State of Origin 2023 Game 1: Queensland Maroons win 26-18 over NSW Blues
The Blues’ hopes of claiming Origin victory have suffered a massive blow, as Queensland launched an incredible comeback to topple NSW despite being down a man.
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NSW face an unprecedented task of creating history after Queensland produced a trademark Hail Mary victory in the City of Churches.
In a tense series-opener, 48,613 fans packed into the Adelaide Oval to witness an enthralling contest that included several melees, a controversy involving the Maroons having 14 players on the field and even a hair pull.
Stunned by a depleted Maroons side that fought back with 12 men on the field and from behind on the scoreboard, the Blues now face rugby league’s equivalent of Mt Everest.
Never in State of Origin’s 41-year history have a NSW side saved a series by winning game two in Brisbane.
Coach Brad Fittler, captain James Tedesco and halfback Nathan Cleary must conspire ahead of a fortnight of intense pressure and scrutiny to save the series.
That’s the task now for Brad Fittler’s side who must do the impossible at Suncorp Stadium on June 21.
“It’s not over yet,’’ a defiant Tedesco said after the match.
The Blues surrendered an 18-16 lead against a Queensland side that had Thomas Fleger in the sin bin to go down 26-18.
In a poor display of game management, the Blues allowed Queensland’s Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Cameron Munster to score over the final six minutes to give the Maroons their victory.
Former Queensland captain Darren Lockyer was in awe of the Maroons victory.
“Origin is won on effort and courage and the Maroons have shown what it’s all about,’’ Lockyer said.
“That’s what Queensland is all about.’’
Prior to the match, the Blues were encouraged by champion fullback Anthony Minichiello to “bash” rookie Queensland fullback Reece Walsh and NSW didn’t waste any time.
Walsh was pummeled by Blues duo Tyson Frizell and Josh Addo-Carr while in the process of retrieving a kick in the air.
Addo-Carr was penalised for what referee Ashley Klein determined as unnecessary contact on Walsh.
The penalty was telling for NSW.
The Blues ill-discipline instigated an eight-minute onslaught from Queensland which saw the Maroons skip to a stunning 10-0 nil lead after 11-minutes.
A beautiful Cameron Munster kick into the Blues in-goal saw Maroons centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow surge onto the footy to score.
The Maroons kept the foot on the Blues throat, this time perfecting a rapid-fire sweep play to their right side with Val Holmes putting Selwyn Cobbo over out wide.
The hugely controversial penalty against Queensland for having 14 players on the field in the 19th minute triggered a glut of NSW possession.
The controversy centred around bench forward Lindsay Collins being on the field before injured Maroons backrower Tom Gilbert (shoulder) had left the field.
The NRL will now investigate the infringement.
Only the incredible desperation of Queensland winger Murray Taulagi, who somehow slipped his hand under the ball-carrying arm of Frizell, stopped NSW from posting their first try in the 23rd minute.
Winning the possession percentage, the Blues had to make Queensland pay and it was a mix of the old Penrith connection that delivered eight minutes before halftime.
Striking through beautiful hands from ex-Panthers hooker Api Koroisau to Nathan Cleary, Penrith and NSW edge backrower Liam Martin launched onto Cleary’s superb no-look pass to bridge the gap to 10-6.
Koroisau was in the thick of things again immediately after halftime, with the hooker’s quick-thinking while making a tackle leading to NSW taking the lead for the first time in the match.
Koroisau’s collection of a loose offload from Val Homes allowed him to race away untouched for a 12-10 advantage.
The Maroons refused to relent. Their defence on their try line was superb as the Blues squandered ample field position.
A poor offload from Tevita Pangai Jr inside his own 20-metres was the invitation the Maroons needed to reclaim the lead in the 64th minute.
A combination of slick hands to the right wing of Selwyn Cobbo saw the Maroons flyer slide over out wide for a crucial 16-12 lead.
Stephen Crichton’s 67th minute try pushed the Blues back to an 18-16 lead, but the Maroons simply wouldn’t go away.
Tabuai-Fidow and Munster’s tries iced the game and buried the Blues.
RELIVE OUR LIVE COVERAGE BELOW
FULL TIME - MAROONS SHAKE OFF SIN-BIN DRAMA TO CLAIM VICTORY
The Maroons have come out on top in Adelaide, shaking off injury dramas and a controversial sin-bin to Tom Flegler, winning 26-18. Queensland scored two tries while down a man to fight back and re-claim the lead twice, in a seesawing affair. The Blues struggled to gain any composure, playing frantic football through the entire match and their structures fell apart.
77TH MINUTE - UNLIKELY HERO SECURES MAROONS WIN
Front rower Lindsay Collins has shown up Blues fullback James Tedesco, beating the NSW captain in tha air to set up a Cameron Munster try, to all but secure victory for Queensland in Origin Game I. Valentine Holmes misses the conversion, but the Maroons lead 26-18 with three minutes remaining.
75TH MINUTE - MUNSTER MAGIC PUTS MAROONS BACK IN FRONT
In what has become a seesawing contest, the Maroons have once again retaken the lead from NSW, with Cameron Munster shaking off a tackle to put Hamiso Tabuia-Fidow into space to score. We might now have a new ‘fastest man on the planet’, as the Hammer cruised past Josh Addo-Carr, before James Tedesco slipped over allowing the Dolphins star to go over untouched. Valentine Holmes converts to put Queensland in front 22-18 with five minutes left on the clock.
69TH MINUTE - SIN BIN, HIA DRAMA
Maroons enforcer Tom Flegler has been controversially sin-binned for a hit on Tom Trbojevic, which was ruled a shoulder charge by the bunker. Turbo was forced from the field with a HIA, with Nicho Hynes replacing him in his Origin debut. The Manly star will be out for the next 11 days, with the independent doctor ruling it a category one head knock.
Not long after, Maroons winger Murray Taulagi was forced off the field by the independant doctor, despite Blues backrower Tyson Frizell playing on despite an apparant head knock earlier in the second half.
67TH MINUTE - BLUES RE-TAKE THE LEAD
A Daly-Cherry Evans error and back-to-back penalties has gifted the Blues the lead once again, with a Nathan Cleary kick setting up Stephen Crichton out wide, after a Jarome Luai scooped up the scraps after the kick-contest broke down. Cleary converts from the sideline to put NSW back in front 18-16.
57TH MINUTE - MAROONS HIT BACK AFTER BLUES BLUNDER
NSW debutant Tevita Pangai Jr has started his second stint in the worst possible way, giving away a penalty and coming up with an error with his first two touches to put Queensland in prime field position for Selwyn Cobbo to score his second try of the night. A cut out pass from Reece Walsh to Cobbo and a poor defensive effort from James Tedesco saw the Maroons winger slide over. Valentine Holmes converts to give the Maroons a 16-12 lead. TPJ was hooked four minutes later, capping off a very short second stint.
Cobbo slides in for his second! ✌#Originpic.twitter.com/OFWCzumkey
— NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2023
44TH MINUTE - BLUES STEAL THE LEAD 12-10
The Blues have opened the scoring in the second half, with NSW hooker Api Koroisau scooping up a loose ball to nab a controversial try, with the Bunker clearing the on-field decision of try despite the ball appearing to be knocked on by Koroisau after an errant offload from Valentine Holmes.
Api Koroisau from NOWHERE! 😲 But was this knocked on? 🤔
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) May 31, 2023
ðŸ–¥ï¸ #StateofOrigin Live & Exclusive | https://t.co/07L1tzGOS4#9WWOS#NRLpic.twitter.com/IQQ616gG8Z
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
We’re back underway at Adelaide Oval, and the Maroons have received an early boost, with David Fifita passing his HIA and back out there.
HALF-TIME - MAROONS 10-6 BLUES
The Maroons head into the half-time break with the lead after a strong start, but a clunky Blues side could consider themselves a bit hard done by, with some crucial bunker calls not going their way. While Queensland bashed the Blues early, NSW dominated field position after the first 15-minutes, but failed to really capitalise on their opportunities, as they frantically tried to launch a fight back. The Maroons have shaken off some key injuries to hold on, while Nathan Cleary and James Tedesco are really struggling to get things going for the Blues. Hudson Young was seemingly hooked early for Liam Martin, who had an immediate impact for NSW. Murray Taulagi has been huge for the Maroons, coming up with two-try saving tackles, to keep his side infront.
31ST MINUTE - BLUES STRIKE BACK, FIFITA HIA BLOW
The hits just keep coming for the Maroons, with David Fifita forced from the field for a HIA. In the next play, the Maroons crashed over to open their account for the night, with Jarome Luai putting Penrith teammate Liam Martin crashing over on the left edge. Nathan Cleary converts, as the Maroons still lead 10-6.
Liam Martin on the burst! 💥
— NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2023
Powered by AMPOL #AmpolPowerPlays#Originpic.twitter.com/7yK0FaTwgR
24TH MINUTE - GILBERT GONE
Tom Gilbert has officially been ruled out of the game after suffering a dislocated right shoulder. A frantic NSW side have dominated field position in the last five minutes but have failed to capitalise on their opportunities.
19th MINUTE - INTERCHANGE GAFFE AFTER INJURY BLOW
Maroons enforcer Tim Gilbert has been forced off the field with a shoulder injury, with Lindsay Collins coming on to replace him. However, Queensland were pinged for briefly having 14 men on the field... Awkward! The penalty put the Blues in perfect field position and James Tedesco went within centimetres of scoring but Murray Taulagi produced a try-saver. Just minutes later Taulagi did it again, this time stopping a rampaging Tyson Frizell after a controversial bunker call.
The Blues came THIS close to scoring! 😮 Did the Bunker get this call right? 🤔
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) May 31, 2023
ðŸ–¥ï¸ #StateofOrigin Live & Exclusive | https://t.co/07L1tzGOS4#9WWOS#NRLpic.twitter.com/d9pBEw9IbZ
12th MINUTE- MAROONS 10-0 BLUES
And just minutes later the Maroons are over again, with Daly Cherry-Evans combining with debutant Reece Walsh to cut NSW open, before going through the hands to Valentine Holmes and Selwyn Cobbo to go over in the corner. Holmes fails to convert. The Blues ill-discipline is costing them dearly in the first half.
Cobbo strikes for the Maroons! 💥#Originpic.twitter.com/QCUvDHdYAG
— NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2023
8TH MINUTE - MAROONS 6-0 BLUES
The Maroons have drawn first blood in Game 1, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow pouncing on a short kick from Cameron Munster after a terrific cut-out pass at duymm-half from Ben Hunt. Valentine Holmes converts to give Queensland a six-point lead.
The first try goes to the Hammer! 🔨
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) May 31, 2023
ðŸ–¥ï¸ #StateofOrigin Live & Exclusive | https://t.co/07L1tzGOS4#9WWOS#NRLpic.twitter.com/UUVo5iFU3E
3RD MINUTE - Tensions have nearly exploded early, with players almost coming to blows after Tyson Frizell accidentally came into contact with Reece Walsh in the air, before Josh Addo-Carr and Tevita Pangai pounced on him on the ground. Tom Gilbert then came through and took out Hudson Young. Less than two minutes later, Gilbert and Young were back at it, after the Blues backrower shirtfronted Daly Cherry-Evans.
It's ON early! 💥
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) May 31, 2023
ðŸ–¥ï¸ #StateofOrigin Live & Exclusive | https://t.co/07L1tzGOS4#9WWOS#NRLpic.twitter.com/QLhKq6drr2
7:05PM - FINAL TEAMS LOCKED IN & COIN TOSS
The late mail is in ahead of kick-off in State of Origin Game I, and there have been some massive last minute changes for Queensland.
Queensland coach Billy Slater has pulled a tactical switch, with forwards Reuben Cotter and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to start.
Tom Flegler and Lindsay Collins will drop back to the bench after originally being named in Queensland’s starting side.
The Blues will start as named.
Tom Dearden and Matt Burton are the 18th men for the Maroons and Blues respectively.
LOCKED IN 🔒#Originpic.twitter.com/PAl5VvI2aq
— NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2023
In case you missed it earlier in the week, Latrell Mitchell was a mid-week withdrawal for the Blues after succumbing to a calf injury at training, with Stephen Crichton replacing him in the No.3 jersey.
The Blues have won the toss and Queensland will kick off. Look out Tevita Pangai Jr off the back fence for the first carry of the match.
NSW LEGEND URGES BLUES TO BASH ‘ALL OR NOTHING’ WALSH
One of NSW greatest-ever fullbacks has applied the blowtorch to rookie Queensland no.1 Reece Walsh by describing him as an “all or nothing” player who the Blues must go after.
Anthony Minichiello, a former Golden Boot, Dally M and State of Origin series winner for NSW, has called on Blues chief kicker Nathan Cleary to punish the 20-year-old State of Origin debutant with an aerial onslaught on Wednesday night at the Adelaide Oval.
“Cleary needs to get those bombs up and he needs to get them swirling and you need to put pressure on him,’’ Minichiello said.
“He (Walsh) is electric when he’s got his confidence.
“But let’s take his confidence away and really bash him in the kick chase.
“He’s a guy that is all or nothing.
“And things are coming off because he’s playing with confidence.
“But if he makes one little mistake then that plays in the back of his head and you’ve just got to keep mounting the pressure on him.
“Origin is a different beast.’’
Walsh, in sizzling form for the Broncos this season, yet has only played 49 NRL games, was a polarising selection by Queensland who overlooked series-winning fullback Kalyn Ponga for the rising star.
Minichiello’s call for the Blues to “bash” Walsh was met with a cold rebuttal by Maroons coach Billy Slater.
“Have you seen Reece Walsh play?,’’ Slater shot back during a public press conference in Adelaide on Tuesday.
“He was picked two years ago to play for Queensland and he’s a much better player now.
“He’s got so much brilliance in his game, so much talent, involvement and speed. He is building a great foundation in that position.
“That’s the core of what keeps you in good stead under pressure.
“I’ve loved working with him throughout the week. He’s a great young man who’s very enthusiastic about his footy and enjoys it.
“He wants to become the best player he can possibly be. I’m looking forward to seeing him play in a Maroons jersey.’’
HOW BLUE’S BOOZE BAN REIGNITED NSW CAREER
A booze ban was the difference between Josh Addo-Carr running out at Adelaide Oval and the Canterbury flyer watching the Origin series from home for the second straight year.
When Addo-Carr went down with a high ankle sprain and a knee medial ligament in round six that required surgery and an eight week recovery.
NSW fans and selectors feared the speedster would not recover in time to earn a Blues re-call after he was snubbed for last year’s series.
But Addo-Carr didn’t share the same concerns.
Addo-Carr had decided five months earlier to quit the drink and the 27-year old believes that is the reason why he was able to recover in time to take the field in game one.
“I didn‘t drink or anything and I just recovered the best I could. I’ve been off the booze since the World Cup started believe it or not,” Addo-Carr revealed.
“I just made a sacrifice just before the season started that I was gonna stay off the booze.
“It takes a toll on you, it just fatigues you [if you are] on the booze all the time and the way we train and prepare these days, it‘s just too hard.”
Addo-Carr did celebrate his re-call with Blues teammates at a bonding session but doesn’t plan to drink again this season.
Fittler made the controversial decision to leave Addo-Carr out of last year’s series citing his lack of form for Canterbury.
But this season, the speedster had been playing himself back into the Origin arena before he was cut down with injury.
MAROONS FIREBRAND GIVEN GREEN LIGHT TO RUN RIOT
Billy Slater has given Tom Flegler the green light to run riot when he returns to the Origin arena as Queensland’s new enforcer vowed to carry on the legacy of retired bash brother Josh Papalii.
Flegler will be unleashed by the Maroons for the first time since his 2021 Origin debut in Wednesday night’s series-opener against NSW at the Adelaide Oval.
The flame-haired Broncos firebrand will head into the clash as the most sin-binned player on the field since 2020, having been marched five times and placed on report 11 times in the past three years.
But the Maroons aren’t concerned about Flegler’s discipline. In fact, he has only conceded two penalties and been sin-binned once in 11 games for the Broncos this season.
Queensland coach Slater said Flegler’s aggression helped earn him selection following the Origin retirement of 23-game front row great Papalii.
“It’s a physical game and you need physicality,” he said.
“Tom has been good this year, he has been playing long minutes and he has a great connection with Pat Carrigan. He has earned his opportunity to play his game.
“What a warrior big ‘Papa was’. He never took a backward step and now he gives an opportunity to a guy like Tom Flegler to go out there and lead the way for our state.
“Tom has played one Origin before and did a great job. He was in all three camps last year and didn’t get that opportunity to play
“He is a better player this year and I am looking forward to seeing him out there in Maroon.”
Flegler said he would bring his trademark aggression to the Origin furnace as he strives to replace Papalii.
“Yeah, definitely, it’s refereed a bit differently in Origin, they’re a bit more lenient,” Flegler said.
“It’s a really physical arena. Things get fiery and out of hand.
TURBO MOVES TO FAVOURITE FOR FIRST TRY SCORER
NSW superstar Tom Trbojevic has admitted criticism he endured over the opening two months of this season was “taxing” – but those same critics have now backed the Manly champion off the map to be first try scorer in Origin I.
In a betting move described as “staggering”, Trbojevic is best backed player on Wednesday night to score first try with a whopping 17 per cent of investments with TAB wagered on the Blues fullback.
He is paying $13 to score first ahead of Queensland’s Val Holmes ($19).
“It’s staggering that such a high percentage has been placed on Tommy ‘Turbo’ given the recent question marks over his fitness and availability,” said TAB’s Gerard Daffy.
“Having said that, he is viewed by TAB customers as a tried and true Origin player and is always one of the most popular players in any of the player markets.
“The support for Val Holmes is a bit of a surprise to me given he has been flying under the radar.”
Trbojevic’s form has been heavily reviewed this season although NSW coach Brad Fittler has shown enormous faith by selecting the Sea Eagles star for game one in Adelaide on Wednesday night.
While relieved and excited ahead of the big game, Trbojevic has conceded being unsettled when his form was constantly questioned over the opening ten rounds of this season.
“It was a little bit taxing at times,” Trbojevic admitted. “You try to but you can’t really avoid it. I just had to come to accept it and move forward. It is what it is.
“The sooner I understood that the easier it was to deal with and then I could focus on playing footy.”
Asked whether he accepted the criticism or that his form was down, Trbojevic said: “A little bit of both.
“I’m more of a thinker so I’m always thinking about the game. These (Origin) are some of the biggest games on the calendar each year and I definitely get nervous for them.
“But that’s a good thing. It’s exciting and I can’t wait for the game.”
SMITH: THE BLUES ARE COOKED
Maroons legend Cameron Smith was surprised that NSW axed hooker Damien Cook as Queensland prepares to target Blues speed bump Api Koroisau.
Koroisau will head into Wednesday night’s State of Origin series-opener in Adelaide as NSW’s only recognised No. 9 after the Blues dumped South Sydney star Cook.
And the Maroons are set to target Koroisau as statistics reveal his defensive fragility.
Koroisau has missed 55 tackles in 11 games for the Tigers this season, sitting only behind Canterbury’s Reed Mahoney (59 from 12 games) in the NRL’s most missed tackles category.
Smith, an assistant to Maroons coach Billy Slater, played a record 42 Origin games in the Queensland No. 9 jersey and said he was surprised by Cook’s omission.
“I was a little bit surprised Damien Cook wasn’t picked in the squad, he’s been in fantastic form for the Rabbitohs this year,” he said.
“But I do understand Api Koroisau getting the opportunity to wear the nine, particularly his relationship with (former Penrith teammates) Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Isaah Yeo.
“Api Koroisau is a wonderful player, he’s one of the best dummy-halves in the competition and he’s shown that particularly the last couple of weeks.
“We’re fully aware of his capabilities. He was strong in Game Three last year and made some inroads in our defence.
“We’ve had a look at that and come up with some ways to minimise the impact he has on the game.”
One of the first things Slater did in Camp Maroon last week was identify the threat of Koroisau from dummy-half.
And Queensland is also set to target him in defence, knowing he is NSW’s only genuine hooker option.
“He is very important, we’ve already spoken about him,” Maroons forward Reuben Cotter said earlier in the camp.
“We’ll do anything we can to slow him down and their team down. They love a quick play-the-ball and we’ll try to mitigate that.”
LIAM MARTIN EMBRACING THE ORIGIN HATE
NSW firebrand Liam Martin has laid it on the line for his mates in the Queensland team. Having built a relationship with a handful of Maroons players on last year’s World Cup tour, Martin has told them that all bets are off when the State of Origin series begins in Adelaide on Wednesday night.
Martin plans on taking no prisoners and it means upsetting some of his teammates from the victorious World Cup squad, so be it.
“Absolutely, that is Origin,” Martin said.
“I got along with the boys earlier in the year but I sort of said to them as soon this rolls around, there are no friends out there.
“You hate one another and I can’t wait to get out there and go after them. I obviously got along well them over there (in England).
“They said the same thing – as soon as it rolls around here are no mates.”
In his short Origin career, Martin has taken immense pleasure out of being a thorn in Queensland’s side. He relishes getting under the Maroons’ skin, prompting Queensland some players and supporters to brand him a grub.
Martin wears it like a badge of honour.
“It’s sort of how I play,” Martin said.
“As soon as you step on that field, you need that fire. I think I am playing my best footy when I am passionate and sort of going after people.
“I am keen to get out there and bring that. It drives me a bit. I like to bring the niggle and get under people’s skin.
THE BLUE ALFIE FEARS
He has been criticised and scrutinised over his modest form this season but Queensland fear a red-hot captain’s knock on Wednesday night from NSW’s James Tedesco.
Maroons legend Allan Langer has identified the often-condemned Tedesco as the player he fears could influence the Adelaide Oval series opener.
Tedesco’s numbers have dropped significantly this season and while his place in NSW’s team was never genuinely in jeopardy, some in rugby league questioned whether the Blues skipper’s form warranted selection.
That evaluation has Langer fearing Tedesco will do what all great players do when under pressure – silence the critics.
“I’m expecting a big game from James Tedesco. He has copped a bit of criticism over the past few weeks,” Langer said. “As a player, that is always in the back of your mind.
“It’s never nice so the only way to shut the criticism up was to go out and play well.
“I never got the shits (when I was criticised) but just wanted to go and shut people up – that’s the only way to do it and that’s the way I’m sure he will approach it.
“I’ve never seen him (Tedesco) blow up or carry on but I’m sure he has had his critics over time. He’s a quality player.
“If we are to close him down then that would go a long way to winning the game.”
MAROONS BACK HAMMER TO STOP TURBO
Maroons flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is ready to burn the Blues, with Queensland set to throw ‘The Hammer’ at Tom Trbojevic.
On the back of the Blues losing superstar centre Latrell Mitchell (calf), Tabuai-Fidow will be unleashed on ‘Tommy Turbo’ at the Adelaide Oval as the Maroons look to exploit a potential weakness in NSW’s Dally M Medal star.
At his peak, Trbojevic is the most devastating player in the game – as evidenced by his 2021 Dally M Medal season and Origin domination of the Maroons that year.
But Queensland coach Billy Slater has made a tactical positional switch in his centres, moving 14-game Origin veteran Valentine Holmes to the right side, where he will confront Mitchell’s replacement Stephen Crichton.
That will pit the in-form Tabuai-Fidow, who’s scored 10 tries in 11 games for the Dolphins this season, against Trbojevic on Queensland’s left edge.
Trbojevic cemented his Blues selection with a hat-trick against Canberra in his last start, but Tabuai-Fidow will enter the contest brimming with confidence.
“No, I’m not nervous,” he said.
“With Billy bringing me into the team, that has given me a massive confidence boost.
“But whoever I mark, I will cut down their thinking time. That’s what I have to do. They can’t have time because you know what they can do.
“In saying that, I have the speed and I feel stronger this year too. Having that speed and strength, I think it will be a good battle in the centres and I can be a threat too.”
WILL REFEREE KLEIN PUT AWAY THE WHISTLE?
The NRL has warned fired-up players to ignore a potentially dangerous misconception that rugby league’s strict new-age rules will be thrown out in favour of a return to the wild days of State of Origin.
“There was probably an era in the game where there was more latitude given during Origin but those days are long gone,” said NRL head of football elite competitions Graham Annesley.
Both sides will send out firebrands including Tevita Pangai, Payne Haas and Hudson Young (NSW) along with Lindsay Collins, Tom Gilbert and Jai Arrow (Queensland).
New Blues enforcer Pangai has echoed a long standing theory that players feel they can get away with more under what they claim are relaxed rules in Origin.
Annesley responded quickly to suggestions players will be given more latitude – and the match refereed differently.
“I think it would be a very risky assumption for anyone to operate under. Those days are long gone,” Annesley said.
“Yes you will often get lower penalty counts in Origin but that’s because of the quality of players on the field, and the quality of games.”
Pressed again on whether the theory was true, Annesley: “No, it’s not, mate.”
ORIGIN TIPS, FIRST TRY SCORER AND MAN OF THE MATCH
Brent Read
Queensland by 10
Why: The Maroons’ forward pack has the right mix of form, power and aggression. They will create room for Cameron Munster and Reece Walsh to cut loose.
Man of the match: Harry Grant
First try: Reece Walsh
Michael Carayannis
NSW by 10
Why: The Blues are bringing the fire after being embarrassed last year. This time around Queensland won’t be able to stand the heat.
Man of the match: Payne Haas
First try: Stephen Crichton
Phil Rothfield
NSW by 6
Why: Payne Haas, Tevita Pangai Jr and Junior Paulo can dominate the middle. Nathan Cleary will control the game and Tom Trbojevic, James Tedesco and Stephen Crichton will provide the strike power.
Man of the match: Tom Trbojevic
First try: Tom Trbojevic
David Riccio
NSW by 10
Why: There’s a steely edge to the Blues that I haven’t seen in a long time. Origin I is also a virtual must win for NSW. They can’t afford to be down in the series before heading to Brisbane in game two.
Man of the match: Hudson Young
First try: Josh Addo-Carr
Paul Crawley
NSW by 4
Why: Latrell Mitchell is a huge loss but Stephen Crichton is in tremendous form and this is still an incredibly strong NSW team.
Man of the match: Nathan Cleary
First try: Brian To’o
Fatima Kdouh
NSW Blues by 8
Why: The Blues aren’t just playing for their state, but for coach Brad Fittler’s job and the added motivation will get NSW over the line.
Man of the match: Nathan Cleary
First try: Josh Addo-Carr
Dean Ritchie
NSW by 8
Why: Physicality and power. Tevita Pangai Jr, Hudson Young and Payne Haas give the Blues punch and firepower.
Man of the match: Jarome Luai
First try: Api Koroisau
Peter Badel
Queensland by 8
Why: Cameron Munster is back and he will terrorise the Blues supported by a hungry, youthful Maroons pack.
Man of the match: Cameron Munster
First try: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Travis Meyn
NSW by 4
Why: The Blues have picked a much angrier team this year that will take the fight to Queensland and Nathan Cleary is primed to dominate Origin.
Man of the match: Nathan Cleary
First try: Stephen Crichton
Robert Craddock
Queensland by 6
Why: Winning the series last year lifted the self-esteem of this group. Daly Cherry-Evans and Cam Munster know each other so well now and the pack is the right balance of hard workers plus the creative touch of David Fifita.
Man of the match: Pat Carrigan
First try: Valentine Holmes
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