It is that time of year again, when the two largest eastern states -- geographically anyway -- of Australia send their finest into battle for the State of Origin shield. Rugby league's ultimate stage, a best-of-three contest that will test the players and the fans who put their hearts behind them.
We have all the details you need ahead of Game 1, including the teams, the odds, who will win and how they'll go about achieving that victory.
Wednesday, June 5
Queensland vs. New South Wales, Suncorp Stadium, 8:10pm (AEST)
QUEENSLAND: Kalyn Ponga, Corey Oates, Will Chambers, Michael Morgan, Dane Gagai, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jai Arrow, Ben Hunt, Josh Papalii, Felise Kaufusi, Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire. Interchange: Moses Mbye, Dylan Napa, Joe Ofahengaue, David Fifita
NEW SOUTH WALES: James Tedesco, Nick Cotric, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Morris, Josh Addo-Carr, Cody Walker, Nathan Cleary, David Klemmer, Damien Cook, Paul Vaughan, Boyd Cordner, Tyson Frizell, Jake Trbojevic Interchange: Jack Wighton, Payne Haas, Cameron Murray, Angus Crichton
Verdict:
The 2018 State of Origin series saw New South Wales with a new coach and a new attitude. The long, dark, days of endless series defeats were at an end as Brad "Freddy" Fittler and his team of passionate former players set about selecting a squad of young, in-form players. In these scarless individuals, they instilled the passion of playing for their state and the need to selflessly put their well-being aside to help out their teammates. A new, Blue era was dawning.
It did help that Queensland only had one of their legendary superstars remaining, following the retirements of Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith the year before. And that star, Billy Slater, was remarkably left out of the opening game by the Maroons selectors, a mistake coach Kevin Walters regretted from the moment his kids gave him a spray about it, through the loss of Game 1 and into Slater's man-of-the-series performances in Games 2 and 3.
New South Wales claimed the 2018 series 2-1 and everything Freddy had introduced, from selection policies to bare foot walks across the MCG, had been vindicated. The meticulous planning that had gone into the Blues' campaign had delivered just their second series victory in 13 long years. And here we are again, at the beginning of another State of Origin series, with Freddy in charge and more debutants pulling on Blues jerseys.
Queensland head into Game 1 of the 2019 series quietly confident of beating the Blues. They start as underdogs, which is exactly how they like it, and they are playing at home in front of their fervent fans in Brisbane, where they have won five of the last six Origin clashes. Not-so-secret weapon Kalyn Ponga assumes Slater's No. 1 jersey, Daly Cherry-Evans has returned from injury to lead the side and Cameron Munster has been in great form for the Storm this year. Up front they have plenty of muscle in Josh Papalii, Jai Arrow and Josh McGuire with Dylan Napa, Joe Ofahengaue and David Fifita packing the bench with the kind of trench-busting grunt that wins Origin games.
Ben Hunt, who would seem to be better suited to the No. 14 jersey, has been thrust into the starting hooker role where he will be well tested in the early exchanges. Queensland have plenty of talent through their spine, but it is a matter of whether they have the combinations. There is also a huge question mark hanging over the fitness of Cherry-Evans and his ability to compete at this level on an ankle which is surely several weeks away from being 100 percent.
The Blues will carry the confidence of last year's series victory into this year coupled with a niggling feeling that they didn't quite complete the job. The Game 3 loss at Suncorp Stadium will motivate them and is something that Freddy won't let them forget.
Damien Cook will be the key to everything the Blues do from the opening whistle. His speed around the ruck and ability to read the defence will be the catalyst for all of their attacking raids. He'll need his forwards to bend the Maroons' line in order to work his magic and unleash the attacking weapons he has in the backs.
If the New South Wales forwards can gain some momentum, then I think their backs can cause Queensland all kinds of trouble. Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco are some of the game's most lethal ball-runners while Josh Addo-Carr and Nick Cotric are two of the finest finishers in the NRL.
Taking on Queensland at home, in a State of Origin series opener, is an enormous challenge. But if the Blues forwards can make some inroads, Cook is unleashed and Nathan Cleary can find some of his 2018 Origin form, New South Wales should be able to win this one.
Tip: New South Wales
Man-of-the-match: Damien Cook
TAB odds: Queensland $2.10 (+2.5 $1.80) New South Wales $1.77 (-2.5 $2.00)