State of Origin 1 - Preview

State of Origin 1 - Queensland v NSW


Here we go again. The most intense rivalry and storied history in Australian sport. The most bitter competition between two teams, two states and two cultures is on again at Suncorp Stadium this Wednesday night. It may not seem like a rivalry of this magnitude due to the current Queensland dominance, but we will not forget 31 years of hate and history to suggest it will be one sided again this year.

Queensland deserves favouritism and this will be apparent when they run out on the field at 8.05pm. NSW fans have a way of convincing ourselves that we are a chance in the lead up to games over the past few years but at 8.05pm, the truth hits us like an Andrew Gee cheap shot. This QLD team is good, very good and NSW will need to be at their defensive best to stop them. Looking at the team Ricky Stuart has built for Game 1, this is exactly the approach he has taken.

Talk during the week in Sydney, as it always is, has been about how NSW can overthrow the King, (or ‘Prince’ as it were in the case of Darren Lockyer). How can they topple the giant? Stop Jonathan Thurston and Lockyer? Slow down Billy Slater and Cam Smith? blah blah blah. You can’t. They are the best in their respective positions and the best combination origin has seen. This is why Queensland go up 1-0 on Wednesday night.

Another reason is because NSW have 5 debutants and according to most NRL superstars, it takes at least 1 game to get used to the speed and intensity of Origin football. The likes of Dugan and Uate and Soward and Merrin will feel lost at times during the 80 minutes but this is how you create a culture: pick and stick. Remains to be seen if NSW will do this, but on Wednesday night it won’t matter. They will tackle their hearts out and turn this into a grind, a wrestle and maybe even a slugfest but it’s just not enough this time. The Blues begin the long road back to belief by keeping it tight, but that’s as close as they get. The Maroons pull away in the final 15 minutes.



My Man of the Match: Matt Scott

My tip: (i just can’t write the words)....... NSW 1-0.