carroll, Petero Civoniceva, Neville Costigan, Greg Eastwood, Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Nick Kenny, Darren Lockyer, Casey McGuire, Scott Minto, Corey Parker, Brett Seymour, David Stagg, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Brad Thorn, Tame Tupou, Shane Webcke.


[/i]

oops ......

[The_Darkhorse]

And this is the Smart state??

[gilly]

Tonie Carrol is twice the centre that Hannay is