Origin 2 Preview

Get that into ya.

An age old question will be answered Wednesday night - in the modern game, which is better, a mobile or large pack? Go back 30 years and that question was easily answered - the big guys would dominate. I started watching League in 1991 and even from then to now, the general size of forwards has changed. Players like Glenn Lazarus, Alan Cann, Mark Tookey and Martin Bella were built like brick shithouses. Nowadays the players are still big (example: Moi Moi) but generally they are a lot more mobile and quicker.

It's all going to come down to, yes you guessed it, error free football. I've said it 100 times and it still rings true - the longer you hold on to the ball, the more opposition defends, they get tired, attacking team wins. Pretty basic concept. Now, a wet track doesn't change this, in fact it makes it all the more critical. Ball control is the most important thing in a wet game. Wet games also mean that the forwards play a very key part - you can't throw it around like the Tigers in the wet or you'll end up defending for 3/4 of the night. The forwards need to go up the guts relentlessly - this is where I believe the big lads like Petero and Scott will win the game. The mobile Blues forward pack will struggle with the constant attention through the middle. Footwork isn't so great in the mud.

The other big factor will be the halves. They play the role of the puppet master - in the wet their roles change slightly. While they are still responsible for the direction of the side, their kicking games come to the fore. Nothing works better than deep kicks down to either corner - the more you can make someone slog it out in the wet, the better. I hate to sound clichéd but this should be a game of inches - whoever has the dedication will win this. I can't see it being a high scoring game, I'm going to predict 14-6.

QUEENSLANDER