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Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of Origin 2 This Sunday

Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of Origin 2 This Sunday

Queensland are up against it this weekend. But with the series on the line in Brisbane, there's nowhere else they'd prefer to be.

Mike Wood

Mike Wood

State of Origin is on the line this Sunday night, with Queensland desperately needing a win to keep the series alive following their historic loss to New South Wales in Townsville in Game 1.

Looking at the form, it looks like there's no point in Queensland turning up: they got rolled 50-6 in the first effort, their clubs have been playing likes drains since and they've had to rejig their whole team to cope with injuries and downright poor performance.

On the other side of the ledger, New South Wales is riding high, filled with confidence and raring to go.

Good job, then, that Origin cares not for form. Queensland is best when their backs are against the wall, and they'll have 50,000 fans screaming for them at Suncorp. With the series up for grabs, it could be all go in Brisbane.

When is the game?

Sunday night, 7.50pm. If you think that's too long to wait, then I have good news for you: Women's State of Origin is Friday night on the Sunshine Coast and, if previous encounters are anything to go by, should be a cracker.

What changes have been made?

Queensland has drawn a line through some of their poorer performers from Game 1. Joe Ofahengaue, gone. Jayden Su'A, toast. Xavier Coates, flicked.

On top of that, Harry Grant and AJ Brimson are injured and won't play. The Maroons are waiting on Jai Arrow, who has been designated as this Origin's traditional Queensland player to get sick, though in this case, he is actually ill. Get well soon, Jai - your state needs you.

The replacements are a mixed bag, headed by Reece Walsh in at fullback. On one hand, he's one of the most exciting rookies seen in years, but on the other, he's a rookie with only seven first-grade games. Plenty rests on him at the back. Francis Molo will debut from the bench, Andrew McCullough starts at 9 and Josh Papalii, suspended in Game 1, is a huge in for Queensland's pack.

New South Wales has actually strengthened from Game 1, bringing back the previously-banned Angus Crichton as their only change, replacing the injured Jake Trbojevic. Campbell Graham and Dale Finucane are the reserves and may actually get a run this time, if coach Brad Fittler needs them.

Who is going to star?

Look, we can't not talk about Reece Walsh. The NZ Warriors 1 has killed it in NRL and could, if given the ball in the right place, kill it in Origin. The chances of Queensland getting the ball in the right place, however, are quite slim.

On the other side: well, where do you want to start? The NRL Player's Poll came out this week and listed Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic and James Tedesco as the best three players in the game. All start for the Blues.

The man with the most to prove will be Josh Addo-Carr: he saw NSW put 50 on QLD without getting a try, then watched on as Melbourne stuck 60+, with 10 different tryscorers, on Wests Tigers, again without him crossing the stripe.

How is it going to go?

If you want to go by the bookies, there's only one winner. The Blues are $1.24, the Maroons are north of $4. That tells you everything you need to know.

But hey, it's Origin, right. Anything can happen. Teams fire up. Queenslanders don't back down. That's why we love it.

Where can I see it?

Live, free and ruined by Ray Warren's commentary on Nine. We'll be running a live blog right here on SPORTbible too, so if you want analysis that isn't given to you by a 79-year-old who calls every player by their first name like a proud granddad on sports day, come on over.

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Topics: Rugby League, nrl