The New South Wales Blues are in a must-win position against the Queensland Maroons as the 2019 State of Origin heads to Perth for Game 2. The thoughts of The Roar’s expert tipping panel are here to help you wade through what to expect from the game.
Since losing Game 1 in Brisbane, the Blues have swung a staggering seven changes for Game 2, and after coming into the series as the favourites, they are now anything but.
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Instead, they have had less than seven days – or about three training sessions considering everyone played last weekend – to put new structures in place for the biggest game of the year.
Perth is unfamiliar territory for just about everyone, as the NRL look to continue expanding the sport across Australia.
If you were to compare the Blues’ disrupted lead-in to Game 2 with that of Queensland, who only made two forced changes, and it’s pretty clear why the Maroons are favourites for the Sunday night encounter.
On the tipping front, The Crowd had a 52 per cent tip in favour of Queensland in Game 1, so you guys all get a point for that. So does AJ, funnily enough, who was the only expert brave enough to take the Maroons.
Everyone else is on zero for this year’s Origin campaign and has some work to do. Again, we will tip first try-scorer and man of the match alongside the result and margin, giving The Crowd the opportunity to do the same.
To form part of The Crowd, get your tips in on the form at the bottom of the article. Crowd tips will close at approximately 6pm (AEST) on Sunday evening.
Tip: Queensland by 18
Here we go, the potential decider for Origin 2019.
New South Wales’ new group against a very confident Queensland side. While the Blues led Game 1 8-0 and were a breath away from taking the score too far from Queensland’s hands, it was the Maroons who were the better side throughout and who made the better tactical adjustments on the night.
But for a couple of disallowed tries and Dylan Napa’s inability to fall on top of a stationary football, the score could have been much, much different.
That’s why I’m bullish on the Cane Toads. I think they’re focused, settled and carrying an appetite for destruction. Kevin Walters said Game 1 was only a five or six out of ten for him and I’d agree, even though he outcoached Brad Fittler by a mile.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
If Queensland get their game together early, New South Wales are gone. Even with the much publicised seven changes, there’s still huge quality in the Blues squad and it’s rare in Origin to have a proper blowout – I just think Queensland are burning from last year and want to deal out some punishment on their way back to the Shield.
This result will be a disaster for the NRL when only 12,000 show up to Game 3 further down the road.
First try-scorer: Jack Wighton
Man of the match: Cameron Munster
Tip: Queensland by 12
I don’t think I’ve ever tipped Queensland to win an Origin game in my life. It goes against my upbringing and values. I find it hard to do even if it is my gut feeling.
After Freddy’s response to Game 1, though, I have no choice. The Maroons will have a distinct advantage out wide with two part-time centres in the defensive line up. A week is not long enough to embed seven changes to the team.
Cameron Munster is in the form of his life and Ponga is a genius. The Queensland forwards just need to lay the platform for these two to weave some magic.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
If NSW can start well I give them some chance but I am predicting the Maroons to win and Kevvie to break free from his robotic coach whisperer induced speech pattern and give the finger to any Blues supporters in his line of sight.
First try-scorer: Will Chambers
Man of the match: Cameron Munster
Tip: New South Wales by 4
Far out! How can something as good as last year’s Origin series win turn already? My first draft of this was an expletive-laden rant about barefoot yoga and selection roulette, but Scott made me re-write it.
We’ve gone from starting a dynasty (#oneinarow) after Game 2 last year to chopping and changing our halves, dropping superstars, recalling players whose papers had been stamped and picking anyone but centres in the centres.
Freddy also seems to have an allergy to picking front rowers. I’m not sure why he doesn’t like them. I don’t remember too many of them catching him in his playing days. Maybe they’re not flexible enough for his yoga sessions? Certainly, no one likes it when a prop takes his shoes off.
To top it off, just when we thought the tide was turning with the retirement of the big four, the large six and the uncomfortably sized three, Ponga and Munster have emerged threatening to make the next decade look as bleak as the last. Far out.
Anyway… NSW to win. Trbojevic first try (see what I did there? – alright Scott, make it Tom) and James Tedesco man of the match.
There is always next year.
First try-scorer: Tom Trbojevic
Man of the match: James Tedesco
Tip: New South Wales by 8
Just how much pressure is on Nathan Cleary and James Maloney here? Seriously, it’s the biggest game of their respective lives, and given state of career, probably even bigger for Cleary.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
Thrust into a decider at State of Origin level while underperforming at club level – I doubt it gets much tougher than that. Cleary has been criticised for his performances, Maloney wasn’t even selected for Game 1.
But then, they may as well stay in the dressing room on Sunday evening if the New South Wales forwards can’t match it with their rivals.
I came into this Origin series confident the Blues would get it right and go two in a row, but I’m less confident now, and baffled by the need to make seven changes.
It’s not even the centres or the halves which I see as the biggest issue. Daniel Saifiti isn’t ready for Origin, and with the exception of Dale Finucane, the replacements brought in to address a bench that was too small in Game 1 aren’t going to fix that problem.
Bench management was the big issue for the Blues in Game 1 as they squandered their lead, and they need to find a way to change that around in Game 2. Tariq Sims adds a bit of flexibility and Finucane will play big minutes, but up against the Queensland pack, which will be led by the firey Dylan Napa and Josh Papalii again, it’s going to be incredibly tough to slow them down.
If the Maroons get enough possession and territory, they will make the Blues pay. Cameron Munster and Kalyn Ponga will make sure of it.
Nearly everything is screaming out to pick Queensland, but I just can’t do it. Origin clean sweeps are rare, and the Blues weren’t that far off the pace in Game 1. NSW to level the series and give us the decider we all (well, most of us), want, with Cleary to be the star of the show.
First try-scorer: Blake Ferguson
Man of the match: Nathan Cleary
Be sure to get your tips in on the form below by 6pm (AEST) on Sunday, and we will have the results in the table and comments section below.
| Origin 2 | AJ | Stuart | The Barry | Scott | The Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW vs QLD | QLD | QLD | NSW | NSW | QLD |
| Margin | 18 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 8 |
| First try-scorer | Wighton | Chambers | T.Trbojevic | Ferguson | Oates |
| Man of the match | Munster | Munster | Tedesco | Cleary | Munster |
| Game 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
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