The Covid induced delay only heightened the appetite for the 2020 State of Origin Series so it is probably fitting that we get a deciding match, which will take place in Brisbane on Wednesday when the Queensland Maroons host the New South Wales Blues.
The Maroons opened up the series with a win and now they will be eager to close it out with one whereas the Blues will be hoping that they have all the momentum having levelled the series up in fine style last week.
Where to watch
The match is being televised live in the UK on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena channels. The build up begins at 9.05am with the match due to kick off surely after that.
Queensland Maroons
No side at this level wants to be so heavily reliant on one man but it was clear that the Queensland Maroons visibly struggled after they lost half-back Cameron Munster in the first couple of minutes in Sydney. Thankfully for them he has been named in the side for this deciding match and they will be hoping he stays on the pitch for the duration here as they not only lacked his goal kicking in Game 2, but there was nobody to really lead them around the park.
The thing which will have worried the Maroons most was they were unable to stop wave after wave of attack that came in their direction in Sydney. There is no getting away from the fact that it was a very bad day at the office for Queensland and they will know there is a massive improvement needed from them if they are going to end this recent period of NSW dominance. One thing they don’t lack is motivation that is for sure.
New South Wales Blues
The Blues might well have done things the right way this series. They were absolutely terrible in the first match of the series but came good in a big way to level it and force this deciding match. If there is any more improvement to come from them then they are going to prove incredibly tough to deny in this match and that has to be the task at hand for them. They will be hard enough to beat if they just deliver a repeat of what they produced in the previous match.
The big difference between the two displays for the Blues has been the output from the halves. They got nothing out of Luke Keary and Nathan Cleary in the first match but the move to switch Keary with Cody Walker was an inspired one and there was no stopping New South Wales once they got in front in Sydney. Their forwards got the better of their opposition pack as well and now you feel this series is the Blues’ to lose.
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Team News
Queensland Maroons have unsurprisingly rung the changes for this one. Phillip Sami had a shocker in Sydney and he has been replaced with Valentine Holmes moving to the wing. Xavier Coates misses out through injury while Harry Grant, Edrick and Brenko Lee and Carey Allen are all set for Origin debut.
It is also no surprise that New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has decided to go in with the same 17 which won so convincingly in Sydney last week. He resisted the urge to bring Ryan Papenhuyzen into his setup.
Betting
I think it is hard to go against New South Wales Blues here. We saw the New South Wales that we expected to see in the opening match in the second game and you would think there is natural improvement to come from a team that isn’t being changed for this match. It was a true Blues performance in Game 2 when they controlled the match in the halves and got their exciting backs in position to capitalise and ended up running up the score.
Queensland should improve with Cameron Munster back in place but he’ll have to go some to keep Walker and Cleary quiet. My big fear for the Maroons is that they have a number of debutants in this match and this is a deciding game. It is a huge ask for debutants to be up to speed with players who may well have two matches in their legs. We are in the middle of a Blues period of dominance and I expect them to continue that by winning by more than a converted try here.
Tips
Back New South Wales Blues (-6) to beat Queensland Maroons for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with 888sport
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