New South Wales v Queensland
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55 mins ago | Andrew Jackson
PREVIEW: State of Origin III
The Queensland Maroons already won the 2023 series with a Game II 32-6 victory against the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium and are now pursuing a clean sweep for the first time in 13 years.
The Maroons have claimed victory at Adelaide Oval and Suncorp Stadium during this 2023 series and are now looking upon securing another win at the Blues' home ground, Accor Stadium. NSW hold the record for wins at Accor Stadium, with a total of 19 wins out of 30 games. However, the Blues have a lot to work on if they wish to avoid a QLD whitewash and claim a win at their home ground.
Throughout the series the Blues have lacked any coherent attack, and lost several battles through the middle, where the Maroons just continued to decimate. During both Game I and Game II NSW won the battle of possession, however they failed to turn this into points which is one of most important parts of the game. Overall, the Blues had poor execution, and could not come up with creative plays to outsmart the Queensland side who continued to show up with smart plays and strong defence.
The NSW side have made several changes in order to attempt to repair these deficits they possess, which includes two debutants along with four Origin-arena recalls. Jarome Luai, Hudson Young, Stefano Utoikamanu, Junior Paulo and Tyson Frizell who all played in Game II have been dropped from the team, whilst Payne Haas and Tom Trbojevic were unable to be selected due to respective ankle and pectoral injuries. Cody Walker comes in at five-eighth, Bradman Best (debut) at left centre with Jake Trbojevic, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Keaon Koloamatangi (debut) joining the forward pack. Clint Gutherson and Jacob Saifiti make their Origin return through the bench, along with Scott Drinkwater and Spencer Leniu joining the squad as 18th and 19th man.
In total, the Blues have made a total of seven player changes along with several positional changes, with some players moved to the starting side after playing off the bench in Game II, including the swap of Damien Cook and Reece Robson (hooker) along with Cameron Murray and Isaah Yeo (lock).
Cody Walker and Mitchell Moses are the third halves pairing that the Blues have utilised this series, with Walker making his fifth Origin appearance after most recently playing in all 2020 games. The NSW side has lacked execution and attack, and Fittler is hoping that with the inclusion of Walker there may be the opportunity for better execution and more tries for his side.
On the other side, the QLD Maroons have made minimal changes, with their changes pushed due to suspension and injury. With Reece Walsh unavailable for selection due to suspension, Titans fullback AJ Brimson will take his place after being 18th man for Game II. Corey Horsburgh is also making his Origin debut off the bench, after Thomas Flegler suffered a foot injury and is unable to play. Tom Dearden rejoins the squad as 18th man, along with J'maine Hopgood as 19th man, marking his first extended Maroons squad selection. QLD are unchanged besides these inclusions, along with Harry Grant starting as hooker and Ben Hunt playing off the bench.
The spine of QLD has excelled all series, and they will want to continue this excellence into the third game, even though they are playing with Brimson at fullback instead Walsh. For QLD, the series isn't over even though they will already be lifting the shield at the end of the night of Game III. They will be looking to emulate the passion and determination that they have shown during the first two games and continue to improve upon their performance and rise to an even higher level of footy. Billy Slater was a part of the team who claimed victory against the NSW Blues in a series clean sweep in 2010, and he is now part of a new history with QLD where he has currently won four of the five games coached and is looking to take his first Origin clean sweep series as Maroons head coach.
Last meeting: Series 2023 - Queensland 32 NSW 6
Who to watch: Damien Cook was poorly utilised during the second game and was not given the opportunity to perform in the areas he excels at at club footy level, and I really think that playing back in the hooker role will be at advantage for both him and the Blues. At club level Cook is an extremely good defender, leading the competition with 749 tackles, and through this and his speed it will be an asset to the NSW side, where he is coming up against several fast and smart players in the QLD side. He was also the Blues' sole try scorer in Game II, meaning that he adds a level of execution and playing flare, that alongside his Souths player, Cody Walker, can lead to more points on the board.
Captaining the Maroons side since 2019, veteran halfback, Daly Cherry-Evans, has made such an impact to the QLD team, and continues to put on immense performances throughout the past few series'. Throughout the 2023 NRL season, DCE has scored 7 tries and made 11 try assists along with 2 try assists within the Origin arena. Cherry-Evans is playing some of his best footy at both club and representative level, where he continues to make impressive plays in both attack and defence, with one that won't be forgotten by maroons anytime soon, where he chased down Stephen Crichton in Origin II and denied the Blues on a try. DCE is an important part of the Maroons team, and it will be exciting to see his leadership and playing skills on show, where QLD have the chance to make it a 3-0 series.
Favourites: Queensland are favoured to win this game to make it a clean series sweep and based on their performance during the first two games it doesn't come as a surprise. The Maroons have managed to outplay the Blues in attack, and continuously defend their line right until the end.
My tip: The battered and bruised Blues are trying to find a sliver of hope to stop the Maroons from making the 2023 series a clean sweep, but I just don't think they have it in them to defeat the QLD side. The Maroons have a strong side with a cohesive spine who have trained and played alongside each other for majority of the 2023 series, they are determinate, passionate and not content with a 2-1 series win. They are looking to create a special opportunity, to make it a clean series sweep, something that doesn't come all too often. Queensland by 14.
1. James Tedesco 2. Brian Too 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Bradman Best 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cody Walker 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jake Trbojevic 9. Damien Cook 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Liam Martin 12. Keaon Koloamatangi 13. Cameron Murray 14. Isaah Yeo 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Reece Robson 17. Clinton Gutherson 18. Scott Drinkwater
1. AJ Brimson 2. Xavier Coates 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Reuben Cotter 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Ben Hunt 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Moeaki Fotuaika 17. Corey Horsburgh 18. Tom Dearden
Referees: Ashley Klein; Sideline Officials: Dave Munro, Phil Henderson; Video Referees: Grant Atkins;