State of Origin: Queensland v New South Wales preview
By AFP
Last Updated: 31/05/17 10:29am
New South Wales believe they have their best chance in years of ending Queensland's State of Origin dominance ahead of Wednesday's series opener in Brisbane.
Queensland have won 10 of the last 11 series - including 22 match victories to 11 - since 2006, and have amassed 634 points to the Blues' 451 in the process.
But injuries to Test stars Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and Matt Scott, and the retirement of Corey Parker have shorn them of 100-plus games of priceless Origin big-match experience.
Throw in controversy surrounding the overlooking of one of the modern game's greats, Billy Slater, for Darius Boyd at full-back and Queensland, at least on paper, look unusually vulnerable.
"I've won a Premiership, played for Australia, won a World Cup, played for the Blues but I've never won a series," said New South Wales prop Andrew Fifita.
"For myself, I really want to do it and if I have 16 others around me who really want to do it, the sky's the limit."
Blues coach Laurie Daley has called on Mitchell Pearce, Jarryd Hayne, James Maloney and Fifita to instil some belief and swagger for what is traditionally an intimidating atmosphere at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
"The biggest job is to worry about ourselves," said prop Aaron Woods.
"Every time we do talk about Queensland, we tend to get a little bit nervous about what they're throwing at us because they're such a great side.
"We've just got to know our roles and just back ourselves and play the footy we've been training for."
Once again Queensland's hopes of winning the psychologically-important opener of the intense three-game series lie with their influential Melbourne Storm pair, captain and hooker Cameron Smith and scrum-half Cooper Cronk.
Smith will line-up for a record 40th Origin and his leadership and direction around the rucks will be integral to the Maroon's chances.
Queensland: 1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Justin O'Neill, 5 Dane Gagai, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Cooper Cronk; 8 Dylan Napa, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nate Myles, 11 Josh Papalii, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Josh McGuire.
Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Sam Thaiday, 16 Aidan Guerra, 17 Jacob Lillyman.
New South Wales: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Blake Ferguson, 3 Josh Dugan, 4 Jarryd Hayne, 5 Brett Morris, 6 James Maloney, 7 Mitchell Pearce; 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Nathan Peats, 10 Andrew Fifita, 11 Josh Jackson, 12 Boyd Cordner (c), 13 Tyson Frizell.
Interchange: 14 David Klemmer, 15 Wade Graham, 16 Jake Trbojevic, 17 Jack Bird.
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Gerard Sutton.