KEY POSITIONAL MATCH-UPS THAT WILL DETERMINE STATE OF ORIGIN I
* Nathan Cleary vs Ben Hunt
The two form halfbacks of the competition get their first chance to wear the No.7 jersey on the big stage. Cleary got one over the top of Hunt when Penrith beat St George Illawarra last week, but Origin is a different beast. Hunt looked ready in his brief dalliance off the bench last year and has helped make the Dragons the best attacking team in the NRL in 2018.
* Damien Cook vs Andrew McCullough
Two different styles of hookers meet at the MCG. Cook is full of running flare, leading the NRL this year for runs, run metres, tackle busts and line breaks out of dummy-half. Meanwhile, McCullough is as reliable as they come with service in attack and leads the NRL for tackle efficiency of all players who have played more than three games this year. Both get their first chance in Origin on Wednesday night.
* James Maloney vs Felise Kaufusi
NSW coach Brad Fittler put a target firmly on Maloney’s chest when he questioned his defence a fortnight ago and he now has one of the best line runners in the NRL charging at it. Kaufusi scored nine tries in Melbourne’s premiership charge last year, but his game will be hurt by the withdrawal of Melbourne teammate Billy Slater who set up a number of those. Meanwhile the ever-reliable Boyd Cordner will act as Maloney’s bodyguard, crucial given the five-eighth has missed an NRL-worst 69 tackles this year.
* James Roberts vs Greg Inglis
The two speedy cousins from Kempsey line up against each other in Roberts’ State of Origin debut. Plenty of questions have been asked of Brisbane star’s defence but Blues coaches came out last week to confirm they picked the outside back for his ability to shut down Inglis. Meanwhile, Origin’s leading try-scorer shapes as Queensland’s best attacking threat now Billy Slater is out.
* Dane Gagai vs Josh Addo-Carr
Never has so much spotlight been on both pairs of backlines heading into an Origin series as this year. Gagai was last year’s player of the series and proved he could be one of the most potent players in the game on the wing for the Maroons. Addo-Carr enters the match as the quickest man on the field, and if he’s able to find open space could do damage from anywhere for NSW. Gagai has already shown he can step up on the big arena, but he’ll need to given he’s missed 36 tackles this year for Souths and can’t let Addo-Carr get free.
