Tonight we see the first of the State Of Origin 2013 matches with Game 1 being played at ANZ Stadium between New South Wales and Queensland. The opening kick is set to commence at 8pm local time with home team NSW currently holding slight favouritism for the match in what looks to be a very close game. View our State Of Origin 2013 Live scores, results and odds.
WHERE AND WHEN: ANZ Stadium, Wednesday 5th June, 8:00pm
Preview:
The State of Origin series gets under way Wednesday night where New South Wales will look to new coach and former Origin great Laurie Daley, in a bid to break the seven year domination the Maroons have had over them.
Daley captained NSW with success during the 90’s and whilst not having coached at club level, has been at the helm of representative sides in the City/Country and All Star/Indigenous series with success.
Despite losing the series 2-1 last year, New South Wales were more than competitive in each match with greatest winning margin by either side being eight points and Daley has named a similar side to the 2012 squad.
The four new members to the seventeen man squad include in-form Roosters five-eight James Maloney and Raider’s centre Blake Ferguson who has scored seven tries from eight appearances this year.
Maloney and Ferguson are worthy inclusions and can help NSW produce points, something they’ve lacked in recent years.
New South Wales have the advantage of hosting the first and third game this year at ANZ Stadium, the first time since the Blues won the series 2-1 in 2004 where they won both games at the venue.
Their overall record at ANZ Stadium reads 13-6 including the two most recent clashes 16-12 (game 2 last year) and 18-8 (game 2, 2011)
It’s been a less than ideal preparation for Queensland with Darius Boyd under a fitness cloud, reserve Ben T’eo being in the press for all the wrong reason and on Sunday night, star halfback Jonathon Thurston was reported to be suffering from the flu.
Over the last seven series however, Queensland has been able to build a foundation and believe in themselves and each other that enable them to produce the goods more often than not, as demonstrated by a Cooper Cronk’s field goal in the dying stages of Game III last year to break a 20-20 scoreline.
They possess one of the most potent back-lines in modern football and only twice in the past fourteen matches, have NSW been able to restrict them to less than 16 points.
With plenty of effective kicking options (Smith, Cronk and Thurston), expect QLD to utilise this aspect of their game and make NSW work hard out of their own territory.
Both first games of the past two series have been tight affairs and both going to Queensland 16-12 and 18-10. Expect this to be another close match.
The total match points 26, 28 and 30 appeal, and therefore, the total match points under 34 @ $1.90, is also worth consideration.
As to which side will claim Game 1, with a new Coach, a new series and the home ground, NSW 1 – 12.
Teams:
New South Wales:
Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Blake Ferguson, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Paul Gallen, Robbie Farah, James Tamou, Ryan Hoffman, Luke Lewis, Greg Bird, Anthony Watmough, Andrew Fifita, Trent Merrin, Josh Reynolds
Queensland:
Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Brent Tate, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (c), David Shillington, Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Ashley Harrison, Corey Parker, Matt Gillett, Ben Te’o, Chris McQueen, Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Papalii (Justin O’Neill has been placed on stand-by for Darius Boyd)
Origin referees could show leniency: Hagan
Queensland assistant coach Michael Hagan has urged referees Shayne Hayne and Ashley Klein to show some leniency in the opening exchanges of Wednesday night’s first State of Origin rugby league clash in Sydney.
Hagan said that while the shoulder charge was outlawed this season, Origin was so physical and aggressive that players should be able to push the boundaries slightly.
“I don’t know where those shoulder chargers are going to sit in tonight’s game,” said Hagan on Wednesday morning.
“There’s been a few in recent years. It would be a shame to see penalties issued when it’s just a really physical start.
“They might show a little bit of leniency either way but it’s a difficult one to know how they are going to rule on it.”
Past Origin games have been played under different rule interpretations to NRL matches, with players able to get away with offences that would normally be penalised.
Hagan says the Queensland team are set to run out as selected, with five-eighth Johnathan Thurston (virus) and winger Darius Boyd (bruised ankle) both expected to play as the Maroons begin their quest for an eighth consecutive series win.
He says the Maroons will focus on starting the game strongly and controlling their errors, particularly as they face two away games in the best-of-three game series.
“We came down a bit earlier than normal on Sunday so we’re not rushed and players can really get their heads around that start that we need to be a lot better at.
“Our performances in Sydney the last few years haven’t been as good as they needed to be.
“It’s individual responsibility across the team and buying into what the team values need to be tonight and work hard for each other.
“They do that traditionally but we know we can’t get left in the blocks.”
