Summary
Thank you for joining me tonight for another incident-packed chapter in this extraordinary rivalry. I’ll leave you with Angus Fontaine’s match report from Accor Stadium and see you back here in three weeks for game two.
There’s a three week break now before game two, which will be played at the MCG in Melbourne. Queensland will sweat on the health of Walsh after his concussion, while the Blues will hoping their ranks are swelled by the return of Edwards, Moses, and more.
Slater had no such concerns with old stagers Cherry-Evans and Hunt on hand to guide the Maroons to victory. Around them Dearden was solid, Collins powerful, and Tabuai-Fidow clinical, but it was a performance packed full of individual errors. On plenty of other Origin evenings a showing like that would not have ended with a win, let alone one by such a thumping margin.
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It’s hard to appraise Maguire’s first game in charge of the Blues, but he nailed plenty of his selection gambles. Lomax, Leniu and Robson all excelled, and Tedesco played like a man with a point to prove.
However, there was a clear lack of experience and nous in the period after the send-off when Queensland ripped the game apart, and the inability of the halves to make use of the territorial dominance will not reflect well on Luai, or especially Hynes.
Daly Cherry-Evans has been named player of the match for his superb performance. He laid two tries on plates for teammates, and drilled a 40:20 midway through the second half that effectively extinguished NSW’s comeback.
“So clichéd, but I’m so proud of my team tonight, so proud to be the captain of Queensland,” Cheery-Evans said. “I hope everyone sitting at home enjoyed it.”
DCE was not surprised with his side’s win. “That was a part of my final message before we ran out, just trust what we’ve done this week. Something doesn’t have to go wrong. Nothing has to be wrong sometimes. That’s what it was. We just really worked together all week. We were so determined to get this one. It’s paid off for us. Like I said, I’m just so proud at the moment and spend some time with the team, go see my family.
“It’s not the whole job done yet. We’ll enjoy this moment, it is important to enjoy it, but there’s still two more games to go.”
Hat-trick hero Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will get plenty of plaudits for his performance, not only the try-scoring, but his ability to slot into fullback after Reece Walsh’s concussion. “It was unreal,” he tells Allana Ferguson, “we had a pretty good week, just to showcase what we can do out there, side-by-side, it’s great.”
The switch to fullback had been among Queensland’s contingency planning. “I did a couple of reps during the week,” Tabuai-Fidow said. “Obviously in Origin, anything can happen. Lucky we train for it. I was ready for it too.”
NSW had more time in possession, more completed sets, more post-contact metres, more offloads, and looked to the naked eye like the more purposeful of the two sides across the 80 minutes, but they were still given a 28-point hiding.
Full-time: NSW 10-38 Queensland
The Maroons begin their State of Origin defence with an emphatic victory, but NSW can take plenty away from that performance.
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TRY! NSW 10-38 Queensland (Tabuai-Fidow, 79)
Tabuai-Fidow adds some more gloss to the result with his hat-trick try. Classic fullback running, supporting the ball-carrier Dearden after the five-eighth took the ball to the line and engineered a massive opening.
Holmes seals a perfect night with the boot with his seventh goal.
78 mins: This is going to be Queensland’s biggest ever victory in Sydney. Origin history is not favourable to sides that lose game one – especially on home turf.
77 mins: This one is all-but done, but McInnes is still lucky to get away with a swinging high arm on DCE.
76 mins: Another overlap try on the left looks on the cards but Crichton and Lomax dovetail well to cover three Queenslanders and force Taulagi into touch.
74 mins: “They’ve been the better team”, remark the Channel 9 commentary team about NSW. It seems implausible considering the scoreline, but the game has been played mostly on their terms, with the Blues on the front foot. They’ve had 30 red zone play the balls to Queensland’s 12, for example. But a player short for so long makes it almost impossible to avoid conceding the kind of scores they’ve suffered.
INTERCEPT 🙌#Origin pic.twitter.com/ZgvrpdCEVQ
— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2024
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TRY! NSW 10-32 Queensland (Coates, 71)
Un-be-lievable from Daly Cherry-Evans. After Crichton is hauled down on the right, NSW spin the ball through hands to the left. DCE reads the play like a book and steps out of the line to intercept, then sprint as fast as his old man legs can carry him. Over halfway. Slowing. Pushing towards the left corner with Blues ready to pounce like hungry lions on a lone wildebeest. DCE doesn’t panic, adjusts his balance and kicks with the outside of his boot under the crossbar for the supporting Coates to dive full length and touch the ball down. Brilliant Origin football.
Another routine goal for Holmes.
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70 mins: Queensland continue to make life hard for themselves, Holmes turning the ball over under pressure from Robson. Crichton almost makes them pay, but he’s dragged down short of the line on the right. Then…
69 mins: NSW claim the short restart and resume their assault on the Queensland defence. This time, after four strong runs, instead of throwing the ball out wide Tedesco tries to go alone, but he’s held up just short of the line.
68 mins: That’s the ballgame for Queensland, but credit to NSW for making them sweat for most of the night.
TRY! NSW 10-24 Queensland (Hunt, 67)
Can the Blues find a gap on the last tackle? It looks unlikely when Hudson Young kicks a grubber with the force of a carthorse – but it hits the post and rebounds infield! Tabuai-Fidow scoops it up, offloads to his left and then Queensland are away in broken field. Cobbo makes a dart that opens the defence, but he’s foiled by a magnificent Crichton tackle. But the Blues are busted wide open and a quick play the ball is all it needs for Ben Hunt to run into the empty space in front of him and cross for his second try of the night.
Holmes continues his 100% night with the boot.
66 mins: Leniu remains a force for the Blues, pumping his legs after contact to drag his side towards Queensland’s 20m line. Tabuai-Fidow again handles the kick but soon afterwards Martin irons out Hopgood – giving him plenty of lip for his troubles – then Robson jams the ball clear in the tackle and the Blues are on the move again!
64 mins: Almost for Queensland! With field position and a strong set the Maroons kick high to the right corner. The unbeatable Coates flies high and palms the ball infield for Holmes to gather and touchdown – but his assist is swiftly ruled a knock-on by the bunker.
63 mins: Queensland are happy for this match to become a midfield arm wrestle with Collins and Grant getting through a power of work in the corridor. With good field position and an extra man, the Maroons defend diligently and deny the Blues a route to halfway. Tabuai-Fidow returns the kick with interest and NSW are beginning to flag.
61 mins: NSW don’t reach halfway with their clearing set as the Blues begin to look a little ragged again, unsurprisingly after playing with 12 men for so long. Collins makes a strong carry, then Tabuai-Fidow almost breaks the line. The kick is misjudged by Robson, swept up by Taulagi – but just as another Queensland score seemed imminent Tedesco executes a tackle-strip in a single motion to keep the game alive.
59 mins: Queensland go through hands to the left. Then DCE straightens up through the middle. NSW are defending desperately. Can they hold on? Yes! Just! On the last tackle Nanai looked to have punched a hole in the defensive line, but as he was reaching for the score Robson flew in from his left to jam the ball loose.
58 mins: Queensland with their first attacking platform of the half – and it lasts two tackles before a loose pass is snaffled by Luai. Then Crichton coughs it up for the Blues! What is going on out there? Now a set restart for the Maroons 10m from the line, bang in front.
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56 mins: Superb tackle bust by Dearden, turning a poor set on halfway into a punishing one that ends with NSW starting inside their own red zone. We’re up to seven minutes without a stoppage. This is frantic, breathless rugby league. Hynes goes for the 40/20 on tackle four – does he get it? Almost! Coates claimed the ball but he was a few blades of grass from the whitewash in the process. Now DCE has a pop – and he gets it! Hooking the kick back across his body with the ball bouncing inches inside the 20m line. That was the momentum shifting play Queensland have been desperate for all half.
55 mins: The crowd is lifting as the Blues throw their weight around. Lomax continues to excel, accepting some hard yards infield and stiff-arming Carrigan. Tabuai-Fidow is again cool under pressure dealing with the high ball on the last tackle as replacement fullback.
53 mins: NSW are not going to die wondering. On tackle three they go through hands to the right before To’o is scragged. The last tackle is chaotic with a kick to the right corner uncontested by Queensland then recycled to the left edge. Another kick is gathered at his laces by Grant. The Blues are throwing everything at this comeback.
51 mins: NSW Continue to push, expanding to the left after good work through the middle by Crichton and Tedesco, but Tabuai-Fidow takes a strong mark to defuse the threat and then Grant turns consolidation into attack with a trademark snipe from dummy-half.
49 mins: But, but, but, but…always a but. Despite all the intensity, field position, and momentum, there are errors. Olakau’atu coughs up possession 20m from home and Queensland can regroup.
48 mins: NSW have been on top for the past 25 minutes, either side of half-time. Queensland need to be careful here. But they’re not. First Coates is drilled into the turf by Martin – who lets him know about it. Then Holmes is mauled by four New South Welshmen and drops the ball! This is stirring stuff from the home side. the 13-man Maroons are rattled.
TRY! NSW 10-20 Queensland (Lomax, 45)
Is the comeback on? NSW have monopolised the ball all half and they’re finally rewarded. It’s another directionless set from the Blues deep in attacking territory, but on the last Luai benefits from a grubber that bounces back his way. Hynes takes another kick, this time high to the right corner – and Lomax leaps with spring heels to soar over the flat-footed Cobbo, catch, and drop over the line. Scintillating wing play from the Dragon.
Hynes misses the touchline conversion.
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43 mins: No chances with the drop-out from DCE, so NSW attack from halfway. It’s not slick though with momentum stalling in midfield then another critical pass going astray down the right. But Crichton doesn’t give up – stripping Carrigan one-on-one and the Blues are back on the attack! Queensland are lucky they have the man advantage because they have been below par for long periods.
41 mins: Leniu takes the first carry of the half. He’s been among NSW’s best. It’s a good set for the Blues who get to 30m before Luai hoists a Garryowen. The chase is fierce and Coates is pummelled by Crichton as he comes down with the mark, and dragged over the line! NSW straight on the front foot.
The players are back out for the second half. Can NSW conjure the greatest comeback in Origin history? Can they avoid humiliation?
The big issue: was it a send off for Sua’ali’i? In real time it looked brutal, the way the debutant centre slammed his right shoulder into Walsh’s jaw after the ball had been released. But you look at it from behind and you see the tackle is lined up as you’ve seen for time immemorial, only for Walsh to lose his footing, skid, and drop a few inches into the tackle, turning from a hit to the sternum to an instant concussion.
There was no obvious malice in the challenge, but the consequences of high hits in the modern game are clear, and they’re there for a reason. So – Sua’ali’i can feel unfortunate to find himself in the position of potentially receiving a red card, but thereafter he can have no complaints it was issued.
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“Well, now that was something I wasn’t expecting - a send-off in a State of Origin match,” emails Harry Sachar. “The Maroons took full advantage as expected but the Blues have fought back in the last 15-20 minutes and battled gamely. Though I suspect that it will all be in vain. I think the Maroons will lift again sooner or later and get a couple more tries.”
Agreed Harry. The stats are incredibly even – and NSW actually completed five more sets than Queensland – but the scoreboard tells its own story. Down to 12 men it’s hard to see how the Blues upgrade competitive footy to a turnaround for the ages. And like you say, despite not playing their best, you expect the Maroons to exploit that overlap at least once more tonight.
The stadium is in shock as the players jog off for their half-time oranges. There’s disbelief among the majority-NSW crowd following that early red card to Sua’ali’i. I fancy there’ll be plenty of empty blue seats before the final whistle.
Half-time: NSW 6-20 Queensland
A nightmare half for the Blues comes to an end. Queensland haven’t played all that well, but they are on track for a victory as easy as they come in Origin footy.
39 mins: Leniu has been NSW’s best since he came on, and he earns a high-tackle from a standing start run. But again NSW fail to hit their targets as they look to attack down the right – Tedesco and Lomax again not on the same wavelength.
38 mins: DCE kicks on tackle four just to buy his side some territory. They have been under the pump for the past ten minutes or so. NSW run back to their attacking 30m line, Hynes hoists the bomb, and Tabuai-Fidow is fortunate to spill it backwards. But again Queensland can’t clear their lines, this time Grant losing possession at dummy-half attempting the one-handed pick-up dash.
36 mins: NSW gamble on tackle four, cutting to the right again, but Tedesco misses his target and Lomax has to concede ground just to keep the set alive. The kick on the last tackle isn’t threatening and Queensland escape again.
35 mins: Break in play for Leniu to receive some treatment after landing awkwardly in a tackle. Was that a hip drop by Grant and Fotuaika? The bunker will have a look for sure. Leniu, who has been superb since he came on, looked in serious pain to begin with but he’s back on his feet. And there’s no penalty against the Maroons.
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34 mins: NSW get another shot in Queensland’s half. This is a good spell of concerted pressure. On tackle three they cut to the right and Lomax backs himself to chip and chase out wide, with his first real opening of the night. Tabuai-Fidow concedes the drop-out – which then doesn’t make the 10m line and is gifted back to NSW.
33 mins: Ooooh, almost a third try down the left for Queensland after more good work from Dearden but Su’A ends up passing forward trying to lob the killer ball over the top.
32 mins: Robson and Martin pound Cotter as Queensland struggle to clear their lines. But there’s the release valve of Harry Grant sniping from dummy-half to buy his side 15 cheap metres. NSW are still in decent field position though and Hynes can loft another chip kick on the last tackle. Olakau’atu chases it and has a clear run at the mark but spills it forward. Spirited stuff from the Blues.
30 mins: Now it’s the Blues’ turn to get a six-again. Crichton does brilliantly to tap on a pass straight to To’o who does well to stay in play. Another set restart – then another! In case you couldn’t guess, Harry Grant is now on for Queensland. The crowd is suddenly interested as the Blues camp deep in enemy territory. Two tackles go nowhere but on three there are offloads and broken field. The Maroons are scrambling – and Leniu punches through the defensive line, reaches out, and Tabuai-Fidow somehow manages to jam his body underneath the ball and hold up a certain try. The bunker confirms the decision and Queensland escape. Incredible save from the double try scorer.
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29 mins: Brad Fittler talks of defensive confusion in the Blues’ ranks with players all over the field not knowing who should be where. The NSW defence looks like a series of shotgun shells discarded onto the Accor Stadium turf – and they still manage to concede a set restart. Carrigan turns the screw, but then Su’A makes a double error, losing possession attempting to offload, then burning his side’s Captain’s Challenge disputing it.
27 mins: In a bid to catch sand in a sieve, Lomax is now defending in the right centre spot for NSW with Hynes shifted outside. Queensland are in complete control though and go through a set up the guts without a care in the world, knowing openings will materialise when they choose to look for them.
Back-to-back tries for Tabuai-Fidow! 💥#Origin Thanks to @goodyear pic.twitter.com/64z7LYE3xb
— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2024
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TRY! NSW 6-20 Queensland (Tabuai-Fidow, 24)
How many more times will see that strategy? At least one more. Copy and paste for Queensland. After a series of exchanged sets offering little imagination, Dearden draws bodies to the ball, slips the pass out to the left, a couple of passes later and Taulagi is back on his bike, timing his inside pass to Tabuai-Fidow to perfection. Embarrassingly easy for the Maroons.
Holmes kicks his fourth from four attempts. This is already ugly for NSW, but this could easily turn into one of the all-time great shellackings.
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21 mins: That try could not have been a better demonstration of how to exploit the extra player, especially when that missing man plays right centre for the opposition. Clinical from Queensland, and you just wonder how many more times they’ll execute that strategy before the night is done, especially late on when the Blues are fatigued.
TRY! NSW 6-14 Queensland (Tabuai-Fidow, 18)
That’s what 13 v 12 rugby league looks like. For three tackles Queensland grind through the middle, drawing bodies to the ruck, then on tackle four Su’A gets his hands free, finds the offload, and Taulagi is in acres of space down the unguarded left wing. The winger draws the fullback towards him then assists an easy run-in try to his inside centre – Tabuai-Fidow.
Holmes makes it three from three.
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17 mins: Of course James Tedesco scores a crucial early try after not being in the original 17. He’s a bystander as his side’s forwards execute a solid restart set, that ends with an early kick that keeps Queensland on the back foot. The Maroons grind to halfway when they take possession before Hunt launches a massive bomb that NSW take no chances with.
TRY! NSW 6-8 Queensland (Tedesco, 14)
From the resulting scrum NSW offer little ambition. Bullocking runs from McInnes and Haas get them back in motion and draw bodies to the left. On the last tackle Luai seizes the initiative, cuts infield, drifts across the line and drops the ball onto his boot, weighted perfectly for the onrushing Tedesco to gather and drop over the line.
Hynes cannot miss the conversion from under the crossbar.
Superb response from the Blues!
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14 mins: That’s more encouraging for NSW, who reach halfway then are awarded a set restart as Haas makes his presence felt. The set ends with a better kick from Hynes, high to the left corner and Crichton’s pressure in the marking contests forces a knock-on out of Holmes.
12 mins: “You’ve just got to front up. It’s your duty. It’s not ideal, but you’ve just got to front up,” implores a forlorn Andrew Johns on commentary. The bold new Blues era could hardly have started more disatrously.
GOAL! NSW 0-8 Queensland (Holmes, 10)
From just left of the posts Holmes dabs over an easy couple of points. Queensland are in the box seat already.
Meanwhile, 18th man Felise Kaufusi has been activated for the Maroons after Walsh is very swiftly ruled out with a head injury.
9 mins: As play restarts the 12 men of NSW look shellshocked. Repeat infringements at the ruck 30m out gift Queensland a penalty, and DCE points to the posts.
Cobbo is on for Walsh, who is unlikely to return to the field tonight.
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RED CARD! NSW (Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, 8)
Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i is just the sixth man in Origin history be sent off. Walsh played catch and pass in the Queensland line and as he released the ball the NSW centre planted his right shoulder into the Broncos’ fullback’s jaw. Walsh was out cold for a scary few seconds. Klein, in contact with the bunker, did not hesitate to apply the full force of the law.
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8 mins: That was superb from Daly Cherry-Evans, and in the absence of Cameron Munster his side needs his leadership in the halves.
But the Maroons are not finished yet. Tabuai-Fidow breaks the line down the left and dashes 60m before he’s brought to ground. He had Dearden for the offload but he took the tackle instead. There’s a six-again on the play as Queensland pour forward – but the momentum is halted with play brought back to deal with a head injury. Reece Walsh is out cold in back play. This could be significant.
Great vision from DCE! 👏#Origin pic.twitter.com/K84yf3ey4y
— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2024
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TRY! NSW 0-6 Queensland (Hunt, 5)
Queensland use four tackles to drive the ball safely up the guts, finally spreading to the right before Nanai is hauled down. From the quick play-the-ball DCE gets to work, darting from dummy-half to the blindside then hooking a beautiful offload inside for Hunt to hit on the burst and crash over the line with two Blues hanging on. One attack, one try. Queensland doing Queensland things. And it all came from NSW pressure at the other end.
Holmes makes no mess with the conversion from just right of the posts.
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4 mins: The first penalty of the match goes to NSW after Tedesco’s forward momentum turns Tabuai-Fidow’s strong tackle into a dangerous tip. Tedesco is soon back in the thick of the action, driving the Blues inside Queensland’s 20, but a spell of dangerous pressure is released when Hynes overcooks a grubber and the Maroons are gifted a seven tackle set.
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2 mins: Thankfully, the opening carry passes off safely – Collins taking the hit-up for Queensland. Walsh kicks on tackle four, belting the ball miles for Tedesco to gather. NSW drive to halfway and a solid set ends with Luai launching a bomb in Walsh’s direction.
Kick-off!
2024 State of Origin is under way…
The Welcome to Country is delivered impressively by 21-year-old Savannah Fynn. The national anthem meanwhile is probably already a meme after it was turned into a bush ballad by Idol contestant Dylan Wright.
Now the opening chords of Metallica’s Enter Sandman reverberate around the stadium as Jake Trbojevic leads the Blues into the arena to a deafening roar. Nicho Hynes puffs out his cheeks, smoke obscures the floodlights, kick-off is imminent.
Meanwhile, the klaxons sound, the strobe lights flash and the pyrotechnics fire off as the Maroons burst up the race and onto the turf – to a chorus of boos.
The Blues are on their massive pre-match hike from the Centre of Excellence, under the adjoining tunnel, and into the bowels of Accor Stadium.
The pre-match laser light show is underway and darkness has consumed Accor Stadium as the stragglers wander in and find their seats.
Much has been made of the fact that the Matildas sold out this venue on Monday, while there are still tickets remaining for tonight’s match.
But the place looks near capacity, and the cheapest seats still available online are $300, making a crowd in excess of 70,000 likely.
Merry kitschmas everybody.
Mate against mate. State against state. Backing the @nswblues in tonight's Origin opener. pic.twitter.com/fjAyheXhno
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 5, 2024
The Premier of New South Wales @chrisminnsmp has thrown down the State of Origin gauntlet 🔥#NRL #StateOfOrigin pic.twitter.com/cfdM4Ykjf1
— NRL (@NRL) June 4, 2024
Queensland coach Billy Slater has spoken to Channel 9, saying he is “just as nervous, just as excited,” for his third series as coach. “I’m like all other Queenslanders watching at home on tele, I’m really looking forward to watching our team go to work.
The last eight days have really excited me. The way that they’ve applied themselves to their game, really looking forward to them getting their footy on tonight. Yeah, it’s great to be a Queenslander, a great time of the year. Pretty exciting.”
The weather in Sydney hasn’t been great for a while and it’s not the best tonight either with showers a chance to roll through during the evening. There’s also a touch of breeze, but it shouldn’t be enough to worry either fullback.
Here are the junior clubs that provide the origin stories of the State of Origin combatants.
Origins of Greatness: The Junior clubs that shaped future State of Origin legends. pic.twitter.com/04DA0fika3
— NRL (@NRL) June 4, 2024
Ashley Klein is tonight’s referee, for the seventh State of Origin match in a row.
The most controversial selection in either squad is Spencer Leniu. The NSW forward has only just returned from an eight-game ban for racially abusing Queensland’s Ezra Mam. Expect fireworks when he enters the game off the bench towards the end of the first half.
The 23-year-old’s Origin debut will be just his fourth game since returning from an eight-match suspension for labelling Brisbane’s Ezra Mam “a monkey” in the US. Mam is part of Queensland’s extended squad, while Broncos teammates Patrick Carrigan, Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo are all part of the Maroons’ starting 17.
Ticking down to around half-an-hour to kick-off. Plenty of time to enjoy extended highlights of the first Origin fixture, 42 years ago.
New Blues coach Michael Maguire has had a few words with the host broadcaster. ‘Madge’ is not a natural media performer, but he did explain his Origin philosophy. “Prep is the big thing. Always been big on that. The preparation leading into the camps allows the boys to probably get out of town. We went up to Leura, up to Fairmont, had a camp away. That was excellent. We’re looking forward to really using that now with the way the boys have come together.”
Queensland XVII
Billy Slater was unable to call on Cameron Munster, Kalyn Ponga, Tom Flegler, and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, but the Queensland XVII still looks a high quality unit, full of big-game players. Reece Walsh will hog attention from fullback, but it’s up front where the Maroons have won the past two series with the likes of Pat Carrigan, Reuben Cotter, and Lindsay Collins excelling on the big stage. Harry Grant as an impact player off the bench might be the biggest luxury in modern rugby league history.
1. Reece Walsh 2. Xavier Coates 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Reuben Cotter 9. Ben Hunt 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Jaydn Su’A 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Pat Carrigan
Interchange: 14. Harry Grant 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 16. J’maine Hopgood 17. Selwyn Cobbo
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NSW XVII
It’s an unfamiliar Blues line-up with Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Zac Lomax and Cameron McInnes all making their Origin debuts in the run-on side. Haumole Olakau’atu and Spencer Leniu will debut off the bench. Nicho Hynes deserves a starting spot but it comes courtesy of an injury to Nathan Cleary. Alongside him Jarome Luai has a point to prove after losing his jersey last year, while James Tedesco is in a similar boat after being asked to relinquish the No 1 shirt just a week ago. Jake Trbojevic has a massive job on his hands as the 21st skipper of NSW.
1. James Tedesco 2. Brian To’o 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i 5. Zac Lomax 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Jake Trbojevic (c) 9. Reece Robson 10. Payne Haas 11. Liam Martin 12. Angus Crichton 13. Cameron McInnes
Interchange: 14. Isaah Yeo, 15. Haumole Olakau’atu, 16. Spencer Leniu, 17. Hudson Young
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The major selection news when the squads were announced last week was the overhaul of the Blues by Michael Maguire. But the headline omission, James Tedesco, soon found his way back into the starting XIII after Dylan Edwards joined the long injury list.
Maguire made Tedesco the first Kangaroos captain in history to be dropped from an Origin side, ending the fullback’s run of 22 straight matches for the Blues.
Jack Snape talks us through the big themes of this year’s series.
Rugby league’s State of Origin formula is well established: state against state, mate against mate. No pairing proves that slogan more than new New South Wales captain Jake Trbojevic and Queensland’s Daly Cherry-Evans. The pair are long-term teammates at Manly, but each will lead their state in Wednesday’s first men’s Origin clash at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
Nick Tedeschi sets the scene:
Origin is typically won by winning the middle and by having the dominant kicking game. So it is little surprise that the Maroons enter the 2024 series and Wednesday’s opener as warm favourites.
Preamble
It’s time for the best sport of the year. Hands down. Don’t @ me. No arguments.
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of State of Origin Game 1 between New South Wales and Queensland. Kick-off at Accor Stadium in Sydney is 8.05pm (AEST).
Why is the best sport of the year? Because it matters the most to the largest number of people. The format makes it a multi-month concern with the structure of a three act play. And despite all the fluffery buffery that surrounds it, the action is raw, and most often compelling and spectacular.
Despite the two squads being drawn from the same elite competition, there is always an underdog story, and with them a redemption narrative. This year that belongs to New South Wales, who have lost as favourites for the past two series. Defeat last year led to head coach Brad Fittler and all his backroom staff getting the boot, and the incoming Michael Maguire has stamped his mark on the Blues, selecting a squad packed full of debutants and individuals with points to prove.
Queensland, by contrast, are now a picture of stability despite being coached by a guy with only six matches on his first grade coaching CV. But what a half-dozen they have been for Billy Slater, featuring four wins. His Maroons have exhibited the never-say-die spirit that have made Queensland so hard to beat since the format’s introduction in 1982, but Slater has also empowered the flair of Reece Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and given Cameron Munster licence to play on instinct.
But Munster is missing tonight, along with a host of star names as the centrepiece of the rugby league calendar risks being undermined by injury. Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic, and Dylan Edwards are other modern greats who will not be suiting up tonight in what NRL bosses must hope is a blip and not the start of a trend.
There’s plenty more to come as we build up to kick-off, and if you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.
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