Game I of the State of Origin kicks off tonight at ANZ Stadium in Sydney as NSW set out to hang on to the trophy they reclaimed last year with a 2-1 series win over Queensland.
After winning a record 8 series in a row, Queensland are favourites to exact revenge on the Blues after being bludgeoned last year by a passionately motivated NSW side. There are a number of key absences from last years squad.
Key prop and last years captain Paul Gallen is out with a hip injury. James Tamou comes off the bench to replace Gallen for game one while David Klemmer fills the spot on the bench. Another experienced troop not in the squad is Greg Bird. Facing a stint on the sideline through suspension, Bird’s niggle and offloading ability will be missed.
Last years X-factor in Jarryd Hayne is not in the side… he is not in the country! Attempting to kickstart a career in the NFL, Hayne has left rugby league behind. NSW supporters will have his performance in game I of the 2014 series fresh in their mind as the fullback ripped through the QLD defence.
“They have a self-assuredness about them. They know they can beat Queensland,” commented Daley to FOX Sports Australia’s Andrew Voss before the match.
QLD have surprised few with their selections. In a side dubbed ‘Dad’s Army’ by some, the Maroons will be out to remind Aussies what happened last time a side was slugged with that tag. A 5-0 Ashes series ring a bell?
Including names like Cronk, Thurston, Slater, Inglis, Scott and with the experience of Thaiday, QLD are hard not to back as favourites. Queensland will be wary of the massive NSW forward pack. Weighing in at over 30 kgs heavier than the Cane Toad pack the Cockroaches deliver an intimidating element to the match-up that could soften up the opposition back-line.
The match-up of the game and key talking point are the halves. Mitchell Pearce has been an unpopular inclusion in the starting line, controversially slotting in to the five-eighth position alongside Trent Hodkinson. Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk have played together before. The two have shared Origin and Australian camps, playing their way to a number of series wins and memorable plays together.
QLD are the punters favourites while NSW are the underdogs. With an impressive record at ANZ Stadium (15-6 with 1 draw) the Blues will be looking to make the most of the home-ground advantage.
