Bloke In A Bar
Breaking down the ORIGIN squad and HOW THEY WILL PLAY! | Round 11 Preview
21 May 2026
Chapter 1: What teams are involved in the Round 11 Origin preview?
Matty, I'm heading up to Brizzy for a big week of footy soon, you in? Of course. I'm super keen for the Friday matches, but I'll be there all weekend.
Yeah, same, massive games on. The whole week's going to be chaos. Actually, I was thinking, my place is just going to be sitting empty that whole time. And I'm thinking like, why wouldn't I just put it on Airbnb and make a bit of cash while I'm away? And you've been to my place too. Good spot, good location. I know people who do it every time they go away.
Chapter 2: How do the hosts feel about the upcoming Origin matches?
They call it a cheat code. A couple of nights while I'm away alone and I would make enough extra income to pay for our next trip to Queensland. That is actually a great shout. I'm telling you, it's a no-brainer. If your place is just sitting there, you may as well make it work for you. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com.au slash host.
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Be very careful how you fold that jacket, mate. It's the Australian flag, right? Spit on it, mate. Spit on it, mate. Be very careful. I'm doing well. I'm doing well, Kempe. Back from Magic Round.
yeah jackson johns yeah good i'm well i'm well it's very uh yeah magic round there's a there's a hangover yeah for at least a few days yeah i feel like i'm coming good now but um it's a fun weekend like you gotta i'm sure you experience a bit of a camping like when you start seeing people that um you know you start running to people you know and listeners and people you're making new friends it's uh it's a lot of fun it's um and it's very cool like the rugby league community i reckon it's
You know, we don't get around each other. There's a lot of backstabbing and infighting. A lot of shit talking. Yeah. But weekends like that, everyone's just there for a good time. So it's always a good vibe.
Yeah. If you're wondering where the great Sandor is, he's currently looking for Atlantis. Hasn't found it yet, but... I know where it is. You know where it is? Yeah. I should have sent him a text then.
It's on the west coast of Africa, actually. i heard he just struck antarctica so i think oh he's chasing both poles apparently he's going to go south then you go north next okay we might get the ice wall there the edge of the world yeah um send me a few of those videos so it's called the eye of the sahara it's actually just inland the west coast I'm not even kidding. I found it.
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Chapter 3: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the New South Wales squad?
most of his career there.
Yeah, he only got moved into the middle because I think they needed a middle and he obviously exploded in form. But look, as I said, I don't want to be too negative, but it was said, it is a talking point. It has to be talked about. But look, in a perfect world, you would want your origin coach because they get paid so much. This is part of the job. You've got to be good at it, I guess.
But look, we don't live in a perfect world and would you rather have been really good, not that you have to choose between the two, The main thing is just winning origin. Like you can have, be the worst fucking interviewer ever as long as you win origin. That's all that really matters. So yeah, I just have to ask the question. I don't want to be a negative Queensland.
I'm not trying to put you on it. Thoughts on Kohler at five instead of three, instead of center or potentially putting Critter on the edge. Any, any.
Yeah, I don't mind that.
Only because, and actually, Laurie did say this in his personal, and I understand that logic, is yes, he's got speed, but the particular reason that he'll understand the pendulum of what essentially the two wings will have to do, when you have to go back by fourth tackle, the way you work with your fullback, the reason he's going to understand that is because he's playing fullback at the moment.
So in fairness, as much as he's been fantastic at centre, he will understand exactly when to go back because he's actually the guy at fullback at the moment at Manly that has to connect those guys. So he knows exactly when he wants those guys back. Now he's just got to do it himself.
Didn't he only play one game at fullback for Manly?
He's played quite a few. This year he played one or two, but he's played quite a few.
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Chapter 4: How does Queensland's team compare to New South Wales?
It's honestly that simple. As the half comes close to you, the kicking half, comes close to you, the more you just creep a little bit up. And if it's a short side, you've just got to get up flat. Like, I think it'd be sweet.
But in saying that, you know, with all the pressure, the speed of the game, if you clock off as a winger, and that's something that, you know, I know we like to take the piss out of wingers, but wingers are responsible for making sure everyone knows what the fucking tackle count is. That's like one of the main jobs.
But if you just for one, like if you're on the third tackle and you just clock off for that 30-second period or 10, 15-second period, all of a sudden, if you're not already back on the fourth, that kick comes in, you're not there, you might have cost your team field position for the next 10 minutes.
So you've just got to make sure you switch on.
It's exactly 10.
Exactly 10 NRL games. It's not a lot of games. I'm more than happy with him in the side anyway. Yeah. I don't care where he's playing. He's in the team.
yeah i like i like the fact that it's the first time in a few years since you guys had fox you've got speed out there like yeah one area that queensland is always not always at recently dominated new south wales like and look you've paid for it so you new south wales have said we're going to be big and just camp you down your end and eventually score tries and queensland's gone the opposite said we will break you from anywhere on the field we're willing to take that pressure and be fit and then break the game open i have a question
Is it a problem that Kula is two centimeters shorter than Toto? I'm pretty sure that the shortest wing combo in origin history.
I reckon Critter probably would defend there on the last tackle. I reckon they'll move Critter out. That happens pretty regular, not regularly, but like when under Wayne, he would do that quite regularly. If there was a really tall center and you were going up against like maybe Izzy or fucking.
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Chapter 5: What are the potential game strategies discussed for both teams?
Get him behind the ruck in between, create some chaos.
And because, look, he's Isaiah Yeo. Anyone playing him has to think about the ball playing, even if he's not even thinking about ball playing himself. Because he's Isaiah Yeo, you know he can pass. Absolutely. So I guess we'll see what happens there. I'm super keen. I think Hudson Young and Hamola Alakawata are going to see a lot of ball. Munster's defense hasn't been great this year.
It's getting better. Then you've got, obviously, Sam Walker.
i think uh i'd assume i personally i think there's a good chance they actually maybe move sam walker to the wing for periods and they pull jojo for feeder in its center because that's where he plays at club and that also may be a reason why he got selected however there's going to have to be times where he is defending at three that's that's a lot of movement i know but like
Campy, come on. If you're picking him at seven, you keep him at three, man. You can, like, that's his job. I know. You don't start making concessions for one player. Right? Just get around him. Tell him to get his body in front. Even if he just makes contact, then he waits for inside and outside support. I wouldn't be starting to shuffle defenders just for one player. No way.
Look, I'm not sure. I just think there's a chance it might happen.
Not a chance.
I will say I think the Capewell-Cotter selection on the edges is because they want really, really mobile edges to make sure that Olukuatu and Hudson-Young have as little time as possible with the ball. So as soon as they catch it, land on them. Yeah. Do not fucking slide off them. They will fucking bump you into next week.
Yeah, particularly, I reckon, particularly Hamole, whoever's got that edge, I would not be surprised if they're looking after their half by just chopping the legs on Hamole. Like, yeah, half can take care of the top, but if you can try and cut him down before he makes contact with your half, that'll be a big way to try and nullify him a bit because he's just too powerful. He's too powerful.
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Chapter 6: What are the predictions for the match outcomes?
I think he's more so looking at the centers. If one of them go down, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the likes of Jojo Fafita go in and he might go on an edge. But yeah, I think they're decent coverage picks. Yeah.
Look, at their best, they can play really well. They've struggled this week. I will say, as you just said, if there's a fight, if you can win the middle, Ezra Mann, he's one of the best in the competition when you were in the ruck. He will tear you to pieces with quick play of the balls. But then that's what makes me surprised then because I think of Walsh here.
I'm like, Reece Walsh with quick play of the balls kills any team. And so that's a bit of a surprise. But... He had Ezra. I will say this. Ezra has delivered in big games multiple times. Even when they lost that grand final against Penrith. When he came on against the Melbourne Sun last year, he was phenomenal. So there is that. I just, yeah. But I'm happy.
For both of them though, like I think Billy's probably used his like... he's probably looked at the Bronx and when they had all those injuries, they actually won the first two or three just out of pure grit. Like they were able to get those wins regardless. Obviously now they're starting to feel the squeeze of that.
Now they've had those injuries and they've, you know, it was always gonna happen, right? They weren't gonna be able to get those gritty wins week after week. It gets too hard to get yourself up for a game. Over the course of 27 rounds, it's just too much.
um but it's like i think it might be a bit of a contrast thing like they get to go into camp they get to put the legs up for like not legs up but they get to put the legs up for the next nine days in preparation for the game um and then they get a little bit of a reset and i and i do think not that they're victims but i do think this year they've in certain games they've probably been victims of those like the the um
The injuries they've had? Yeah, I still feel like they've been able to get away with it a lot this year with getting some of those gritty wins. But I think with what they've been able to do this year, they've done well. And I think Billy goes, you know what? With the star-studded side they've got that you'll get for both teams in origin, I think they'll probably just bring the best out of them.
Yeah, fair, fair. If anyone can do it, it's Ezra. And we saw Shibasaki last year. He was phenomenal. So, fair. Finifuaki at 20. Stoked for him. I'm really intrigued to see if he does end up playing a game in Origin. I would love to see him at least get one game in this series. I will say, I think, like, if you ever wondered how much Hayne Haas is in his own tier of front rower,
Now that he's not in the squad, I think it actually makes you realise how big that hole is, like how important he is for New South Wales, Payne Haas has become. Because, like, right now, like, we're kind of like, will Adam play really well? Will Barnett play really well? Whereas most New South Wales men are like, Haas will kill it. You know what I mean?
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Chapter 7: How do injuries impact team performance in the Origin series?
You know what I would love is that shot of him with his dogs in the beautiful land, just with some emotional music swelling behind it. Maybe the quote of that, him saying that over the top of it. It'd be good stuff. Good Queensland stuff.
I'd actually buy it, I think.
It's a movie. Matty, I'm heading up to Brizzy for a big week of footy soon, you in?
Of course. I'm super keen for the Friday matches, but I'll be there all weekend.
Yeah, same, massive games on. The whole week's going to be chaos. Actually, I was thinking, my place is just going to be sitting empty that whole time. And I'm thinking like, why wouldn't I just put it on Airbnb and make a bit of cash while I'm away? And you've been to my place too. Good spot, good location. I know people who do it every time they go away. They call it a cheat code.
A couple of nights while I'm away alone and I would make enough extra income to pay for our next trip to Queensland. That is actually a great shout. I'm telling you, it's a no brainer. If your place is just sitting there, you may as well make it work for you. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com.au slash host. Alrighty, quick one.
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Chapter 8: What are the key player matchups to watch in the upcoming games?
But with these boys and the way P&G are coming on board, they can make more money They've been the best squad of the last seven years. They can stay together. They can get paid in bulk. And I just think that what we're seeing in the next 12 months for the Panthers, it's very much looking like they're all going to leave.
So do you think the club's fighting to keep... Yo and Cleary, or do you think that it's like the changing of the guard? Like Cleary, definitely they'll be fine. Yes, surely. Or is the club like the last dance when they win six in a row and then they let them split up and said, we have to rebuild again. Let them go.
Yeah, Ivan's going for the last dance. They're going to do a doco. No, honestly, if Ivan is leaving at the end of next year, let's say you go Yo, Martin, Cleary, Edwards. Let's say you get the whole bunch of that middle crew, Yo, and they're all leaving. It's the last dance. It's the last dance.
And the NRL are going, could we send our media team in there to document you guys for the next 12 months?
You heard it here first. 100%. Back in our day. For sure. Back in our day.
I'm unsure. I am unsure whether this group of players has gotten together and said, all right, boys, it's been a great run. Let's all go our separate ways. Or let's all go to PNG, either one. Or Penrith are just ruthless business operators going, we see certain things statistically, timing-wise, like you can only stay up for so long. We're going for a refresh. I don't know what the answer is.
I can make Cameron smart enough to go, right. we can let that player go, that player go, that player go, but we need to keep A, B, and maybe C. I just think it's- You look at Bryant Hall, right? would you say that he slowed down a fraction? You think how many carries he's had, how many tackle breaks, how many times he's like origin rep footy. Like he, I can see the backend of Brian tall.
I'm not saying that I'm not saying he's not effective, but like if I'm in an administration and I can't pay him what he wants or PNG comes to the table, I'm going to say, look, yeah, sweet. We're not going to pay them.
Well, I think what you're trying to say is like the physicality in which he plays with, it's impossible for that to last forever. You can't do that forever. And it's actually been historic that he's been managed to do it for this long. Because that's the thing with wingers. When you actually think of the greatest wingers of all time,
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