State of Origin has arrived again, taking some of the best players from the NRL and pitting them against each other in an annual battle for interstate bragging rights. New South Wales are starting a new era under coach Michael Maguire and everyone is keen to see what he has up his sleeve for the dominant Queenslanders.
Thursday, June 6
Women's State of Origin, Game 2
New South Wales vs. Queensland
McDonald Jones Stadium, 7:45pm (AEST)
New South Wales: 1. Emma Tonegato 2. Jaime Chapman 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Tiana Penitani 6. Corban Baxter 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Millie Elliott 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Caitlan Johnston 11. Kezie Apps 12. Yasmin Clydsdale 13. Keeley Davis 14. Taliah Fuimaono 15. Olivia Kernick 16. Grace Kemp 17. Sarah Togatuki 18. Jakiya Whitfeld 19. Kirra Dibb 20. Ellie Johnston
Queensland: 1. Tamika Upton 2. Julia Robinson 3. Shenae Ciesiolka 4. Lauren Brown 5. Evania Pelite 6. Tarryn Aiken 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Shannon Mato 9. Destiny Brill 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Tazmin Rapana 12. Romy Teitzel 13. Sienna Lofipo 14. Emma Manzelmann 15. Makenzie Weale 16. Sophie Holyman 17. Emmanita Paki 18. Zahara Temara 19. Keilee Joseph 20. Skyla Adams
Officials
Referee: Belinda Sharpe Touchies: Tori Wilkie, Karra-Lee Nolan Bunker: Kasey Badger
Prediction: Following their 22-12 win over the Queensland Maroons in Game I, the New South Wales Blues can wrap up the first ever three-game series with a victory Thursday night in front of a sold-out crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium.
It's no surprise that Blues coach Kylie Hilder has not made any changes to the squad that dominated Game I. For players like Millie Elliot, Caitlan Johnston, Yasmin Clydesdale and Olivia Kernick the game will act as a homecoming with many of them either playing for the Newcastle Knights in the NRLW or being from the central coast and Newcastle areas.
Maroons coach Tahnee Norris has opted for change. Ali Brigginshaw has shifted from lock to halfback, Lauren Brown has moved to the centres and Evania Pelite has moved to the wing due to Emily Bass's injury. Zahara Temara has been dropped to the reserves with youngster Sienna Lofipo starting at lock.
I must admit Norris's changes have surprised me. What I thought was clear in Game I was that the NSW preparation seemed more effective (even though leading into Game I, I thought it would be the opposite). The six-week training camp meant the NSW team were fit and familiar with each other come gameday whilst for the Maroons, while the players had more game time as they played in their interstate competition, I query whether this was against opposition at a level high enough to prepare them for State of Origin.
My view was that Queensland would be better for the Game 1 hit out and with more time together.
For NSW the key to winning this game will be plenty of early ball to speedster Jaime Chapman and the powerful forward pack of Boyle, Johnston and Kernick continuing to set the foundation. At times in Game I Emma Tonegato may have overplayed her hand, so steady consistent football will be key. Rachael Pearson must pick up where she left off from Game I and control the tempo, leaving the role of running half to Corban Baxter.
For the Maroons, they showed glimpses of what worked in Game I. Every time Tamika Upton touched the ball she looked dangerous and she will be key to a Maroons victory in Game II. Shannon Mato and Jessica Elliston also only seemed to find their rhythm late in the second half and it was at this point that Queensland were making easier metres up the middle of the field. I would also like to see Emma Manzelmann injected into the game earlier as she caused headaches for some tired NSW defence.
I'm tipping NSW to win, with Jaime Chapman as first try scorer. But what really excites me about this game is a raucous Newcastle crowd and the potential to break the Women's State of Origin viewership numbers again. If Game II is the quality of Game I we are in for a fast paced, exciting fixture. I can't wait.
-- Mary Konstantopoulos.
Tip: Blues by 10
PointsBet odds: Blues $1.53 (-4.5 $2) Maroons $2.50 (+4.5 $1.80)
Wednesday, June 5
State of Origin, Game 1
New South Wales vs. Queensland
Accor Stadium, 8:05pm (AEST)
New South Wales: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Brian To'o, 3 Stephen Crichton, 4 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 5 Zac Lomax, 6 Jarome Luai, 7 Nicho Hynes, 8 Jake Trbojevic, 9 Reece Robson, 10 Payne Haas, 11 Liam Martin, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Cameron McInnes. Bench: 14 Isaah Yeo, 15 Haumole Olakau'atu, 16 Spencer Leniu, 17 Hudson Young Reserves: 18 Matt Burton, 19 Luke Keary, 20 Mitchell Barnett.
Queensland: 1 Reece Walsh, 2 Xavier Coates, 3 Valentine Holmes, 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5 Murray Taulagi, 6 Tom Dearden, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans, 8 Reuben Cotter, 9 Ben Hunt, 10 Lindsay Collins, 11 Jaydn Su'A, 12 Jeremiah Nanai, 13 Patrick Carrigan, Bench: 14 Harry Grant, 15 Moeaki Fotuaika, 16 J'maine Hopgood, 17 Selwyn Cobbo Reserves: 18 Felise Kaufusi, 19 Brendan Piakura, 20 Ezra Mam.
Officials
Referee: Ashley Klein Touchies: Dave Munro, Chris Sutton Bunker: Liam Kennedy
Prediction: Here we go again, State of Origin, the battle for interstate bragging rights, with the Queenslanders looking for a third straight series victory and New South Wales throwing a new coach at the problem. Michael Maguire is a very experienced rugby league coach with mixed success in the NRL. He has been given the Blues job after everyone grew tired of Brad Fittler's bare-footed grass strolls to series defeats. Maguire figured he'd best start with a fresh approach, dropping long-term captain James Tedesco and the league's form hooker, Api Koroisau. Unfortunately, Dylan Edwards has succumbed to a quad injury and Tedesco has been recalled to his prized fullback position.
North of the Tweed they are quietly chuckling away as Billy Slater lines up an experienced and formidable Maroons squad, missing Cameron Munster, but sporting all the other ingredients needed to claim the shield once more. They will again enjoy the dual hooker set-up with veteran Ben Hunt starting the game only to be replaced by the magic of Harry Grant once the early exchanges are out of the way. Daly Cherry-Evans will run the show from halfback as he always does, and they'll have the razor sharp attacking prowess of Reece Walsh causing all kinds of havoc for the Blues defensive line.
As we all know, it is up front where the big games of rugby league are won and lost. The Blues will trot out a front-row rotation of Payne Haas, Jake Trbojevic and debutant Spencer Leniu, to confront Queensland's Reuben Cotter, Lindsay Collins and Moeaki Fotuaika. On paper it looks to be a fairly even contest, with the Origin experience of Haas and Trbojevic combined with the premiership winning grunt of Leniu possibly outpointing the Maroons engine room on paper. But, as we also all know, Origins are never won on paper, and the Queenslanders always carry that unquantifiable edge of being Queenslanders.
The Blues will combine Nicho Hynes and Jarome Luai in the halves for the first time. Both are exciting players who on their day can tear defences apart. They are also players who can sometimes be found wanting in the heat of battle. The rugby league battle is never hotter than it is in Origin. The performances of these two will go a long way towards determining the outcome of this game and the series. If they prove themselves up to the task, the Blues will be right in the contest. Any signs of cracking and the Maroons will be all over them.
It would have been interesting to see Edwards make his debut at fullback for the Blues, he has been knocking down the door for selection for a number of years now. In Tedesco, the Blues have a reliable star of the game, safe at the back, dangerous with the ball and now with a big point to make. Stephen Crichton and Brian To'o are proven performers at club and Origin level. Whether Joseph Suaali'i and Zac Lomax are the best players in the positions they will fill, is yet to be determined, but with injuries decimating Maguire's options, they are the best available.
For Queensland, Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow form a potent centre combination with proven finishers Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi providing the acrobatics around the corner posts. Holmes has been in mixed form as have most of his Cowboys teammates, but he is a big-game player and will no doubt bring his best to take on the Blues.
New South Wales really need to win this first game at home, as they will struggle to claw back the series in Melbourne and Brisbane. What does new coach Maguire have up his sleeve for the Maroons and will it be enough to upset the ever-stoic Queenslanders? I'm going to tip Queensland on the basis that they have a more settled line-up, Cherry-Evans at the helm and absolute weapons in Walsh and Tabuai-Fidow.
-- Darren Arthur.
Tip: Maroons by 8
PointsBet odds: Blues $2 (+1.5 $1.90) Maroons $1.80 (-1.5 $1.90)
All odds correct at time of publication. Check pointsbet.com.au for the latest.