State of Origin – Game 1 – Preview

Tonight the Origin side show rolls on going on the road to neutral territory of the MCG in the self-proclaimed sporting capital of the World Melbourne. This series has generated a lot of interest not by who is playing but who isn’t, the Queensland dynasty built on a core of Thurston, Smith, Cronk, Slater have all either retired or in Slaters case injured for game 1 meaning an ushering of a new guard of Marrons. On the NSW side new coach Brad Fitler has gone radical and will debut 11 rookies in what has been described as the fasted team in NSW Origin history. This series now has the backdrop of the element of surprise, in Queenslands dominant 12 year reign with 11 series wins you knew what you were getting particularly in the spine starting with Smith, JT, Lockyer and Hunt, through to Smith, Cronk, JT and Slater. These guys were proven big game players and match winners, for a lot of these years it could be argued that NSW put out a better forward pack on paper but Queenslands forwards rolled up there sleeves and these future immortals in Smith, Lockyer and JT did the rest.

Tonight on a slippery MCG surface I see this game being a lot closer than many are predicting, Qld are friendless with the punters paying $3 at the moment which is crazy odds, most of the so called journo experts are predicting a NSW land slide as well which is exactly how Queensland like it. NSW have 11 players unproven in this arena, how they cope will be a great unknown for coach Fitler, yes they have picked a very fast team but whether Queensland allow them to use this speed out wide is another matter altogether. Addo Carr and Tommy Turbo on the wings are not known dummy half runners coming out of their own half which can be crucial in Origin. Roberts and Mitchell are great attacking players but have there issues in defence reading situations which is another area Qld will look to exploit.

From the Quensland point of view I think there forwards are going to have to stand up for us to be any chance, Nappa is not a known metre eater at prop but he is going to have channel some aggression in to carting the ball forward not just putting on shots in D. Wallace will go forward all game as will rookie Jai Arrow and Josh Papali will be very important off the bench he needs to stand up. Rookie hooker Andrew Mculloch will be crucial from dummy half he needs to take the right options and I think will need to kick a lot to ease pressure on half back Ben Hunt. In what will be a very tight affair I am backing the underdog Queensland under the leadership of first time captain and inspiration Greg Inglis. Up the Maroons QLD by 8!

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