Punters with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au are tipping Origin debutant Todd Carney to have a blinder at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night with the New South Wales five-eighth the best backed player to be named Man of the Match.

Carney, a $10 chance, has attracted more interest to win the award than Queensland duo Cameron Smith ($6.50) and Billy Slater ($8.00) combined.

Greg Inglis ($12) is the next best backed in the market behind Carney.

“Punters think he will take his club form into the game and dominate play. They aren’t worried that it’s his first Origin game at all,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

Paul Gallen ($9.00) and Mitchell Pearce ($13) are the next best supported New South Wales players in the market.

The Blues are now out to $2.73 to win Game 1 with Queensland remaining at $1.48.

Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
2012 State of Origin – Game 1 Man of the Match
$5.50 Jonathan Thurston
$6.50 Cameron Smith
$8.00 Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk
$9.00 Paul Gallen
$10 Todd Carney
$12 Greg Inglis
$13 Mitchell Pearce
$17 Sam Thaiday, Brett Stewart
$21 Robbie Farah, David Taylor
Others quoted

2012 Game 1 State of Origin
$2.73 New South Wales (out from $2.72)
$1.48 Queensland (steady)

2012 State of Origin Series
$2.70 New South Wales (in from $2.80)
$1.47 Queensland (out from $2.50)

2012 State of Origin Series – correct score
$2.35 Queensland 2-1
$3.30 New South Wales 2-1
$3.70 Queensland 3-0
$10 New South Wales 3-0