Position by Position Analysis of Game 1

As promised, I decided to take a look at how the teams stack up tomorrow from a positional viewpoint. We'll start with the backs:

Fullback

Billy Slater vs. Josh Dugan

Verdict: Billy Slater. He isn't known as the best fullback (and possibly player) for no reason. Dugan is no slouch but he doesn't quite have the results of Slater just yet.

Wings


Darius Boyd vs. Michael Jennings
Jharal Yow Yeh vs. Akuila Uate

Verdict - Darius Boyd and a draw. Darius has got this one in the bag on form as Jennings isn't running that hot and will also be playing out of position. I couldn't split Yow Yeh and Uate - Yow Yeh has the toughness for Origin but Uate has the raw power.

Centres


Dane Nielsen vs. Brett Morris
Willie Tonga vs. Mark Gasnier

Verdict - Morris and Gasnier. The Blues win this round due to the experience of Gaz and the lightening speed of Morris. Nielsen will have his hands full tomorrow night on debut and Tonga will have a tough job of keeping Gasnier in check.

Halves

Darren Lockyer vs, Jamie Soward
Jonathon Thurston vs. Mitchell Pearce

Verdict - Locky and JT. By a country mile. Soward's kicking game will provide the outside backs with some options however the experience of Locky will shine through yet again. JT and Pearce is a no-contest - the world's best halfback against a misfiring Roosters halfback, give me a break.

Front Row


Matt Scott vs. Jason King
Cameron Smith vs. Michael Ennis
Petero Civoniceva vs. Kade Snowden

Verdict: Scott, Smith and Snowden. Some will argue that I'm wrong in picking Snowden over Petero but in all honesty, Snowden has the fire in him to produce something special for the Blues on Wednesday. I'm not saying Petero shouldn't be there and that he won't play as well as he always does but Snowden will be a handful. Smith was an easy choice and Scott has been the form front-rower for QLD as far as I'm concerned and should dominate King.

Back Row


Sam Thaiday vs. Beau Scott
Nate Myles vs. Greg Bird
Ash Harrison vs. Paul Gallen

Verdict: Thaiday, Draw and Gallen. Sammy is the easy choice for me, he has much more impact than Scott. Bird and Myles is a split - Bird doesn't have the runs on the board in terms of Origin football but has a bit more club form compared to Myles. Myles traditionally steps up for these games though. To the dismay of QLD fans, Gallen takes Harrison in a canter as he has been the shining light out of Cronulla this season, and for their past few seasons as well.

Bench

Cooper Cronk vs. Dean Young
Corey Parker vs. Trent Merrin
Jacob Lillyman vs. Ben Creagh
Ben Hannant vs. Tim Mannah

Verdict: Young, Parker, Creagh and Hannant. QLD and NSW split it down the line here. I had to pick Young over Cooper (just) due to versatility. Not necessarily Young's versatility, but he fits into NSW better than Cronk does for QLD. Cronk can cover no. 7 and Hooker in a pinch - NSW have Bird and Beau Scott to give NSW the edge there in coverage. Parker has been the form backrower for Brisbane over the last few years and deserves his call-up, easily taking Trent Merrin. Creagh gets the better of Lillyman, who can consider himself lucky to be selected. I would have picked Dallas Johnson personally. Hannant takes Mannah in a canter as well.

So that works out to 9 for QLD, 2 draws and 6 for NSW. I think the match will be a little closer than everyone thinks but QLD should win fairly comfortably. It won't be 40-0, but more along the lines of 24-10.

QUEENSLANDER!