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]
Brian
Guest
I will correct myself here, Bill Harrigan refereed some 21 State of Origin Games between 1991 and 2003 with 12 games going to QLD and 9 going to NSW. Sorry about that.
Brian
Guest
Graeme Major, Referees biased towards NSW? Are you kidding me?. Mate, Hollywood Harrigan, the man QLDers say was the most biased towards NSW, refereed 16 games of SOO between 1998 and 2003.. QLD 8 NSW 8. T Archer has refereed 13 State Of Origin games since 2008. QLD 10, NSW 3. Tell me again about the bias toward NSW.
Glen
Guest
"Tate never touched the ball". Cry me a river. The margin was greater than that try. And to realise how blind you QLDers are - watch the replay again. Tate may have missed it - but watch Cronk take out the NSW player to catch it. You're right - it shouldn't have been a NSW scrum. It should've been a penalty!
Glen
Guest
Short memories... Remember Tate's punch last year on a pinned NSW player? Third man Thaiday in nearly every game? The feral QLD team in 2009 (throwing wild punches at the last 3 play the balls). Myles had this coming after injuring three players with his illegal tackles in the last two games alone! And what rubbish about "Lockyer would never do this". He physically assaulted someone a few years back in a shop! Half the qld team should be locked up. Inglis admitted to assaulting his partner (paid money to an abuse foundation and did a course). Teo's just belted some chick. Thurston had those Coffs Harbour allegations that conveniently disappeared, Thaiday, Boyd, Hodges were put forward to police for an incident a few years back. So stop calling the kettle black. At least you can use te excuse that most of your team aren't really QLDers.
Des W
Guest
What about Sterlo .I played when Gallan would not have seen half time not for the swinging arm but for king hitting a man with his arms by his side.Dog act Gallan.By the way Tate never touched the ball.should have been knock on against N S W. Blues played well Lewis won the game.By the way Gallen was complaining about Miles twisting his leg I thought he was playing state of origan not bowls.By the way I played 48-54 when Gallan would have been a pussy cat.
Graeme MAJOR
Guest
The referees are biased towards NSW as any analysis of match statistics will reveal. They can't be that incompetent to gift NSW an 8 point lead. It's about time we had a Qld referee and a NSW referee adjudicating in Origin matches to try to bring a semblance of fairness to the game. Grubs like Gallen, Watmough and Bird get away with Blue Murder. If the shoe had been on the other foot a Queenslander would have been given his marching orders. No doubt the referees will now ensure Queensland is not allowed to get square in the next match. If we sent our dumbest referee to NSW the IQ of both states would go up!
nopuritan
Guest
is that counting the give aways or just the paying punters? any idea of how many actually paid for a seat last night?
Jacob
Guest
I reckon the ref's should have worn blues jerseys... wud have made sense
Reece
Guest
the person saying gallen is some captain . I agree Lockyer wouldn't do this . And smith wouldn't do it either .he one of the dirtiest players going he just prefers the sly dog moves like the chicken wing.
Simon q
Guest
The way NSW played was excellent and a well deserved victory. But as a Queenslander I must say my memory of Classic Origin It wasn't anything go's. People still got sin binned and for much less then what Gallen did last night. They were top grade intentional attacks. These are clear facts from the footage. The fact he was not sent of is a tarnish to the integrity of the game. This is perhaps the worst refing I've seen for a long time as there is no question these were normal sin bin warranted offences. Lets drop the one eyed talk and look at the facts he stepped over the mark. 10 minutes would have been sufficient and I'm sure NSW supporters after seeing the footage would have gone "good hit but yeah that was a bit much". So no 10 minutes , maybe He SHOULD miss next game then. Look forward to a 2-1 Queensland series win, you bute.
Silvertail
Guest
Neither are acceptable, it's not good to put a player on his head but throwing punches is, and you call ya self a guru!
Loo
Guest
I agree he should of not played on t'he second half
Roarsome
Guest
Can I quote you on that next time Tooves has a whine about players targeting Brett Stewart or DCE?
Mals
Guest
Where was the sin binning of Cronk for a deliberate cynical professional foul? QLDers silent on that one eh?
Mals
Guest
Go back to soccer
Mitch
Guest
Origin has been played for a alot longer than 7 years. On the front end of QLD winning streak is a 3 series NSW winning streak you idiot!
Yamba Joe
Guest
Of course you're Queenslanders - and perfectly balanced at that. Chip on both shoulders.
Mitch
Guest
Years of poaching? Why do you have GI?
Roarsome
Guest
just don't use the shoulder because one shoulder can kill.
SandBox
Roar Guru
More Biff sounds great. If Refs aren't going to police it then we can have a good old fashioned slug fest in game 2. It's not a SoO without 2-3 broken jaw bones. The bite in ra ra doesn't have much to it, pretty standard from that part of the world to bite.