Origin 1 Preview

By Stephen Gallagher

Origin chat has lingered since a ball was first kicked in Las Vegas in March. Who is in, who is out – who is who and what’s going on?

Fresh off destroying Australia with the New Zealand Kiwis, Michael Maguire is taking on his biggest coaching task: A New South Wales side, staring down the barrel of three straight series defeats.

Billy Slater has named his Queensland side to inflict more pain on the Blues and will coach his third straight series. When his state needed him most, he delivered.

While all the chat is about injuries and how there’s a slight smudge on this series, and it’s not as crisp and shiny as it has been in years previous because of the players unavailable – there are still plenty of quality players and an eagerly anticipated kick-off on Wednesday.

The latest to go down is Dylan Edwards – who has succumbed to a quad injury and has forced the Blues to re-call previous skipper James Tedesco to fill in at fullback. While I’m sure that was an awkward phone call from Madge, Tedesco is in form and will no doubt rip in. I don’t see Edwards playing for the Blues again this series if Tedesco plays well.

Four on debut for New South Wales compared to one for Queensland shows that the Cane Toads have forced the Cockroaches into a new era.

The relatively inexperienced backline of New South Wales raises plenty of talking points. None more than Zac Lomax picked on the wing despite not wanting to at all this season.

Yet – he’s playing career-best football this year despite the Dragons sitting in 12th.

Sua’ali’i in the centre position next to him heads off to rugby union next season, but his ability and size are definitely worthy of the Origin stage.

And of course, all eyes are on Nicho Hynes. A forgettable Origin debut in the centres last season seemed to haunt him everywhere he went in 2023.

Leading the Sharks to equal first place through the first half of the season is no easy feat. He deserved this shot at redemption. And if you pray to the footy Gods, pray kindly.

The Maroons backline is exceptional. Raw talent, speed, and experience all merge once more to give their fans confidence of a three-peat.

No chill pills for Reece Walsh in Origin camp, because you live and die by what he gives you. There’s no one more exciting in the comp than him.

Val Holmes hasn’t had the best season, but you know he’ll carry the state on his back like Dane Gagai would do every Origin series.

And Tom Dearden in the halves for the injured Cam Munster. He has Origin pedigree coming out of his ears and will compliment Cherry-Evans perfectly.

The biggest difference for these two sides are the forward packs and bench. There seems to be a plan by Magure to bang the door down with big boys. Run right into the Maroons.

You have the likes of Angus Crichton, Payne Haas, Haumole Olakau’atu and Spencer Leniu – specialists of bending the line and being hard to handle.

And of course Jake Trbojevic with the captain’s armband. If there’s a more passionate rugby league player out there, I’m yet to see them.

But that doesn’t mean you count out Queensland. Reuben Cotter punches well above his weight, J’Maine Hopgood on debut will have a point to prove, and Jaydn Su’A back representing his state will want to be completely physical and damaging on the edge.

The Blues backs will be getting a truckload of metres in. I think the way this side has been selected is that tackles two and three will be the backs hitting it up. Working for quick play the balls and then let the flanks flare up.

Queensland look to play more of their traditional style. Put the work in. Turn New South Wales around. Force them into submission.

I’d also be very surprised if there’s a late change to this Blues side and Matt Burton makes his way onto the bench.

And if you don’t think Selwyn Cobbo could come on in the middle for ten minutes and cause some havoc with the ball, you’re kidding yourself. This could be a masterstroke by Slater to have him in there.

A game in New South Wales is usually low-scoring, but I don’t think that’ll be the case here.

I reckon both sides have at least 20 points in them.

This game is so crucial for the Cockroaches. Lose on home soil and you’ve practically lost the series.

New South Wales to win. Tedesco Man Of The Match, Angus Crichton first try scorer. Blues to win 26-20.

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