The curtain-raiser to State of Origin 2 at ANZ Stadium will see the best of the reserve grade competitions go up against each other as the New South Wales residents take on the Queensland residents. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:10pm (AEST).
The New South Wales side have won just two of the last five and were blown out in last year’s game 36-6, but this is their first game in Sydney since 2013, with all games since being in the Queensland capital.
More Origin 2:
» TIM GORE: Baby Blues end the Maroon dynasty
» The Liebke ratings
» Nine talking points
» Match report: Blues take the series
» WATCH: Video highlights
» Re-live the match with our live blog
It’s easily the biggest game of the season for the guys running around in reserve grade, but there is a spattering of NRL talent across both sides, with fringe first graders looking to send a clear message to their coaches about an ability to stand up when it counts.
New South Wales’ most notable name is Aaron Gray. The former Rabbitohs, now Sharks flier has been solid playing for Newtown, but injuries have kept him out of first grade this season. He is joined by Suaia Matagi in the pack, while Jacob Felise, Kurt Dillon and Scott Sorensen are also familiar names.
The two players to watch out for though are Kurt Flanagan and Blayke Brailey. Flanagan, the son of Sharks coach Shaun and Brailey, the brother of Sharks hooker Jayden, are both immensely talented and one would have expected them to break into first grade this year.
They will be the key men for the Blues, with their combination crucial if New South Wales are to get over the line.
On the Queensland side of the coin, there are plenty of players who have been in and around first grade. Patrick Kaufusi, Jonus Pearson, Kalifa FaiFai-Loa and Patrick Mago would appear to be their most recognisable names on the surface.
Scott Drinkwater – not to be confused with his brother Josh who played games in the NRL at a couple of clubs – will line up at fullback for the Queenslanders. He has been on fire with the Easts Tigers and is probably next in line for a gig at the Storm if Jahrome Hughes doesn’t work out.
Billy Walters is also at Easts and is talked of highly, while halves partner Jamal Fogarty has the Burleigh Bears ticking along in second place on the ladder.
Pat Politini has also been a part of that Burleigh raid and will provide plenty of spark at hooker.
Prediction
The Blues probably look a little more exciting on paper. Two young sets of halves leave this game right up in the air, but New South Wales are overdue for a win and their pack should just get them over the line.
New South Wales residents by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2018 residents game from 4:10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon on The Roar for our live coverage of this one. I hope you enjoyed the call. I'll be back at 7:40pm (AEST) for State of Origin Game 2 as the New South Wales Blues try to wrap up the series against the Queensland Maroons. Be sure to join me then. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roarers, thoughts on the game?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Under half a minute for Queensland to make anything of it. They give it a shot as well, going all the way across to the right with Seve breaking through the line. He looks to offload back on the inside, but can only find Martin as the fulltime siren goes. That's the end of that. What a victory for the Blues, who had the game virtually wrapped up by halftime. Three consolation tries made things somewhat respectable for Queensland, but they were comprehensively outplayed at Homebush in the annual residents' clash. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - CONVERSION MISSED by KALIFA FAIFAI-LOA New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - TRY QUEENSLAND, KALIFA FAIFAI-LOA This is all sorts of crazy now. Where has this been? Queensland racing back up the field, Kaufusi then getting a quick play the ball after Walters made a break, with Walters then chipping over the top. Defence nowhere to be seen anf FaiFai-Loa crashes over for a try. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by KALIFA FAIFAI-LOA New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - TRY QUEENSLAND, SCOTT DRINKWATER Queensland with plenty of metres after points here and they have been a heap better in the second half. Britt and Kaufusi bring them inside 20 and they are going to score again here. They spread to the right on the last play and Drinkwater slices through the line, the defence seemingly shut down now. No chance for Aekins of shutting him down either after the dummy cracked the defensive line. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - TRY QUEENSLAND, BLAKE LEARY The Queenslanders away through Shabasaki and Pearson, before Walters dummies to Drinkwater but can't get through the line. Now Walters with an offload to Carrigan who is over halfway. Walters now an inside ball to Drinkwater, then it's back to Walters, before he goes to Anderson who is sat down by Sivo. He passes off the ground with the tackle not complete, then it's Leary who goes over for a consolation try. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - Britt with a good run to start this set from 20 short of halfway, with Martin then bringing it up to halfway. Into the middle they go, before Martin goes to the open side, but not through the line. Last play from 20 out and Flanagan goes to Aekins, with FaiFai-Loa diving on it. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - Lovely run from Seve here! They go back to the right-hand side with a shift on the third play here and he finds himself breaking through the line. Mago up the middle on the next before Anderson goes back over the top of the ruck, stopped 20 out. Last play and it's Drinkwater to Seve, but another obstruction called! New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - New South Wales over halfway, then Flanagan rolls the kick down to the corner with Seve bringing it back. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
69' - Politoni takes the quick tap for the Queenslanders and links with Mago who runs forward. Cronin takes the next, then it's Leary heading towards the line, but pulled up a metre out. Politoni takes the next and that's going to go down as an obstruction in the ruck with New South Wales picking up a penalty. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
68' - Here is a penalty for the Maroons 30 out. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
68' - New South Wales turn it over 30 out from their tryline now. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
68' - A penalty for New South Wales now. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
67' - Queensland up to halfway, with Anderson then barging through the line. Walters then kicks early in the tackle count for FaiFai-Loa along the sideline, but he overruns it, the ball then dribbling over the sideline. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
66' - New South Wales get to within 30 this time, then Flanagan puts up a shallow bomb. Pearson picks it up. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Hey X, Yeah New South Wales have been sensational. Dominated from the word go and haven't let the foot off the gas.
Scott Pryde
Expert
65' - The Queenslanders working it away through their backs now before Cronin goes from dummy half. Good run from Leary now as he heads up to halfway before they shift to Walters who kicks down to the corner for Satini to bring it back. New South Wales residents 36 Queensland residents 4