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After coming so close last year, New South Wales will go a long way to securing the 2013 State of Origin shield if they can make the most of home ground advantage against Queensland tonight in game one. Join us for live scores and commentary from 8.00pm AEST.
Ricky Stuart came within a whisker of reclaiming Origin glory for the Blues last season and new coach Laurie Daley will be hoping to go one better this year in his bid to reclaim the Origin shield for NSW for the first time since 2005.
The Blues have picked a pretty good side on paper with debutants Blake Ferguson, James Maloney, Josh Reynolds and Andrew Fifita all being rewarded for their terrific form thus far in 2013.
Regular Blues representatives such as Mitchell Pearce, Robbie Farah, Jarryd Hayne, Paul Gallen, Greg Bird and Luke Lewis also get another chance to perhaps finally end Queensland’s dominance in the Origin arena.
The Maroons have once again picked a side filled with the players responsible for guiding Queensland to seven straight series victories.
Rugby League legends such as Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Johnathon Thurston and Greg Inglis will yet again present themselves as major obstacles in NSW’s bid to perhaps win their first series in 8 years.
As is the case with every opening Origin match, expect plenty of fireworks tonight in a game that promises to be another absolute cracker.
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Prediction
NSW matched Queensland pound for pound last season and only a few very controversial decisions allowed the Maroons to hold on to the Origin shield.
The Blues did manage to win the corresponding game at ANZ Stadium last year, due to the superhuman effort of a forward pack led brilliantly by captain Paul Gallen.
Gallen however may struggle to replicate such great form from last season, given that he has been out injured for over four weeks.
With this in mind, it will certainly be captivating to see whether or not Gallen can rise to the occasion yet again for NSW after missing the last few weeks through injury.
The biggest factor however that will dictate whether or not the Blues win tonight will be the performances of new halves pairing Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney.
Pearce and Maloney have gelled very well at the Roosters thus far and it will be interesting to see if they can replicate such chemistry at Origin level.
Pearce in particular has often come under heavy criticism for his performances at Origin level and really needs to play the percentages well tonight if he is to keep his spot in the halves.
If Pearce and Maloney can dictate terms well and make the most of the great foundations layed by a strong NSW pack, then the Blues are every chance of going one up in the series.
Failure to rise to the occasion however and Queensland will once again go a long way to winning a staggering eighth Origin series on the trot.
NSW by six.
[roargal]