Sully’s State Of Origin Game 1 Preview

Posted on May 30, 2017June 1, 2017 | Posted by James Sullivan

Victoria has the “race that stops a nation” and New South Wales and  Queensland have the “games that stop two states while the rest of the World tunes in” – its “State of Origin” Rugby League.

For the first time in 12 years New South Wales will start favourites as they head to Suncorp trying to repeat their 2014 effort in winning game 1. Only once in the past 13 years has the opening game of an Origin series been decided by more than 9 points and the past two have been decided by one and two points respectively.

The Maroons have enjoyed a wonderful period of Origin success but suddenly the  likes of Thurston, missing his first Origin after an incredible 12 years and 36 games, Inglis, Scott, Slater and Parker aren’t there and these players have been terrorising and dominating the Blues for years.

On the other hand we see a new generation of Blues players such as Tedesco, Fifita, Graham, Peats, Frizell, Trbojevic and Bird led by new skipper Boyd Cordner looking to break free of Queensland’s stranglehold of the last 11 years.

For New South Wales to win Pearce and Maloney must take ownership of their team and they will get no better opportunity in the absence of Jonathan Thurston and one would expect his replacement Debutant Anthony Milford to see plenty of traffic coming his way.

One burning question comes to mind – have Queensland Coach Kevin Walters and his advisers played the loyalty card one game/series too long? There’s no doubt we will get that answered on Wednesday.

Queensland are always a tough nut to crack at home but this Blues squad has me thinking it’s their time to shine in Origin.

Betting Plays

Game One: New South Wales to Win 1-12  $2.70

1st Try Scorer Each Way: NSW – J. Hayne $15 & $4.50 T. Frizell $31 & $8.50 / QLD – W. Chambers $17 & $5  M. Gillett $21 & $6

Man of Match: NSW – Boyd Cordner ($11)  QLD – Cooper Cronk ($7)

2017 Series Correct Score: NSW 2-1  $2.45

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