State of Origin Game 1: Expert tips and predictions

State of Origin is finally upon us. After the massive pre-season build-up of the NRL season (which, let’s face it, is a big rugby league-themed entree) we finally get to give you the expert tips for Game 1 of the Origin series.

Whether you like them or not, or follow the advice or not, is really up to you.

The teams are solid, with the one exception of Cooper Cronk, who’s going to be given until the last minute to prove his fitness. But we all expect him to play, and have both teams line up 1-17 (though there is mail that Josh Morris will play in jersey 18).

STATE OF ORIGIN LIVE SCORES

So, to the tips for Game 1. First we’ll ask some of our Roar experts to have their say, then we’ll turn to two of The Roar‘s editors, and finally we’ll let you have your vote on who you think will win Game 1.

More Origin
» NSW’s impending Game 1 victory: Tomorrow’s headlines today
» Why Queensland will win
» Why NSW will win
» Head-to-head: Which team sheet comes out on top?
» Queensland will win Origin again and I couldn’t care less
» Five burning questions Origin 1 will answer

You can vote in the form below – note that you’re currently leading in the NRL expert tipping comp!

What did our experts say?
Our expert tippers in our weekly NRL expert tips were asked by tipmaster Curtis last week who they think will win and why?

Mary K: New South Wales
“I’m going with the Blues, just because I do believe in miracles.”

Tim Gore: Queensland
“Queensland to bully and dominate the NSW halves and win Origin I.”

Lachlan Bickley: New South Wales
“If NSW can get the most out of their jumbo size forward pack they should be able to overrun the Maroons and give the new-look halves pairing time and space to operate.

“But against this Queensland core, every mistake can be your last so NSW will need to be perfect or close to it all night.”

Curtis Woodward: New South Wales
“Here come the Queenslanders to tell me I’m an idiot for tipping against them, but these are the only games in the season where I tip with my heart instead of my head. Until Game 2 at Suncorp.”

Joe Frost: New South Wales
“If recent history is any indicator, this will be a dour, slug-it-out affair, with the winner to be decided by an absolute maximum of four points.

“That said, it will be NSW ahead at full time.

“The Blues love playing at Homebush, having won four of six matches played there in the last five years.

“More importantly, I’m the kind of rats and filth that tries to poison a monumental team with lies, personal attacks, arrogance and disrespect.

“(For those who live south of the Tweed, that’s Queenslander for ‘I don’t reckon their coach is much chop’.)”

Patrick Effeney: Queensland
“I think the Queenslanders simply have too much experience in the pack to let this one go.

“They’re going to attack the NSW halves all night, pressuring them into mistakes, and Adam Reynolds will struggle to inject himself into the game.

“On the other side, Queensland’s halves have done everything there is to do in the game, and they’ll make their mark early, and continue to make it at all the crucial moments.

“I don’t think Queensland have the backline to make this anything close to a cricket score, so expect there to be less than 12 points in it, but it will be Queensland with the win.”

Now it’s your turn – use the form below to tell us who you think will win Origin Game 1, and let us know why in the comment section below!

Don’t forget to tune in tonight to our live blog for live scores and a call of the game.