Wednesday’s State Of Origin 2014 Game 1 match is between Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues with the opening kick to commence at 8:00pm local time. The game is to be played at Suncorp Stadium with the home team Queensland Maroons hold favouritism in the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues.

WHERE and WHEN: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Wednesday 8:00pm

Odds Comparison:

Queensland Maroons	1.45	1.45	1.43	1.45	1.45	1.42
New South Wales Blues	2.85	2.80	2.90	2.80	2.85	2.90

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Tips:

Preview:

New South Wales Blues

NSW got to within two points of breaking the Maroons dominance in the final game of last year’s series, losing 12 – 10.

It was the third year in the row that the series went to the third game and NSW, who had edged closer to a series victory each year since the QLD white-wash of 2010, looked well placed at the start of this year to register their first Origin series win since 2005.

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However, several injuries and some of the players from last year’s squad struggling to find form have seen a severe shake-up for the NSW Blues side this year with plenty of new faces in the backline including a new half and five-eight combination.

Canterbury’s Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds, who had led their side to eight wins from ten games this season, have been selected as the halves over the top of out-of-form Roosters James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce.

It will be Hodkinson’s first taste of Origin whilst Reynolds only played 15mins in the final game last year. It’ll be a massive challenge for the pair charged with producing enough points to counter’s Queensland’s back-line who at club level, enjoying playing behind one of the biggest forward packs in the league who often have the advantage over their opposition.

To assists his halves, NSW Coach Laurie Daley has gone with a solid, no frills forward pack that boasts plenty of experience and with the inclusion of young firebrand Aaron Woods in the front-row, expect NSW to be able to hold their own up front.

Another positive for NSW is Hodkinson form with the boot. He has kicked them at a strike rate of better than 85% this year and in Origin where points are hard to come by, his accuracy will be an advantage.

Queensland Maroons

Queensland’s quest for a ninth straight Origin series will commence this Wednesday with the first of two Origin matches at Suncorp Stadium this year.

Queensland haven’t lost in Brisbane since the final game of the 2009 series, six games ago, which was a dead-rubber after they had won the first two matches.

The home-side head into this game looking very familiar, with the only change to the victorious game 3 line-up from last year, being the inclusion or Rooster Aidan Guerra to the bench for Sam Thaiday who is out due to a calf injury.

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The partnerships that Queensland has been able to build through the consistency of their line-up have proved invaluable time and time again over the years.

As their reign approaches a decade, many question the average age of the Queensland squad and if they’ll be able to keep pace with another year of Origin however, the Maroons average age is 28 whilst for the Blues it is 26.8.

Queensland will field seven over the age of 30 on Wednesday night whereas the Blues have six in this age bracket.

It’s an argument that the pen can be put through quickly.

Queensland’s Achilles heel will be their starts, the first quarter of the game, which they’ll have to address as for the past couple of series this area of their game as seen them behind early however, this is the first Origin opener played in Brisbane since 2011 and only the second since 2007 so their should be no excuse on this front either as they’ll have the wave of an emotional home-crowd support behind them.

Teams:

Queensland Maroons team for State of Origin 2014 Game 1:
1. Billy Slater, 2. Darius Boyd, 3. Greg Inglis, 4. Justin Hodges, 5. Brent Tate, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Matt Scott, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nate Myles, 11. Chris McQueen, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker, 14. Daly Cherry-Evans, 15. Ben Te’o 16. Josh Papalii, 17. Aidan Guerra 18. Will Chambers, 19. Jake Friend

New South Wales Blues team for State of Origin 2014 Game 1:
1. Jarryd Hayne, 2. Brett Morris, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Michael Jennings 5. Daniel Tupou, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. James Tamou, 11. Ryan Hoffman, 12. Beau Scott, 13. Paul Gallen, 14. Trent Merrin, 15. Anthony Watmough, 16. Luke Lewis, 17. Tony Williams

News:

NSW will have their final run-out before Wednesday’s State of Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium with skipper Paul Gallen insisting his side are primed to upset Queensland in their own backyard.

The Blues haven’t beaten the Maroons in a live game in Brisbane since their last series success in 2005.

Although they tasted victory in 2007 and 2009, both matches occurred with Mal Meninga’s side already leading the series 2-0.

Gallen is very much public enemy No.1 north of the Tweed and admits he doesn’t even go on holiday to the sunshine state any more following his punch to the face of Queensland forward Nate Myles in game one last year.

He infuriated the locals further by claiming, with his tongue firmly inserted in his cheek, that they had two heads, something that rattled the cage of Queensland icon Wally Lewis.

However, one thing the Cronulla skipper agrees with Lewis, who was scathing in his assessment of the Blues on Monday, is that he would much rather be in Queensland’s shoes with eight series wins behind them.

“I can’t disagree with him there,” Gallen said.

“I’ve never won an Origin series, but only really became part of the team properly in 2010, my appearances before where more here and there.

“But this team is so well prepared that we believe we have a real chance.”

The selection of rookie halves Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds has been the source of great scrutiny in both states, but Gallen believes they won’t carry the baggage of previous losses.

“They are inexperienced, but they also don’t have any mental scars of previous series,” he said, ahead of the Blues’ last run-out on Tuesday morning.

“I’ve been impressed by them in training and looking forward to seeing how they go on Wednesday.”

Gallen said he and Myles have moved on from their infamous blow-up that led to the NRL banning striking, but is frustrated at how often it is brought up.

“Me and Nate are fine,” he said.

“There have been lots of fights in Origin but that is the one that always gets brought up.”